Director of Student Retention and Persistence

About This Role:

Kansas State University is seeking a visionary and data-driven Director of Student Retention and Persistence to lead our efforts in enhancing student success and persistence to achieve Next Gen K-State strategic goals. The Director of Student Retention and Persistence will play a pivotal role in utilizing leading indicator data to develop and implement strategies aimed at closing equity gaps and improving retention and persistence rates while fostering a supportive academic environment as part of a health promoting university. 

The Director of Student Retention and Persistence will collaborate with Division of Academic Success and Student Affairs leaders, academic college retention staff, and other campus partners to identify and train existing professional team members to serve as validating agents to at-promise students.  Based on validation theory, agents are responsible for supporting students’ belonging, sense of mattering to the institution, and validating students’ preparation and capacity to succeed at Kansas State. Validating agents will maximize the use of leading indicator actionable data to inform targeted support and outreach to at-promise students. The Director will partner with other leaders to utilize capacity within existing teams to build a cohesive cross functional team and approach to validating agent outreach efforts, reporting, and approaches to student support.

Supporting K-State student success, retention, and persistence efforts, the Director oversees the Academic Achievement Center (AAC) and collaborates closely with IT and system administrators supporting data collection, reporting and student success systems.  This includes partnering with the EAB/student success system administrator and campus partners, including IT, University Registrar, and end users to maximize user engagement with systems like EAB Navigate and Tableau reporting tools to support proactive outreach efforts.  The Academic Achievement Center provides academic coaching, tutoring, and success tools available to all learners. The Director is responsible for oversight of administrative duties associated with setting vision, hiring, training, and budget for the AAC.  The AAC includes an assistant director, coordinators of tutoring and coaching, and a team of professional and graduate coaches.

The Directors Duties will include:

Collaboration: Foster collaboration and partnership across academic departments, student support services, and administrative units to implement retention and persistence initiatives effectively. Work closely with faculty, staff, and administrators to promote a culture of student success within reporting units and across campus.

Program Development: Design and implement retention and persistence programs and initiatives based on leading indicator data that address the unique needs of at-promise student populations. Develop and assess program effectiveness through ongoing evaluation and data analysis. Oversee creation of workflow processes, templates and communication plans for use by validating agents.

Student Outreach and Support: Lead K-State efforts to provide proactive support and outreach to at-promise students through data informed personalized interventions, and connections to campus resources such as academic advising, financial aid, tutoring and coaching among others. Develop strategies to promote student engagement and involvement in campus life.

Communication and Reporting: Prepare regular reports and presentations on progress, outcomes, and initiatives of validating agents for university leadership, stakeholders, and external partners. Communicate findings and recommendations effectively to drive institutional change. Update academic leaders about institutional barriers identified by validating agent team related to increasing degree completion for at promise scholars.

Supervision & Unit Leadership: Responsible budget oversite, and supervision of AAC.  Ensures on-going staff development that embraces inclusive approaches.  Helps teams set and implement vision for tutoring, academic coaching and leveraging EAB Navigate (or comparable systems) to enhance retention and persistence.

Why Join Us:

Would you like to work with students and be proactive in their academic success? DASSA provides an impactful and holistic K-State experience by aligning student life resources with academic support programs, so students can succeed inside and outside the classroom.

Worksite Options:

This position is required to be performed on-site. Work is performed on employer premises or designated assignment location.

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
•  5 to 10 years of relevant experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree or higher in Education, Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in higher education administration or a related area, with a focus on student retention, persistence, and success.
• Demonstrated experience in data analysis and assessment methodologies.
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively across departments and levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of student development theory, best practices in retention programming, and current trends in higher education.
• Experience working with diverse student populations and a commitment to fostering inclusive environments.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in a clear and compelling manner.
• Supervision and budgeting experience beneficial.
• Experience building new programs/teams useful.

•  Demonstrated experience leading student retention or persistence efforts.

 Other Requirements:

• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment.

How to Apply:

Please submit the following documents:

1. Letter of Interest
2. Resume
3. Three professional references with contact information

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until filled.

Anticipated Hiring Pay Range:

$65,000.000 - $80,000.024 annually ($2,500.000 - $3,076.924 bi-weekly)