Assistant Director Student Success and Thriving

BASIC PURPOSE:

The Assistant Director will play a critical role in leveraging technology and data-driven interventions to support student retention and success. This position will oversee the EdSights platform, analyze student engagement data, and coordinate follow-up strategies for at-risk student populations. The Assistant Director will work closely with academic support, faculty, and Student Affairs to provide timely interventions and enhance the first-year student experience. This position will also lead student-centered initiatives focused on proactive outreach, early alerts, and engagement campaigns to reduce summer melt and support enrollment continuity.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

EdSights Management and Predictive Analytics

• Optimize, manage, and continuously assess the EdSights platform, ensuring student engagement and effective use of predictive analytics.
• Oversee the EdSights dashboard, monitoring student alerts and engagement trends.
• Coordinate with faculty and student services to ensure early interventions for students flagged by EdSights.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Targeted Outreach and Risk Intervention

• Conduct proactive outreach and follow-up with high-risk populations, including students from Worcester Public Schools and other vulnerable groups.
• Assist in identifying and supporting students who are academically at risk.
• Develop strategies for following up with students who did not attend orientation, did not register, or disengaged from onboarding.
• Support summer and early fall outreach to reduce summer melt, particularly among underserved and first-generation students.
• Work closely with Enrollment Management, Institutional Research, and Academic Affairs to coordinate outreach based on registration trends, midterm reports, and financial aid data.
• Assist with the development of data-informed strategies to achieve student success and retention goals.
• Identify institutional barriers to student retention, persistence, graduation, and employability.
• Create strategies to remove barriers to success and identify pathways that facilitate retention and persistence.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Student Engagement and Belonging

• Serve as part of the onboarding team, helping to instill a sense of belonging for new students.
• Anticipate student needs based on the time of year and perform proactive communication to address those needs.
• Collaborate with campus partners to provide workshops and programming for students in the Enhanced Foundations Learning Community.
• Coordinate university-wide programming, communication, campaigns, and initiatives aimed at retaining students.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Campaigns and Communication Strategy

• Lead student success and retention-based outreach campaigns, including but not limited to; Ask Me tables, Recruit Back, and Unregistered/Under-Registered students.

• Lead the development of communication flows (email, SMS) that align with the student lifecycle and retention milestones.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Assessment, Reporting, and Institutional Engagement

• Assist in data collection and assessment related to student engagement and retention.
• Maintain detailed records of outreach efforts, student interactions, and outcomes to support assessment and continuous improvement.
• Participate in divisional and university-wide committees related to retention, persistence, and student experience.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field required, Master’s preferred.
• Experience with student success technology platforms (EdSights or similar predictive analytics tools preferred).
• Strong analytical skills and ability to use data for strategic decision-making.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to engage diverse student populations.
• Experience working with first-year students, retention initiatives, and academic support are preferred.
• Ability to work across multiple university departments to provide holistic student support.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, student-centered environment.
• Familiarity with CRM tools like Slate, Maxient, and student information systems like Colleague is a plus.

SCOPE:

• Interacts on a daily basis with students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: