Director of Academic Engagement & First Year Success

Cal Poly Pomona•Pomona, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Student Success (OSS) provides institutional leadership, strategic direction, and coordination for a comprehensive portfolio of programs and services designed to support the academic success of Cal Poly Pomona’s diverse student population. OSS advances university priorities related to access, equity, retention, and timely degree completion by aligning student success initiatives across the institution. OSS leads university-wide academic advising efforts and develops, implements, and continuously improves academic support and intervention strategies that promote student progression and achievement. It plays a central role in shaping policies, practices, and initiatives related to advising, student success, and academic engagement. In addition, OSS provides oversight and guidance on academic policies and student success matters, and manages student petitions related to academic standing, including general academic petitions, withdrawals, grade appeals, and academic renewal. Through a coordinated network of programs and services, OSS works collaboratively with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and academic colleges to ensure a cohesive and student-centered experience. Units and programs within OSS include University Advising, the Bronco Advising Center, California Promise, E-Advising tools, First-Year Experience (FYE), I Am First, Bronco Navigators, PolyTransfer Program, Bronco Scholars Program, the Learning Resource Center, the Reading, Advising and Mentoring Program (RAMP), Testing Services, STEM SUCCESS, and AANHPI Initiatives.

Requirements

Master's Degree - Higher Education, Education, Counseling, or related field.
At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in student success, early engagement, or first-year programs.
Demonstrated experience supervising staff and managing programs.
Experience with assessment and data-informed decision-making.
Strong communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
Demonstrated commitment to improving student academic outcomes and supporting student persistence and completion across all student populations.
Ability to understand problems from a broad perspective and anticipate impact
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, faculty, staff and administrators
Ability to build campus relationships to expedite work and project.
Collaborative management style, outstanding written and oral communication skills and a demonstrated ability to lead staff.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with students, staff, and community partners from varied backgrounds and with varied educational experiences.
Ability to effectively utilize technology in the delivery of services.
Ability to problem solve, collect, and analyze data and develop effective policies and practices.
Selected finalist will undergo a credit check and fingerprinting process.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in a related field.
Experience with early engagement or K–16 partnerships.
Experience leading first-year or transition programs.
Experience managing grant-funded initiatives.
Experience within the CSU system.

Responsibilities

Lead assigned student success and transition programs, ensuring alignment with the University Strategic Plan, Academic Affairs priorities, and systemwide initiatives.
Serve as HEERA manager for professional and student staff across Bronco Scholars, Early Engagement, First-Year Experience (FYE), and I Am First.
Oversee hiring, onboarding, supervision, evaluation, and professional development of staff.
Foster collaboration across programs to support a cohesive early engagement and first-year experience.
Translate divisional priorities into clear program plans, timelines, and expected outcomes.
Contribute to OSS leadership team discussions and support division-wide student success strategies.
Provide strategic and operational leadership for a portfolio of student success programs that collectively improve college readiness, support successful transition to the university, and increase first-year retention and engagement.
Ensure programs are aligned, coordinated, and contribute to a seamless student experience from pre-college through the first year.
Establish consistent practices across programs, including outreach, onboarding, communication, and student support.
Use data, student feedback, and outcomes to improve program effectiveness and guide decision-making.
Direct the design and implementation of summer bridge and first-year transition programming.
Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and coordination of academic and student support services.
Ensure delivery of academic preparation, enrichment, and engagement activities that support student readiness and early success.
Coordinate with campus partners to align summer program with academic-year programming and student support services.
Lead college readiness, outreach, and assessment efforts across the K–16 pipeline.
Develop and maintain partnerships with K–12 districts, community colleges, and regional organizations.
Align early engagement efforts with enrollment management goals, access initiatives, and institutional priorities focused on college readiness and student preparation.
Support grant-funded programs, ensuring compliance, coordination, and measurable impact.
Connect early engagement efforts with transition programs to strengthen the pathway into the first year.
Provide leadership for the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of FYE programs, including Common Read, PolyX, and the FYE course.
Collaborate with academic colleges to design curriculum, establish learning outcomes, and support instructional quality.
Oversee learning communities and campus-wide transition initiatives that promote student engagement and persistence.
Use assessment data to evaluate effectiveness and inform program improvements.
Serve as Chair of the FYE Program Committee and Co-Chair of the FYE Faculty Committee, and collaborate closely with the FYE Faculty Chair.
Lead campus-wide initiatives that support the success and belonging of first-generation students.
Develop and implement programs, events, and communications that promote engagement and persistence.
Oversee mentorship programs and coordinate cross-campus support strategies.
Maintain and advance the institution’s First-Gen Forward designation through planning, assessment, and campus engagement.
Develop and implement assessment strategies to evaluate program effectiveness.
Track student outcomes including transition, retention, and persistence.
Partner with Institutional Research to inform program improvements.
Prepare reports for divisional leadership and external stakeholders.
Collaborate with Enrollment Services, Outreach, Admissions, Academic Colleges, and Student Affairs.
Coordinate across the Office of Student Success to align programs, services, and communications.
Represent programs on university, divisional, and systemwide committees and initiatives.
In partnership with the OSS Communications Team, develop communication strategies to increase student awareness, engagement, and participation.
In partnership with OSS’s Student Success Analyst and AVP, manage program budgets across state and grant-funded resources.
Monitor expenditures and ensure compliance with university policies.
In partnership with the AVP, support grant development, implementation, and sustainability of programs.

Benefits

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers.
As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California.
Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
Cal Poly Pomona will make a conditional offer of employment to final job candidates, pending the satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check).
The conditional offer of employment may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information.
In determining the suitability of the candidate for the position, Cal Poly Pomona will give an individualized assessment to any information that the applicant submits for consideration regarding the criminal conviction history such as the nature, gravity and recency of the conviction, the candidate’s conduct, performance or rehabilitation efforts since the conviction and the nature of the job applied for.
Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended.
Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.
The CSU Classification Standards for this position are located on the CSU Classification Standards website.
The CSU Salary Schedule is located on the CSU Salary Schedule website.
The classification salary range for this position according to the respective skill level is: minimum $5,053 and maximum $16,221 per month.
Positions that require driving for university business by using a personal or state vehicle must comply with the Authorized University Driver Policy.
Driving records are monitored and evaluated by the Risk Management Department.
This position is a “designated position” in the California State University’s Conflict of Interest Code.
The successful candidate accepting this position is required to file financial interest disclosure forms subject to state regulations.
Executive and Management Plan Personnel employees must disclose all current outside employment at the time of hire as a precondition of hire and at the following times after hire: annually in July, within 30 days of accepting outside employment, and upon their manager’s request.
The person holding this position is considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.
In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), Cal Poly Pomona’s Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report are available for viewing.
As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant.
We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.
Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at [email protected].
Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, Cal Poly Pomona provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.
Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities.
Cal Poly Pomona complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy.
We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.
As a federal contractor, Cal Poly Pomona complies with the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and requests priority referral of protected veterans for our job openings.