Director of Academic Success Center

Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University•Normal, AL

About The Position

The Director of the Academic Success Center provides strategic leadership for university academic support initiatives intended to enhance student learning, persistence, retention, and graduation. Reporting within the Office of Student Success, the Director uses outcome data, assessment, and best practices to identify barriers to student success, develop support strategies, and ensure effective delivery of services that improve academic outcomes. As a collaborative leader within the Division of Academic Affairs, the Director builds partnerships with faculty, academic departments, and campus stakeholders to create an integrated network of academic support services. The Director leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of a comprehensive university-wide academic support model. The role oversees staff and programs including academic success coaching, peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic recovery, and campus academic support centers. The Director uses student success technologies and institutional data to coordinate interventions, monitor progress, assess program effectiveness, and report outcomes to university leadership. The position also manages departmental operations and fiscal resources and works with campus partners to coordinate student success initiatives.

Requirements

Master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, or a closely related discipline.
Five to seven years of progressively responsible professional experience in higher education, including leadership of academic support, student success, or retention initiatives.
Demonstrated experience supervising professional staff and managing complex programs.
Experience using student success data to inform decisions and improve program effectiveness.
Demonstrated commitment to student success, equity, access, and inclusive excellence.
Knowledge of student development theory, persistence and retention research, and evidence-based academic support practices.
Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills, including the ability to lead multiple initiatives simultaneously.
Ability to analyze complex data, interpret findings, and communicate recommendations to diverse audiences.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
Strong fiscal management and resource allocation skills.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and higher education information systems, including Banner, Blackboard, Navigate360, Zoom, and related technologies.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and demonstrate professionalism, initiative, and accountability.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while adapting to changing institutional priorities.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic coaching, or academic recovery programs.
Experience working within an HBCU or other minority-serving institution.
Experience with strategic planning, program assessment, and institutional effectiveness.
Proficiency with student success technologies such as EAB Navigate360, Banner, Blackboard, Degree Works, or similar enterprise systems.
Experience developing budgets, managing fiscal resources, and preparing assessment reports.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership for a comprehensive university-wide academic support model aligned with institutional priorities and student success goals.
Analyze institutional data and student success metrics to identify trends, evaluate program effectiveness, and inform decisions.
Recommend initiatives, policies, and practices to strengthen academic support and improve student outcomes.
Supervise, mentor, and manage the performance of Academic Success Coaches, graduate assistants, peer tutors, supplemental instruction leaders, and other departmental personnel.
Direct recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, scheduling, and evaluation of departmental staff.
Develop departmental policies, procedures, operational standards, and annual goals.
Manage fiscal resources and operational expenditures.
Use institutional student success technologies, including EAB Navigate360, to coordinate interventions, document services, monitor student progress, and evaluate outcomes.
Prepare annual reports, assessment documents, and presentations for university leadership.
Lead the development and execution of academic support programs, including peer tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic success coaching, and other evidence-based initiatives.
Direct the Academic Recovery Program, including intervention strategies, student outreach, progress monitoring, and re-enrollment efforts for academically at-risk and stopped-out students.
Oversee curriculum, staffing, scheduling, and instructional quality for ARP 101 (Academic Success) courses.
Provide strategic oversight for campus academic support centers (Connect Centers) to ensure consistent, accessible, and high-quality student services.
Build partnerships with academic colleges, faculty, and departments to strengthen academic support services and student learning.
Partner with faculty to recruit, train, and support peer tutors and supplemental instruction leaders.
Collaborate with the Writing Center, Math Lab, Testing Center, Residential Life and Housing, Accommodations and Accessibility Services, Athletics, and other student support units on coordinated initiatives.
Serve on university committees and represent the Academic Success Center in institutional initiatives related to academic support services.
Promote awareness of academic support services through outreach, presentations, and campus engagement activities.