Director for TRiO Student Support Services

Title:                                      Director
Department:                       TRiO Student Support Services (SSS)
Supervisor:                         VP for Student Development and Dean of Students
Category:                            Staff
Status/Type:                      Full-time (12 months) / Professional – Exempt

Position Summary: 

The Director of TRiO/SSS administers and manages a federally-funded educational opportunity program that annually serves 180 low-income, first generation, and/or disabled students in the areas of academic support, career guidance, personal counseling, and financial aid assistance. The Director supervises a professional staff of four, is responsible for scheduled updates and resubmission of the U.S. Department of Education grant, as well as also manages the program’s annual budget. The Director ensures compliance with DOE regulations for program operation through documentation of contact with program students, conducting program evaluations, executing sound fiscal management, and generating annual performance reports. In collaboration with TRiO SSS staff, the Director recruits, counsels, and advises student participants. The Director is the primary TRiO SSS contact for faculty and staff who collaborate with the program on behalf of the targeted student populations.

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor’s degree, preferably in education, student affairs, counseling, or a closely related field
2. Three to five years of supervisory and administrative experience, including budgetary management
3. Excellent interpersonal communication skills
4. Sensitivity to and familiarity with the social, economic, and cultural backgrounds of low-income, first generation, and disabled students
5. Knowledge of student development theory and advising practices
6. Strong written and oral communication skills
7. Solid organizational and management skills
8. Efficient in the use of personal computers, including common software and database applications
9. Adaptable to a dynamic environment characteristic of an institution experiencing enrollment growth and program development

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Master’s degree, preferably in education, student affairs, counseling, or a closely related field
2. Previous grant writing experience
3. Previous employment experience in a higher education setting
4. Previous teaching, advising and/or tutoring experience
5. Knowledge of federal regulations governing U.S. Department of Education programs

Essential Responsibilities:

1. Ensure the project is in compliance with all USDOE regulations 2. Oversee the following:
2. Identification, selection, and recruitment of eligible students
3. Informing eligible students about the program and its services
4. Coordination of TRiO/SSS program orientation activities
5. Regular communication with program participants
6. Proper documentation of participant eligibility
7. Collection of data regarding eligible students’ TRiO/SSS participation and academic progress
8. Timely submission of annual DOE performance reports
9. Development and oversight of a budget that is consistent with DOE regulations and reasonable in relation to project objectives
10. Provide regular academic advising to 60 of the project’s 180 participants
11. Provide and/or oversee special academic advising/counseling services to TRiO/SSS students on academic probation or otherwise experiencing serious academic difficulty
12. Provide for overall TRiO/SSS program evaluation
13. Serve on appropriate university committees, as requested
14. Adhere to university policies and procedures
15. Work collegially and professionally with students, employees, and external constituents
16. Support institutional identity and mission of Finlandia University as “a learning community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service”
17. Perform other duties as required, as assigned by supervisor, or in accordance with the employee handbook

Application Procedure:

E-mail cover letter, resume, and three (3) professional references to:

Dr. Luke Morrill
Vice President for Student Development
Dean of Students
Finlandia University
601 Quincy Street
Hancock, MI 49930
Phone: (906) 487- 7324
Email: luke.morrill@finlandia.edu