Associate Dean of Student Life and Belonging

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown LA, and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family.” The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance was founded in 2012 by a transformational gift from visionary founder Glorya Kaufman as the university’s sixth art school and, at that time, its first new school in nearly 40 years. The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance expands upon USC’s unique signature as a world-class research institution with a deep commitment to the arts. With its enterprising vision for arts education, USC Kaufman is at the forefront of developing dancers, choreographers, and dance leaders for the future. The University of Southern California is seeking applicants for the position of Associate Dean of Student Life and Belonging for the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. 
 
Position Summary

The Associate Dean of Student Life and Belonging reports directly to the dean, serves as a member of USC Kaufman’s Senior Leadership team, and provides leadership for all aspects of the student experience. The position provides strategic leadership and operational oversight of the Student Affairs Department for the direction, development, and implementation of services and programming that meet the needs and objectives for admissions, student success, wellbeing, and community and belonging. Working with two direct reports—an Assistant Director of Admissions and Career Services, and an Assistant Director of Advising and Student Affairs —the position collaborates closely with a broad spectrum of constituents including school leadership, students, faculty, campus-based units, and external partners to ensure that robust networks of support positively impact the student experience and align with the mission and goals of the School and University. Weekend and evening work, as well as some travel, may be required for recruitment and other student-centered activities. Schedule flexibility during non-standard business hours is required due to the nature of the academic and artistic mission of the school as student-related events and performances occur on weekends and/or evenings. 

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with school leadership, campus-leadership, and external partners, as appropriate, to develop and implement a 360° approach to addressing the distinct needs of students in the BFA Dance Major program across academic, artistic, developmental, physiological, psychological, and social domains. 
• Collaborate with school leadership, campus leadership, and external partners, as appropriate, to addressing the needs of Dance Minor and elective students.
• Lead the school’s efforts to foster community and belonging for all students.
• Cultivate and sustain productive relationships with internal campus partners to advance collaborative and innovative programming and resources for all students.
• Supervise the development and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures that support recruitment, matriculation, graduation, and career placement. 
• Supervise the advising of the entire undergraduate BFA Major and Dance Minor populations on matters of curriculum, general education requirements, course and degree requirements, and graduation counseling and clearance. 
• Develop and implement student leadership development opportunities—including but not limited to—optimization of the Student Advisory Board (SAB) to serve student and school needs.

Essential Functions

Collaborative Leadership

• Engage with dean and assistant deans to set direction and establish priorities for the school’s mission of serving students, including strategic planning, decision-making, policy development and problem-solving.
• Supervise programs and services coordinated and administered by direct reports, and additional resources as appropriate provided by USC Kaufman, including:
• Resolve student issues identified and/or referred by deans and assistant deans, direct reports, other staff, and/or faculty. 
• Direct the management of and response to student crises. Ensure proper escalation and/or reporting to appropriate University Central Offices. Identify current and future challenges and propose effective solutions to improve services to prospective and current students.
• Lead collaborative, data-informed decision-making processes to develop, assess, and implement policies and procedures related to admissions and student services for USC Kaufman.
• Represent USC Kaufman on campus and/or University-wide committees, as assigned or delegate direct reports to serve, as appropriate.

Community & Belonging

• Develop, implement, and lead student-ce