Associate Director of the Second Year Experience

The University of Virginia’s mission to develop engaged citizen-leaders is the foundation of the Division of Student Affairs' work, which is guided by six core values – academic rigor, diversity and inclusion, health and wellness, honor, public service, and student self-governance. The Division of Student Affairs consists of over 300 employees within five units – the Office of the Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer and the Dean of Students, Student Health and Wellness, University Career Center, Office of African-American Affairs, and Housing & Residence Life and several units reporting to the Dean of Students – all working together, for and alongside students, to create the distinctive student experience for which UVA is known. We are seeking an Associate Director of the Second Year Experience.

Key Position Responsibilities

Leadership and Oversight of the Second Year Experience

• Supervise a professional staff member in Orientation & New Student Programs.
• Direct the comprehensive development, implementation, oversight, and assessment of the Second Year Experience at UVA to include driving mission, vison and executions of programs and services to support new students during their first 24 months.
• Formulate goals, learning objectives, and an annual timeline of program activities to improve the success of second-year students.
• Collaborate with University partners to build on high-impact experiences and expand awareness of second-year student issues to develop appropriate services to support this population of students.
• Develop and execute a communication strategy that reaches second-year students in a way that engages students and highlights University resources designed for second-year students.
• Assist in the coordination of key initiatives that support student transition and success such as New Student Orientation, Wahoo Welcome, Family Weekend.
• Collect and analyze data to provide creative and intentional initiatives that support second-year student success.
• Manage programmatic budget resources and documentation appropriately.

Leadership and Oversight of Transfer Student Experience

• Coordinate selection, training and supervision of Transfer Transition Coaches (TTC) who are purposed as advisors and on-boarding coaches to all incoming Transfer students to help ease their transition.
• Develop and design week-long welcome week programming for incoming Transfer students, with particular attention to program development that assist Transfer students in integrating into broader UVA community.
• Develop and oversee Transfer programming budget.
• Lead assessment efforts for TTC program and fall programming for Transfer students through identifying best practices that would align with the UVA culture and community.
• Advise the Transfer Advisory Board, a student organization that advocates and outreaches on behalf of the undergraduate transfer population.
• Coordinate and implement year-round programming for transfer students with particular emphasis on student engagement, social/emotional support, and academic success.
• Coordinate mid-year orientation programming for students who transfer into the University during the spring semester.

Student Support

• Participate in the selection, training, and supervision of student groups affiliated with Orientation and New Student Transition, including Orientation Leaders and other student staff.
• Create relationships with students to facilitate both formal and informal mentorship and advising, with specific support for second-year students through targeted outreach and programming.

Incident Response

• Provide empathetic support to students and families as they navigate the transition to and through college. Examples may include triaging student and family concerns, managing interpersonal conflicts among students, and referring students to mental and physical health resources.

Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent in Counseling, Higher Education, or other discipline, or a terminal degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum of five years of progressive relevant experience.
• Ability to provide leadership and vision for the second-year student experience that aligns with the University’s strategic direction.
• Deep knowledge of trends, retention and transition programs and services on a college campus including advising and w