Associate Dean of Students for Student Experience and Operations

University of Chicago • Hyde Park, IL

4d

About The Position

Consistently ranked among the top ten social science research universities in the world, the Division of Social Sciences at the University of Chicago is at the vanguard of inquiry and impact. Whether through the field-defining scholarship of the Chicago Schools in Sociology, Political Science, and Economics, the path-breaking impact of the first graduate international affairs program in the U.S., the creation of interdisciplinary programs in the Department of Comparative Human Development and the John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought, or many other pivotal milestones, the Division has repeatedly transformed the social sciences since its founding in 1930. The Dean of Students Office provides leadership and strategic direction across a broad range of administrative practices, policies, and services to enrich graduate student experience and promote students’ academic and professional success. The Associate Dean of Students reports to the Dean of Students and is a member of the Dean of Students senior leadership team. The job manages a team of professional staff responsible for planning, administering, and leading a variety of student services. Develops and implements orientation and onboarding programs for incoming students and future enrollment strategies. Ensures that staff properly monitor student performance, evaluate student academic records, and authorize convocation eligibility. Reporting to the Dean of Students of the Division of the Social Sciences, the Associate Dean of Students for Student Experience and Operations is responsible for the managing academic, financial aid, and teaching records for the for the 1,200-plus graduate students in the Social Sciences at the University of Chicago, providing guidance for students in difficult situations, implementing disability accommodations, and ensuring divisional compliance with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 7+ years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.
• Leadership experience successfully managing people and projects, providing direction, setting priorities, identifying opportunities for improvement, and implementing major initiatives for change.
• Experience in administering student affairs in a college or university environment, working directly with students.
• Ability to navigate the challenges of working within a complex, decentralized environment.
• Ability to successfully manage a workload that balances long-range planning with the unanticipated daily demands of managing a busy operation.
• Strong student advising/student support skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrated success in building collaborative relationships with diverse constituencies, including faculty.
• Experience using PeopleSoft, Salesforce, Excel, FileMaker Pro, SmartSheets, and Stellic.

Responsibilities

• With departmental and program staff, tracks student progress and maintains accurate course enrollment, academic milestone, and teaching assignment records to inform strategies that promote retention, success, and a positive learning environment.
• Collaborates with the Dean of Students to address and resolve student issues related to academics, behavior, and well-being, ensuring timely support and intervention.
• Oversees retention and persistence efforts, transitions to and from the University and provides strategic leadership for ensuring proactive interventions including holds, probation status, leaves and returns, and graduation.
• Coordinates care for students including partnering with UChicagoGRAD, the Dean-on-Call, Student Wellness, and other University offices to provide holistic support for students in crisis.
• Assists office leadership in providing direction to divisional community in the event of a student emergency or death or other significant student crisis, working with key staff in Campus and Student Life, the University of Chicago Police Department, College Communications, families, faculty, staff, as well as student communities.
• Works with the Dean of Students and Graduate Student Financial Coordinator to administer and manage all financial aid and student-related endowment funds for the Division and ensure proper funding of students in all phases of training.
• With the Dean of Students, executes the annual budget process, and conducts ongoing finance/accounting updates and reporting.
• Oversees budget and expenditures of the Office of the Dean of Students.
• Leads and manages a team with a team of direct reports responsible for Student Finances and Student Events, ensuring seamless operations, strategic alignment, and high-quality student support throughout their academic lifecycle.
• Manages the execution of the division’s registration, enrollment, grading, and graduation procedures.
• Identifies and implements technological solutions to improve operating efficiencies and assure veracity of data gathering.
• Implements best practices and stays informed on all aspects of student
• Manages divisional projects and initiatives, in-whole, in-part, and in collaboration with, partner offices relating to student support and persistence.
• Collaborates as needed with partner offices.
• Manages the execution of the school’s registration, enrollment, grading, and graduation procedures.
• Creates plans to coordinate student affairs activities between students and faculty.
• Manages a team of individuals that validate the academic status of students within the school to ensure proper tuition assessments and scholarship awards.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook .

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees