Job Title: Director for Student Academic Success
Department: Master of Biomedical Date: July 1, 2023
Sciences Program and Master of Health
Science in Anesthesia Program
(Bluefield University collaboration)
FLSA: Exempt Work Location: VCOM-Auburn

Campus (MHSA Program) with
remote work with MABS Program
students in Blacksburg, VA, with
some travel to Virginia for onsite
work with MABS students.

Employee Category: Administrative Work Schedule:
Staff M–F, 8:00am – 5:00pm
Reports to: Director for Center for Percent Employment: 100%
Institutional, Faculty, and Student
Success
Direct Reports: N/A

I. Job Summary:

Work within the Master of Biomedical Sciences (MABS) and Master of Health Science in
Anesthesia (MHSA) programs to further the mission to advance the quality of teaching
and learning by promoting a program culture of community working collaboratively to
champion educational excellence. This position shares in the responsibility to provide
academic information, resources and guidance to students, faculty, and staff.
The Director for Student Academic Success is solely responsible for the job duties listed
below. As such, the demands of the position are high, requiring an extremely self-
motivated individual who can provide high quality academic support to students in a
fast-paced support environment.

II. Job Duties:
1. Identify students experiencing academic difficulty and provide students with

academic assistance and/or refer students to additional intervention resources when
needed.

a. Develop and manage a student intervention database, track students in
academic difficulty, and monitor their progression through academic
intervention supports.

b. Support student learning and success through a data driven, multi-layered
student intervention program designed to address individual student needs.

c. Assist students in development of learning strategies that support individual
success, which may include instruction on compensatory study skills, test
taking strategies, time management, course tutoring, etc.

2. Present study skills presentation to students during orientation.

3. Assist with the development and coordination of student success workshops and
programs.

4. Maintain regular communication with faculty, academic advisors, and other related
personnel to monitor academic progress.

5. Work to establish a collaborative and involved culture between all individuals
involved in the academic support of the student.

6. Advise MHSA Integrative Phase students on board preparation resources and
planning, including meeting with all Integrative Phase students at the beginning of
Block 5 to help them develop an individualized short and long-term board prep plan.

a. Survey students regarding board preparation resources and planning and
share results with the following class.

b. Build and maintain familiarity in structure, design, and delivery of the
National Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants
(“NCCAA”) board examination.

c. Maintain knowledge of NCCAA preparation resources to provide students
with accurate and relevant information.

d. Arrange faculty reviews of Comprehensive Competency Examination
(“CCEs”) and NCCAA performance results.

e. Act as a liaison between the MHSA Program and commercial preparation
programs.

7. Monitor, document, and report MHSA student’s progress on CCEs.
a. Identify, advise, and support students considered at-risk of failing or who

have failed a CCE.
b. Provide support meetings for all CCE failures.
c. Communicate with the Associate Dean, Dean, and Bluefield Registrar

regarding student’s academic status, including the need for additional
coursework.

d. Proctor CCE exams, including reattempts.
e. Act as a liaison between the MHSA Program and NCCAA to manage

student eligibility for the certification exam and to troubleshoot issues.
f. Confirm graduation requirements for NCCAA are completed.

8. Advise MABS and OMABS students on MCAT preparation resources and planning,
including meeting with students to help them develop an individualized short and
long-term prep plan.

f. Survey students regarding board preparation resources and planning and
share results with the following class.

g. Maintain knowledge of MCAT preparation resources to provide students
with accurate and relevant information.

h. Act as a liaison between the MABS Program and commercial preparation
programs.

9. Coordinate and monitor the peer-tutoring program.
10. Coordinate and monitor the academic advising program.
11. Provide information to students inquiring about a suspected or diagnosed disability

as to Bluefield University’s policies regarding diagnostic evaluations and
determination of academic accommodations.

a. Stay abreast of applicable laws related to the eligibility process for
accommodations.

12. Serve as a member of the Progress & Promotions Committee.
13. Collaborate with members of the Bluefield University Academic Center of

Excellence (“ACE”) and the VCOM Center for Institutional, Faculty, and Student
Success (“CIFSS”) to identify instructional issues affecting student learning and
recommend faculty development sessions directly correlated to student feedback.

14. Serve on various committees as needed.
15. Maintains and updates confidential files and records pertaining to student academic

issues and progress.
16. Travel to the VCOM-Virginia and the VCOM-Auburn campuses a few times a year

to provide certain services in-person.
17. Perform other duties as assigned.

III. Required Qualifications:

Education: Master’s degree in education.
Experience: At least 3 years of work experience in the academic setting with

experience in teaching and/or academic counseling.
Other skills important to this position:

Confidentiality
Excellent interpersonal and communications skills
Strong team player
Commitment to College values
Basic computer proficiency
Ability for occasional travel

Preferences are given to candidates who have worked in academic environments.

Successful candidate will be subject to a criminal history background check.

Regular, reliable, or predictable attendance is an essential function of the job.

IV. Working Conditions and Efforts: The physical demands and work environment

characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the
essential functions.
Physical demands: The physical demands and work environment characteristics
described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to
successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work environment: Office environment. Outside travel up to 20% of time. The noise
level in the work environment is usually minimal, however the reception area with
frequent visitors, phone calls and discussions may be distracting.

This position is classified as an exempt position because it requires that the
candidate/employee exercise independent judgement and discretion regarding
matters of significance.

Employment with VCOM is “at-will”. This means employment is for an
indefinite period of time and it is subject to termination by the employee or by
VCOM, with or without cause, with or without notice, and at any time. Nothing
in this position description or any other policy of VCOM shall be interpreted to
be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way, the “at-will” employment
status of VCOM employees.

V. VCOM Core Values: The employee is expected to adhere to all VCOM policies. As
the environment is a professional college, VCOM faculty / staff are expected to dress
and behave in a professional manner at work. VCOM faculty / staff are expected as
VCOM employees, to be a person who obeys all laws and professional expectations of
an upstanding citizen of the community. VCOM expects all employees to maintain a
positive attitude in all working relationships with all VCOM departments, employees,
medical students, prospective medical students, interns, and residents and to treat all
other engaged in the duties of the employment, with mutual respect.