Vice President of Student Affairs

Job Description Summary

The Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) provides leadership, vision and direction in the administration of a comprehensive range of services, policies, and procedures related to student affairs programming and planning in a manner consistent with our mission, vision, and values. He/she must have the ability to work collaboratively and creatively in a widely distributed and complex organization with a student body diverse in age, location, and ethnicity. He/she must be passionate about student development, well organized, able to use technology creatively in the delivery of services and community building, a strong communicator, successful at facilitating cross functional activities, effective in engaging faculty, and committed to team building and teamwork.

The overall priority is to develop a highly productive division led by student development leaders at every level who will enhance our student services and strengthen our student success initiatives. This key priority will be to work collaborative with academic affairs and other departments to improve student retention, graduation rates, and student satisfaction. This position reports to the Provost and serves as a member of the President’s Cabinet. As such, the VPSA participates in institution-wide planning in support of the University’s goals including meeting the needs of a diverse student population and creating a learning environment where all students have the opportunity to succeed.

Job Description

Duties and Tasks:

• Provide leadership and oversight of all units within the division of student affairs including programming, policy development, human resources, and fiscal resource management.

• Work collaboratively with staff and faculty across the University to develop and communicate a student development model and plan consistent with the mission, vision, and values and the institutional strategic plan.

• Work closely with academic leadership and academic student support areas to improve retention and graduation rates.

• Demonstrated ability to use data analysis and evidence-based decision-making to improve student success, retention, and engagement across the student experience.

• Promote effective working relationships with all student-facing departments, creating a seamless student experience between admissions, academics, athletics and student affairs.

• Foster an understanding, support, and advocacy for student affairs and services among faculty and staff at the University.

• Responsible for student services across all delivery formats and locations. This includes residential housing and residential life, student activities and events, student clubs and organizations, Greek life, student government, student conduct, personal counseling, health education and health care, accessibility services, military affairs, mail service, print shop and bookstore operations.

• Lead the development and implementation of an integrated university-wide model to promote student development, success and satisfaction by enhancing support services, athletic administrative support services, University ministry, extra- and co-curricular activities and student development services into a seamless program.

• Build and maintain a strong and stable staff of professionals who are knowledgeable and experienced in student development, passionate about working with students, and committed to Saint Leo University's mission, vision, and values.

• Promote positive student relations, including active and productive student involvement in student and university governance.

• Facilitate student relations as appropriate with senior leadership and involve the President of the University effectively in student life.

• Develop and implement leadership development programs and promote effective student leadership, volunteerism, self-sufficiency, and responsibility.

• Develop and implement effective support systems for international, non-traditional, veteran, first generation, and commuter students.

• Improve residential living and campus life to attract and retain more students to reside on campus.

• Develop, promote, and maintain a student-customer-centric culture that is student focused and fosters employee engagement, collaboration, and contribution.

• Lead, manage, and operate in a manner consistent with the University core values of community, respect, integrity, excellence, personal development, and responsible stewardship.

• Participate in University governance, strategic planning, and budgeting, serving as an effective contributor to the President’s Cabinet.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
  

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge:

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement innovative programs and services at a comprehensive university including traditional and non-traditional student populations.

• Record of success in student affairs and academic affairs successful collaboration.

• Experience providing responsive assistance to students in crisis situations.

• Proven ability to create a culture responsive to student concerns.

• Knowledge of higher education as well as trends in student affairs specifically.
  

Skills:

• Strong supervisory and organizational skills in student affairs.

• Excellent communication skills including the ability to listen effectively, build consensus, and keep constituents informed of policy, plans, and vision.

• Project management skills including the ability to prioritize multiple critical initiatives effectively.

• Proven record of developing and mentoring employees.
  

Abilities:

• Ability to balance many tasks and responsibilities simultaneously.

• Ability to manage time and stress for self and others.

• Ability to excel in a customer-centric culture.

• Ability to represent the division of student affairs to University leadership.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS / QUALIFICATIONS:

• An earned masters in a student affairs relevant field of higher education.

• At least five years of relevant experience as a leader in student development or student affairs including progressive management and fiscal responsibility.
  

ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are a representation of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term “qualified individual with a disability” means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email and other electronic means, move about the office and University, handle various type of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

NOTICE:

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description. Saint Leo University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success.

Why Work at Saint Leo?

What it’s Like to Work Here: Ask our employees and the one word they’d use to describe working at Saint Leo University is “Community.” Our team members all share the Saint Leo core values, positive attitudes, and problem-solving abilities, enabling them to provide excellent student centered service. Our mission is educating and preparing students for life and leadership in a challenging world. Thank you for your interest in joining the Saint Leo PRIDE!

We are committed to providing our employees with the support they need. At Saint Leo, we offer an array of medical, dental, and vision packages as well as several add-on perks to make your benefits package truly customizable to you and your family needs. Available benefits based on employment status (Full Time vs Part Time).

• FREE Tuition - Employee, Spouse, and Dependents*
• Tuition Exchange Opportunity - Dependent of Employees*
• Generous Paid Leave - Sick, Vacation, and Holidays
• Comprehensive Group Health Plan (Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Group Medical Plan includes Teledoc, Surgery Plus, Wellness Incentive Program and more!
• 100% Employer-Funded Health Reimbursement Account
• 100% Employer-Paid Short Term Disability Insurance
• 100% Employer-Funded Employee Assistance Program (healthcare and dependent options)
• Employer-provided life insurance
• Discounted On-Campus Dining Meal Plans
• Nationwide Pet Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403b Retirement Plan
• Wellness Center

• Eligibility based on meeting required service period