Associate Director of Student Success

Description

Position Overview

The New England College of Optometry seeks a dedicated professional to serve as the Associate Director of Student Success & Accessibility for the Center for Academic and Professional Achievement (CAPA). Reporting to the Director of CAPA, this role combines impactful academic advising, success coaching, and student advocacy. The Associate Director also runs the peer tutoring program, directs new student orientation, and oversees student wellness programming.

The salary for this full time exempt position is $75,000.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Academic Advising & Student Programming

• Provide academic advising and success coaching to support student goals, study strategies, and time management skills.
• Serve as a primary resource for students facing academic or wellness-related concerns and connect them with appropriate campus and community support services as needed.
• Maintain accurate and timely records of student meetings, interventions, referrals, and follow-up actions to support case management.
• Utilize student engagement and academic performance data to support proactive outreach efforts and evaluate the effectiveness of student success initiatives.
• Collaborate with faculty and Academic Affairs to communicate student needs and share performance trends.
• Develop, implement, and assess academic success programming designed to support students throughout their time at the college.
• Supports the Director of CAPA in coordinating ADA accommodations.

Programmatic Ownership: Tutoring, Mentorship & Onboarding

• Manage the Peer Tutoring Program, including student tutor recruitment, training, and matching data.
• Plan and execute the annual New Student Orientation program, including on-campus and online presentations, as well as ongoing orientation and transition programming throughout the academic year.
• Oversee the First-Year Guide peer mentoring program, supporting recruitment, training, and program coordination to enhance the first-year student experience. Operational Support & Success Initiatives
• Support academic success initiatives related to board preparation through collaboration

Operational Support & Success Initiatives

• Support academic success initiatives related to board preparation through collaboration on programming, resources, and student support strategies.
• Participate in college committees and policy review processes, including annual review of the Student Handbook, to represent student success and accessibility perspectives.
• Assist the Director with annual reporting and departmental assessment efforts.
• Collaborate with CAPA team members and campus partners to support departmental priorities, special projects, and the planning and execution of major student-focused events and initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by leadership.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Education: Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Psychology, or a related field.
• Experience: 3-4 years of experience in higher education with responsibilities in academic advising, student success programming, and supporting students who have disability/accessibility services.
• Core Knowledge: Experience in academic advising, success coaching, or student support programming in a higher education setting.
• Competencies:
  • Ability to work independently, make compliance decisions, and manage large-scale student programs.
  • Strong active-listening and triage skills with a focus on maintaining professional boundaries and confidentiality.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills to build trust with students and collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, and academic leadership in support of student success outcomes.
  • Proficiency with Google Workspace, MS Office, Zoom, and student databases.
  • Ability to work occasional evenings or weekends.

Requirements

NECO is an Equal Opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply.

New England College of Optometry offers a robust benefits program including:

• 3 plan options for BCBS medical coverage (employer subsidized at 75% or greater)
• Mental Health and Wellness benefits
• BCBS Dental
• Discounted vision services
• 13 paid holidays and generous paid time off for sick, vacation, and personal days
• Employer-paid life insurance, and short-term and long-term disability
• Voluntary Insurance: life, critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident,
• Voluntary Benefits: employee discounts and pet insurance
• 9% employer contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan after 1 year of service with no vesting schedule or match requirement
• Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness Employer