Director of Student & Academic Success

The mission of The University of Bridgeport is to promote academic excellence, personal responsibility, and commitment to service. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturally diverse supportive learning environment prepare graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

Position Description Summary/Purpose:

The Director of Student Academic Success provides strategic leadership for academic advising, student success, and retention initiatives within the Heckman Learning Commons. The position is responsible for developing, implementing, and assessing programs, policies, and interventions that promote student persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion. In addition to overseeing advising operations and student success initiatives, the Director maintains a caseload of students and provides direct academic advising and support. Working collaboratively across the University, the Director advances institutional enrollment and retention goals by creating a coordinated, student-centered experience that supports students from enrollment through graduation.

Essential Job Functions/Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide leadership and oversight for academic advisors.

• Maintain a caseload of students and provide academic advising, registration support, degree planning, and referrals to appropriate campus resources.

• Develop, implement, and assess student success and retention initiatives designed to improve student persistence, retention, and degree completion.

• Identify and support at-risk students through proactive outreach, intervention strategies, case management, and referrals to campus resources.

• Collaborate with Student Financial Services, the Bursar, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to remove barriers to student success and improve the student experience.

• Lead institutional retention efforts by analyzing student success metrics, identifying trends, and recommending data-informed interventions and policies.

• Design and implement student success programming, workshops, and initiatives that promote academic achievement, engagement, and belonging.

• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, students, and families regarding academic policies, student concerns, advising practices, and strategies to support student persistence.

• Oversee academic advising policies, procedures, communications, registration processes, and degree progress monitoring.

• Foster a culture of care, inclusion, and student success throughout the Heckman Learning Commons and the broader University community.

• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative departments to support strategic enrollment and retention initiatives.

• Supervise professional and support staff, including hiring, training, performance management, and professional development activities.

• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and operational priorities.

• Prepare reports, assessments, and presentations related to student success, retention, advising outcomes, and departmental effectiveness.

• Represent the Heckman Learning Commons on University committees, task forces, and strategic initiatives.

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill:

• Demonstrated commitment to developing and fostering best practices and policies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and build an environment in which all members of the University community are treated with respect and dignity.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, or a related field.

• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student success, retention, enrollment management, or a related area in higher education.

• Strong quantitative, analytical, and assessment skills, with the ability to use data to evaluate student success initiatives, identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making.

• Supervisory and budget management experience preferred.

• Demonstrated success leading student retention and persistence initiatives and collaborating across institutional divisions to improve the student experience.

Physical and Mental Requirements:  

Work Environment

Physical Activity

Lifting Requirements  

Vision requirements (Especially relevant if driving is required by the job)

_X_   Close vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 inches or less)

___    Distance vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 feet or more)

___    Color vision (i.e. ability to identify and distinguish colors)

___    Peripheral vision (i.e. ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or left and right while the eyes are fixed on a given point)

___    Depth perception (i.e. three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

___    No special vision requirements

Full-Time Employee Benefits:

• Medical Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Pet Insurance 

• 401k employer match

• Employee & dependent life insurance

• Great tuition benefits for employee, spouse & dependents

• PTO program 

• Flexible work schedules / work from home opportunities 

(This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between The University of Bridgeport and employee. It is used as a guide for personnel actions and is subject to change by the University as the needs of the University and requirements of the job change.)

The University of Bridgeport provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. The University of Bridgeport complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.