Assistant Director, Office of Student Involvement at Colgate University

When extending an offer, Colgate University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations.

Current Benefits
Colgate University is proud to offer in-depth, competitive benefits that support the health and wellbeing of our employees and their family. The majority of benefits are effective on the date of hire.
We pride ourselves on the scope and quality of the benefits offered to our employees. We invite candidates to visit our Benefits page to learn more about our generous benefits package, which includes but is not limited to:

Health and Wellness:
Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, behavioral health benefits, disability and life insurance, 403 B Retirement with employer core and matching contributions.

Paid Time Off:
Vacation time (varies based on position classification), sick time, 13.5 holidays including a Winter Recess between Christmas and New Year’s and 3 floating holidays.

Paid Family Leave:
After six months of employment, employees become eligible for up to 12 weeks of paid time off up to 67% of salary to a state maximum for bonding with a newborn, adopted or foster child, caring for a family member with a serious health condition or to help after a family member has been deployed to active military duty abroad.

Continuing Education and Professional Development:
Employees and their spouse/domestic partner may take up to 2 courses per semester at Colgate, tuition free with a $20 per course registration fee.
Funding for work related courses to obtain an undergraduate or graduate degree related to your current position.
After 7 years of service in an eligible position an employee’s eligible children may be awarded up to half of Colgate’s tuition to attend an accredited college, university or trade school of their choice.

Along with a generous benefits package, additional perks unique to Colgate University include but are not limited to free on campus parking, free gym membership with discounts for family members, reduced Seven Oaks Golf Course memberships, University Bookstore discount, free library access, 3 free tickets for any regular season athletic home event, access to Colgate owned Bewkes Center and Glendening Boathouse, free access to all cultural events.

Colgate University, a premier liberal arts university of approximately 3,100 students, seeks an energetic, motivated, and highly visible Assistant Director of the Office of Student Involvement to serve as a trusted resource for students on co-curricular involvement. Positioned within the Dean of the College division and reporting directly to the Director of the Office of Student Involvement, the assistant director takes an active role in the holistic development of students.

The office’s mission is to provide engaging, dynamic, and inclusive co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities that empower students to build community, discover their strengths, and pursue their interests. The office uses a comprehensive advising approach to support, educate, and develop diverse, well-rounded student leaders to explore and engage with co-curricular involvement as part of their Colgate education.

The assistant director supports the director in promoting co-curricular experiences through student involvement and programming as part of the student engagement team (ALANA Cultural Center, Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, volunteerism, and Education, Office of the Chaplains, Office of Fraternity and Sorority Advising, Office of LGBTQ+ Initiatives). The assistant director provides management and support for specific programs and services associated with the Office of Student Involvement. The assistant director is responsible for supporting the direction of the department and strong student activities and late night program informed by Colgate University’s Third Century Plan and the Dean of the College division priorities. This position supervises the part-time late-night coordinator and some student staff within the Office of Student Involvement.

Learn more about Colgate University and the Dean of the College Division by reviewing A Candidate’s Guide to Colgate. In 2021 and again in 2022, the Dean of the College Division was acknowledged by Diverse Issues in Higher Education and Inside Higher Ed as one of the Most Promising Places to Work in Student Affairs.

 

 

This position has been designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA), in accordance with the federal statutory requirements of the Jeanne Clery Act. CSAs are required to and responsible for reporting allegations of crimes they receive from students and employees to the Campus Safety Department.

Demonstrated expertise in student affairs and ability to influence students in making good decisions and working with groups and individuals. Demonstrated ability to develop and work within student leadership structure. Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing student leadership opportunities for student leaders. Skills to train both students and staff in effective practices.

Demonstrated ability to plan, manage, coordinate or oversee events requiring a high level of coordination and collaboration. Demonstrated ability to source and negotiate favorable contract terms and service delivery from vendors. Demonstrated ability to effectively produce and manage RSVP lists and special requests of participants. Demonstrated ability to communicate all aspects of planning events. Demonstrated ability to quickly, efficiently and inexpensively alter plans.

