Corrections Program Director, UC - Roger Williams University at Roger Williams University

Reporting to the Dean of University College, the Corrections Program Director will lead University College's mission of educational equity by providing exceptional postsecondary opportunities to incarcerated adults in the state of Rhode Island. University College at Roger Williams University (RWU) offers a multidisciplinary effort providing on-site college curriculum and programming to students incarcerated at the Rhode Island Department of Corrections.



The Director's primary work office will be located at the Rhode Island Department of Correction's Dix Building in Cranston, RI. A secondary work office will be at University College, at RWU's Providence campus which the Director will use as needed.



Essential Functions / Characteristics

• Manage scheduling, academic advising, and support programming for incarcerated students enrolled via the RWU prison education program.
• Lead the development and implementation of degree completion pathways from Associate to Bachelor coursework within the prison, along with workforce development programming.
• Understand curriculum & maintain working knowledge of courses on offer semester by semester, to support with coursework & serve as a conduit to students' course instructors.
• Maintain academic records for students, and support their onboarding and academic progress through ongoing advising, liaising with faculty and other academic advisors, and ensuring student completion of financial aid and registration requirements.

Additional Functions

• Attend University College meetings.

This is a grant-funded position that is contingent upon the existence and availability of external funding. However, you should be aware that the end date of a grant does not guarantee employment for the duration of the grant; your employment is considered to be at will and may be terminated by you or the University at any time regardless of the end date of the grant. Once the funding is exhausted, discontinued, or becomes otherwise unavailable, there is no expectation of continued employment or salary, or benefit continuation.

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years demonstrated experience in higher education or non-profit administration/operations.
• Experience with student/member/client-centered one-on-one advising, coaching, and/or mentorship.
• Strong written skills with an attention to detail and ability to plan ahead.
• Passionate about educational access for currently and formerly incarcerated students.
• Able to be flexible, problem-solve under pressure, and find creative solutions.
• Must be able to maintain accurate and organized communications, student records, and administrative systems operations.
• A demonstrated commitment to educational equity and a clear and sophisticated understanding of the relationships between poverty, racism, incarceration, disability, and access to quality education in the United States.
• Passionate about supporting student wellbeing and success, and the broader goals of educational justice.
• The ability to articulate, build, and lead the discourse around the responsibilities of public higher education in serving communities.
• Experience with and ability to translate the work of higher education in prison to various stakeholders, including those in higher education, the community, public officials, departments of corrections, and others
• Experience with successfully overseeing and managing a diverse group of people, including providing leadership and mentorship for students. and maintain consistent time-sensitive communications
• Advanced familiarity and experience with how prisons bureaucratically function.
• Ability to comply with correctional facility requirements as a cleared Department of Corrections staff, and work within a prison including being without a phone or smart technology while working on-site.
• Excellent attention to detail and timelines, and collaborating with multiple units. Must be able to meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge of software such as Microsoft Office and Google Suite. Must learn and utilize University online learning management systems and databases, including transcript records, course registration platforms, and student success digital tools.
• Willingness to travel to the Rhode Island Department of Corrections campus on a year-round, daily basis. Must have reliable transportation and a valid driver's license.
• Must complete Rhode Island Department of Corrections training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with justice-impacted people with knowledge of the social, economic, and political barriers faced by justice-impacted people pursuing self-determined goals including higher education. Possess critical awareness of mass incarceration and racial disparities, and the ability to strategize with colleagues on navigating the criminal legal system to the benefit of students.
• Experience in higher education administration, gained through one or more of these areas: academic advising, student services, financial aid, and/or classroom teaching.
• Be a self-starter, and a collaborative team player, utilizing positivity to develop and maintain relationships.
• Ability to develop new initiatives and find innovative solutions to complex student/member/client needs within a higher education institution or other organization setting.

At the University's discretion, the education and experience prerequisites may be accepted where the candidate can demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the University, an equivalent combination of education and experience specifically preparing the candidate for success in the position.

Roger Williams University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse workforce. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable state and federal law. For information on our Non-discrimination policy, visit here.

RWU prohibits all forms of discrimination on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and its implementing regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. Complaints of Title IX sexual harassment should be reported to the Title IX Coordinator at the contact information listed below. Details regarding the formal complaint process can be found here: Title IX Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures. All complaints of sexual harassment will be taken seriously and responded to promptly. TITLE IX COORDINATOR: Dr. Jen Stanley, 1 Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 02809 / Phone Number: (401) 254-3123 /Email Address: jstanley@rwu.edu

Salaries for new hires at Roger Williams University usually fall between the minimum and midpoint salary ranges.

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