The UT Success Academy's mission is to significantly increase matriculation, retention, persistence, and graduation rates for UT students. The Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the academy’s future, providing strategic direction and vision, fostering continuous program development and improvement, building a collaborative network, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders in Enrollment Management, Student Success, Academic Advising, Access & Engagement, and Student Life to ensure comprehensive student support.

The UT Success Academy's mission is to significantly increase matriculation, retention, persistence, and graduation rates for UT students. The Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the academy’s future, providing strategic direction and vision, fostering continuous program development and improvement, building a collaborative network, and partnering with internal and external stakeholders in Enrollment Management, Student Success, Academic Advising, Access & Engagement, and Student Life to ensure comprehensive student support.

Strategic planning and programming under the direction of the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success, AVPSS;

• Oversee the operations, and academic administration skills to drive transformative student impact, robust recruitment and enrollment, and financial health.
• Provide direction and oversight to the partnership with Enrollment Management to implement annual student recruitment, and selection plans to fulfill program enrollment goals, 200 additional students each academic year.
• Work with consultants to develop and lead overall strategies and approaches to support the academic success for students in the program.
• Prepare a strategic plan that details the steps, timeline, and resources needed to accomplish specific initiatives within the UT Success Academy aimed at increasing persistence and retention for enrolled students.
• Manage budget - full authority
• Supervise one assistant director, one coordinator and provide work direction to two academic coaches and one career coach, and oversee the supervision of 20 peer coaches (student employees)

Advocacy and Assessment:

• Leads the facets of evaluation and strategic initiatives within the program (i.e., develops assessments, collect data, analyze data, and report results.)
• Work with campus partners, external stakeholders, and the AVPSS to review program assessments, engagement, academic achievement, retention rates, and graduation rates for UTSA scholars and determine necessary changes to ensure program success.

Communication and Reports:

• Prepare and deliver updates/reports on UTSA specific initiatives and projects to the Associate Vice Provost for Student Success to demonstrate meaningful progress on planning and meaningful value to the students, staff, and faculty.
• Update key stakeholders on a monthly, daily, or real-time basis as required.
• Oversee marketing and communication plans and the development of videos for student recruitment purposes.

Other responsibilities

• Serve on Vice Provost's leadership team
• Lead professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

Education: Master’s degree

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience leading and implementing successful student success programs, particularly those supporting under-served student populations.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate teams, foster collaboration, and make data-driven decisions. Strong understanding of current trends and best practices in student success programming. Ability to apply sound fiscal management for a variety of funds. Effective oral and written communication skills. Ability to administer multiple, deadline driven programs and tasks. Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze and assess data related to student success and program assessment. Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in civil rights, education, law, public policy, student development and student leadership theories and practices. Strong interest in and commitment to promoting opportunity and equity in higher education. Knowledge of national literature on student success, retention, first-year experience. Ability to implement new initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: Doctoral degree

Experience: 7 years of experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Proven ability to lead new initiatives across complex organizations

Work Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR15
• Anticipated hiring range: Minimum $85,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

For full consideration, submit cover letter, resume, and references.

Additional Information on all postings provided by UTK

About Us

With over 225 years dedicated to education and research, and as one of the 100 largest employers in Tennessee, there is endless potential to discover at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This advanced academic center comprises 17 degree-granting colleges and schools, 900+ programs of study, 547 graduate programs, and is home to over 7,500 employees statewide who support the continued growth of the state’s flagship land-grant university. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Anthropological Research Facility, Space Institute, and the UT Institute of Public Service are acclaimed entities of the UT system and with nearby affiliate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rocky Top is a university on the rise. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset and with values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovative leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs. Apply today and join the Vol Family for life!

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