Director of First-Year Experience & Integration

Covenant College•Lookout Mountain, GA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of First-Year Experience & Integration provides leadership and oversight for the transition, development, and flourishing of first-year students at Covenant College. This role leads New Student Orientation, year-long first-year programming, and targeted academic support coordination, with particular attention to international student integration and support. Working collaboratively across Student Development, the Center for Student Success, and the Center for Calling and Career, this position advances initiatives that promote belonging, spiritual formation, vocational readiness, retention, and student success

Requirements

Bachelor's degree.
Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in orientation, first-year experience, student development, or student retention initiatives.
Strong organizational, communication, and project management skills.
Acceptance of and commitment to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
Commitment to the mission and purpose of Covenant College.
Ability to integrate faith with student development and support the spiritual formation of students.
Must be able to assent to Covenant College's Staff Commitments

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Development, Counseling, or related field.
Experience working with international students or intercultural programming.

Responsibilities

New Student Orientation & Transition Lead the design, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive Orientation programs for all new students, including international students and special populations.
Coordinate pre-arrival communication, logistics, staffing, training of orientation leaders, family engagement, and program evaluation.
Ensure orientation effectively introduces academic expectations, campus resources, community values, and mission-centered student life.
International Student Care & Integration Develop and oversee programming and support structures that promote the academic success, cultural adjustment, spiritual formation, and belonging of international students.
Provide ongoing care, advocacy, and connection for international students beyond orientation.
Partner with academic and student life offices to address transition challenges and foster intercultural engagement across campus.
First-Year Experience (FYE) Programming Develop and manage a cohesive, mission-aligned first-year experience strategy that supports academic adjustment, community connection, and holistic development.
Collaborate with campus partners to integrate co-curricular and academic resources into the first-year student experience.
Assess program effectiveness and contribute to retention and engagement outcomes.
Academic Support & Program Coordination Provide oversight and strategic partnership for first-year students participating in the Highland Academic Program or other academic support initiatives.
Collaborate with academic support staff and faculty to strengthen student skill development, accountability, and persistence.
Vocational Readiness & Calling Partner with the Center for Calling and Career to integrate vocational exploration and calling formation into first-year programming.
Facilitate initiatives that help students begin discerning their gifts, interests, and vocational pathways.
Retention, Formation & Leadership Contribute to institutional retention strategies, including early alert collaboration and data-informed interventions for at-risk students.
Supervise student leaders (e.g., orientation leaders, peer mentors) and support their development.
Lead assessment and reporting efforts related to Orientation and First-Year Experience programs.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Student Development to support the mission and operational needs of Covenant College.