Associate Director, Military and Transfer Student Success

Baldwin Wallace University - Berea, OH

Full-time - Mid Level

Berea, OH

Broadcasting and Content Providers

About the position

The Associate Director of Military and Transfer Student Success reports to the Director of the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) and is responsible for providing a comprehensive program of support, service, and outreach to transfer students and students with military and veteran status. This role promotes student success and retention by serving as the primary contact and advocate for military students and military-connected dependents enrolled at Baldwin Wallace University. This position also serves as a valued team member for onboarding transfer and military students and supporting their academic success through CASA.

Responsibilities

• Support and advise students who are veterans, active-duty military, National Guard, Reservists, ROTC, and military dependents.
• Help military-connected students understand and apply for federal and state veteran education benefits.
• Serve as the campus and community point person for the veteran/military-connected population, utilizing appropriate VA, government, and campus resources.
• Serve as backup for the School Certifying Official (SCO) and maintain completion of annual VA training.
• Assist with veteran-specific scholarship distribution through the Financial Aid office.
• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with appropriate VA, state, and veteran service community agencies; make appropriate referrals as needed.
• Stay current on issues and changes in policies, laws, or regulations related to veteran and armed services education benefits, employment, and career outlooks for veterans.
• Collaborate, when needed, with other offices that support student veterans such as financial aid to share information and updates, troubleshoot and problem-solve, and ensure policies, procedures, and processes serve the needs of military students.
• Assist with data compilation and completion of national surveys and institutional data reporting.
• Manage the veteran student budgets and endowment.
• Collaborate with the Office of Admissions to develop and launch strategies for recruitment of new student veterans; meet with prospective students/applicants as needed.
• Represent BW at military-related education fairs or targeted community events when appropriate.
• Actively participate in orientation and other campus events for incoming students; assist with onboarding of new veteran, military-connected, and transfer students.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the All-Star Student Veterans Center.
• Supervise VA work-study students.
• Serve as staff liaison for the BW Student Veterans Association (SVA) chapter to assist with program planning and activities to encourage student engagement.
• Provide oversight for ongoing communication for student veterans (Jacket Connect, email, website, newsletter, social media).
• Coordinate annual events including a Veterans Day event.
• Provide academic advising for a small caseload of designated transfer, military, and/or academically at-risk undergraduate students.
• Monitor the academic progress of advisees and make appropriate referrals to university services.
• Meet with students regularly to help them address goals, schedule classes, and resolve academic issues.
• Conduct transfer student registration and onboarding.
• Support first-year student onboarding and new student orientation functions, including serving as a member of the schedule building team.
• Serve as academic mentor to students whose status may include academic alert, probation, or reinstatement.
• Serve as Student Success Fellow to provide outreach to students who have been flagged for alerts via Navigate.
• Support other retention initiatives as assigned.
• Offer four to six hours per week of Academic Coaching availability.
• Coach students in individualized and group sessions to develop effective studying, notetaking, organization, and time management strategies.
• Participate in relevant training and professional development to effectively support students' academic success and achievement.
• Complete annual training to serve as backup for the School Certifying Official for VA benefits.
• Work collaboratively with CASA staff and departments across campus to seek ways to continually improve student support.
• Attend staff meetings and other campus forums as needed; adhere to university and departmental policies.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Professional communication skills (listening, speaking, presenting, and writing).
• Excellent interpersonal skills, strong customer service orientation, and the ability to foster relationships built on trust and respect.
• Experience supporting adult or adolescent populations with diverse skills, abilities, and backgrounds.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working both independently and with a team.
• Ability to handle sensitive and complex information in a mature and professional manner.
• Proficiency with computer hardware, software, and online platforms (especially Microsoft Office and Adobe suites).
• Possession of a valid driver's license and the ability to travel.
• Successful completion of the University's background check.

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree.
• Previous military experience/veteran status is strongly desired.
• Experience working with veterans and a deep understanding of veterans' needs.
• Two or more years of experience working in higher education.
• Two or more years of experience working directly with people in a support or guidance role.
• Experience using data management systems such as Navigate, CampusGroups (Jacket Connect), Colleague, Informer, or Canvas.

Benefits

• Affordable health and dental insurance.
• Paid sick leave.
• Paid vacation.
• Paid holidays.
• University-paid long and short-term disability insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan.
• University-paid life insurance.
• Tuition remission benefits for employee and family.