Demonstrated expertise program design, implementation, and assessment consistent with broader organizational guidelines and within the context of a small, private, residential, rural liberal arts college. Expertise with data and systems sufficient to identify key data tracking needs, identify quantitative trends and develop data-driven solutions. Connects intended program priorities, outcomes, and goals to divisional and institutional priorities, outcomes and goals.

Demonstrated ability to effectively and consistently apply time management, problem solving, and planning skills in the implementation of processes or programs. Demonstrated ability to effectively use technical solutions to assist in the collection/maintenance of key data and records and within university, division and department guidelines. Demonstrated ability to consistently meet functional accountabilities while staying within assigned budget constraints.

Demonstrated knowledge of leadership development within the context of a small, private, residential, rural liberal arts college. Demonstrated ability to train students to become ethical, articulate, and effective leaders through communication, budget management, delegation, and coordination of event and group logistics. Demonstrated expertise in student affairs and ability to influence students in making good decisions and working with groups and individuals. Demonstrated ability to develop and work within student leadership structure. Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing student leadership opportunities for student leaders. Skills to train both students and staff in effective practices.

Demonstrated statements of intended learning outcomes about what students should know, understand and be able to do with this knowledge. Demonstrated knowledge of selecting measures to assess if intended outcomes are being achieved. Demonstrated ability to create experiences to help them achieve the learning outcomes. Demonstrated ability to use the results to improve the student experience.

Demonstrated commitment to proactively engage, understand and draw on a variety of perspectives.

Demonstrated ability to assess and design university processes to be reflective and representative of all students. Demonstrated ability to create environments that are welcoming and accessible. Demonstrate knowledge of inequalities and ability to make institutional changes to address these concerns.

Takes responsibility for decisions, performance, and outcomes; behaves in a responsible manner with a positive attitude; shows self-awareness and openness to feedback.

Demonstrates effective written and oral communication skills; shares information and seeks input from others; adapts communication to diverse audiences; protects private and confidential information.

Analyzes and prioritizes situations to identify and solve problems; generates solutions to improve efficiency and quality; involves others in solving problems and making decisions; factors organizational goals into decisions; makes clear, transparent, and timely decisions.

Responds positively to changing university initiatives and readily adapts behavior to maintain effective performance; understands the long-term direction of the university and can relate this to departmental area; adapts to new methodologies; identifies and acts on areas where change is appropriate.

Applies skills and knowledge to provide a climate to achieve departmental and organizational success; balances individual and department goals; helps others perform at their best; builds productive relationships to enhance individual and organizational effectiveness; treats others with respect; resolves conflicts among team members.

Generates, explores, encourages, and implements innovative ways of creating strategic value for the university, division, department, and individual level; critically assesses the effectiveness of new initiatives.

Demonstrates respect for people and their differences; understands the benefits of a diverse workforce; earns the trust and respect of others; includes and welcomes others; works to understand the perspective of others; promotes opportunities to experience diversity within our community.

Understands the impact of decision making and personal behavior in achieving the university’s commitment to a sustainable and carbon-neutral campus; supports and advances the university’s sustainability initiatives; influences others to use sustainable practices.

Prior experience developing and running student-oriented events within the context of higher education such as orientation, concerts, dance festivals, and philanthropic activities.

Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to effectively engage students on issues of diversity with the ability to be a strong advocate for diversity in working with diverse populations and experience engaging various constituencies across differences of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and spiritual backgrounds.

Knowledge and skill in understanding issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, class, and spiritual backgrounds and their intersectionality sufficient to assist students with making the connection between their identities within the context of a small, private, residential, rural liberal arts college.

Experience with Campus Labs Engage platform preferred.

A Bachelors degree is required.

A Masters degree is preferred and/or a combination of a Bachelor’s degree and professional experience will be accepted.

This position works 12 months per year and will be required to work some evenings and weekends.