PRIMARY PURPOSE/SCOPE
The Dean of Students is responsible for the overall vision and effectiveness of the university’s student life offices, services, programs, and staff. The Dean serves as an advocate for students and as a resource and partner with campus colleagues to address student issues. Areas for which the Dean shall be responsible include: new student orientation, judicial affairs, residence life, and student leadership programming. The Dean will also have a close working relationship when it comes to student matters with the Office of Academic Affairs and Athletics.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS
The essential duties, responsibilities, and functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provides the vision and foundation for student life
- Ensures the suite of student life offices, services, and staff are working in unison to achieve the goals, vision, and values of student life
- Grounds the goals, vision, and values of student life in the ecosystem of student development and strategic enrollment management
- Ensures that student life is an active partner across campus in creating an engaged student body
- Ensures appropriate response and resolution for student code of conduct matters
- Ensures that student life has the appropriate policies, procedures, and practices that are aligned with the University’s expectations
- Collaborates to help resolve student issues – engaging other campus offices and colleagues when appropriate
- Supports existing and leads new initiatives focused on integrating students both academically and socially to campus
- Maintains and further develops student life offices, services, and staff that contribute to making Bluefield University an exemplary inclusive Christ-centered learning environment
- Develops and maintains a campus environment and a set of student life programming that is engaging for current students and appealing to prospective students – providing exemplary opportunities for student development as well as helping with both enrollment and retention of students
- Maintains a culture of inclusion on campus, while expanding student life resources and programming that promote the education, appreciation, and celebration of the diverse members of the campus community
- Seeks out opportunities to collaborate with student life organizations in Bluefield and in the region to leverage the student life resources, services, and staff on our campus
- Coordinates student life response to major crises and other unusual events impacting Bluefield University students
- Ensures that assessment is conducted throughout Enrollment Management and Student Life to ensure that programming and initiatives are impactful and valuable to the student experience
- Leads an assessment program for student life offices, services, programs and staff that is consistent with the University’s assessment expectations
- Interprets policies to employees and enforces safety regulations.
- Complies with all rules, policies, and procedures as established by Bluefield University.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY ROLES
- The Dean of Students will work directly with the Director of Residence Life to ensure that the residential culture of the University continues to serve the Mission and Vision of the Institution. Collaboration on disciplinary issues in regards to the Student Code of Conduct is necessary
- The Dean of Students will also oversee the Director of Student Engagement to ensure planning, and implementation of Campus Activities and Events throughout the year.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EDUCATIONAL/EXPERIENCE
- Masters in higher education (or related field) and/or commensurate experience
- Strong record of achievement as a student life professional
- Demonstrated success building relationships, programs, and services between academic affairs and student life.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
- Talent management skills (hires strong staff)
- Talent development skills (retains strong staff)
- Coaching skills
- Positive organizational leadership skills
- Program/vision builder
- Relationship builder
- Ethical leader
- Strong written, oral, and presentation communication skills
- Financial acumen
- Leverages interconnections between offices, services, programs, individuals, and campuses
- Understands and leverages technology solutions
- Understands data and is a data driven decision maker
- Integrates student life best practices
- Strong listening skills
- Lifelong learner
- Strong team member, team leader, and team builder
- Creative problem solver
- Ability to work with a wide variety of people ranging from the senior leadership to all levels of support staff
- Fundraising skills
- Strategic planner
- Professional networking skills – extending well beyond the Appalachia Region.
ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is not necessarily a physically demanding job and requires no specific physical demands other than those typical in a modern office environment. Normal responsibilities should not afford risks of accidental injury.
- Specialized Equipment Requirements
The use of specialized equipment listed here is representative of equipment an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires no specialized equipment other than equipment typically used in a modern office environment, including personal computers, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.
- Working Conditions and Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the duties, responsibilities, and functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties, responsibilities, and functions. This position has no specific working conditions; the work environment is typical to that of a small private university.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
This position is subject to at least an annual evaluation based upon the job duties, responsibilities, and functions as set forth above.
APPROVALS
The job duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements delineated above should not be interpreted as an all inclusive list of same. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate. Bluefield University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, responsibilities, and functions, or combine positions at any time. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on Bluefield University. Position descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. Bluefield maintains its status as an at-will employer.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
To apply for this position, please visit https://www.bluefield.edu/employment/ to complete the electronic staff employment application and upload the following:
- Letter of interest
- Resume or Curriculum Vitae
- Names and full contact information for at least three professional references
- Statement of Christian Faith
Hard copy application materials may be sent to the Director of Human Resources at Bluefield University, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605,
Additional information about Bluefield University is available at www.bluefield.edu.
To be considered for this position, all application requirements listed above must be completed.
Bluefield University is a Christ-centered, multicultural learning community that values and seeks faculty and staff who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation.
Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit institution affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.