The State University of New York at Oneonta is seeking a proactive leader to join our team as Director of Retention Initiatives. Reporting directly to the Provost and Academic Vice President, you'll spearhead cutting-edge strategies to revolutionize the student educational experience and drive completion rates to new heights. Implement state-of-the-art support systems, including an early alert system, to provide comprehensive assistance that keeps students on the fast track to success. Collaborate with academic departments and student services, fostering an inclusive and vibrant environment where student achievement knows no bounds. Your pivotal role will shape the destiny of students at SUNY Oneonta, driving unprecedented retention rates and unlocking a future brimming with limitless possibilities for students. Join us today and be a catalyst for transformative change.

As the seat of the Academic Affairs Division's leadership, the Office of the Provost works closely with academic personnel and administrative leaders across campus to support faculty, students, and staff in advancing the educational mission of the University and nurturing a thriving academic community. Supporting continuous improvement and effectiveness in teaching and learning are paramount to this work.

The Office of the Provost promotes diversity and inclusion efforts; collaboration among faculty and staff; impactful engagement of students; and professional development for all employees within the division. The Office also fosters and celebrates excellence in research and scholarly activities; supports research compliance; seeks to build with other institutions, community entities, and corporations' partnerships with the University's academic programs and initiatives.

To learn more about the University or the Department, please visit https://suny.oneonta.edu/ or https://suny.oneonta.edu/academic-affairs-office-provost

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Administrative Support: Work closely with the Vice Presidents to convene the University Retention Council, providing efficient administrative support throughout the process.
• Strategic Retention Analysis: Monitor retention activities and devise impactful strategies and resources to increase student retention and graduation rates, with a particular focus on historically minoritized populations.
• Comprehensive Plan Development: Actively participate in the development of a comprehensive retention and student success plan, contributing valuable insights and expertise.
• Cross-Divisional Collaboration: Collaborate with various university departments, including Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, Academic Advisement, The Student Learning Center, Accessibility Resources, Access and Opportunity Programs, and the Office of the Registrar, to develop and implement cross-divisional retention strategies and intentional targeted interventions.
• Data-Driven Assessment and Performance Measures: Develop and implement a data-driven assessment plans to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of retention activities, reporting quantitative and qualitative performance measures and recommending necessary changes.
• Grant Proposal Development: Assist in the development of grant proposals to secure external funding for comprehensive retention programs and related initiatives.
• Progress Reporting to University Leadership: Keep university leadership regularly updated on the progress and outcomes of retention strategies, ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Website Management: Develop and maintain the University Retention Council Website, ensuring it remains an informative and user-friendly resource for stakeholders.
• Perform other assigned duties as needed to contribute to the overall success of retention and student success initiatives.

Salary: $70,000- $75,000 commensurate with experience.

Benefits: SUNY Oneonta offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement, and paid time off. View benefits information here: https://www.suny.edu/benefits/

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in education, Higher Education Administration, or a related field
• Three (3) years of experience in student retention, advising, or other student support service areas.
• Demonstrated project management experience.
• Demonstrate familiarity of and experience working with historically minoritized student populations.
• Experience working with multiple campus departments and disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with program assessment.
• Demonstrated understanding of student retention research and ability to describe issues affecting student success.
• Demonstrated leadership skills in an institution of higher education (supervision, committee leadership etc.).
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

SUNY Oneonta enrolls about 5,500 students who pursue bachelor's or master's degrees or certificates in one of 70-plus academic programs. Known as an exemplary residential campus that values inclusion, service and sustainability, SUNY Oneonta is a nurturing community where students grow intellectually, thrive socially, and live purposefully.

The university is located in the City of Oneonta, nestled in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains about a four-hour drive from New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. With a population just shy of 14,000, Oneonta is one of the 20 Most Picturesque Small Towns in America, according to Microsoft News. The natural beauty of the region is breathtaking year-round. Each season offers outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating, swimming, and skiing. Employees give SUNY Oneonta high marks for work/life balance, management, and culture. The university's really.com rating is 4.4, with one recent review noting that the people are what make SUNY Oneonta so special.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the NYS Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.

SUNY Oneonta values a diverse university community. Please visit our website on diversity at: https://suny.oneonta.edu/diversity. Moreover, the University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.