Director of Guidance - Community College - Westchester Community College

Westchester Community College•Valhalla, NY

43d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Guidance - Community College serves a mission-critical role within the Division of Student Affairs and the College. The incumbent will serve as the Executive Director, Advising & Accessibility Services, by providing administrative leadership, management, and supervision for the unit dedicated to providing students with guidance and support to successfully pursue their academic, career, and transfer pathways. Areas included in Academic Advising and Student Success include academic counseling, accessibility services, career and transfer services. The position maintains a college-wide orientation in supporting students' educational access and planning, with a focus on student persistence, retention, and on-time completion or transfer. The successful candidate: Assesses and evaluates operations and facilitates changes, as needed. Partners with campus leaders in leveraging technology-enabled solutions to streamline workflows, referrals, early warning, and more to foster a community of care on behalf of our students and to help bring successful approaches and interventions to scale. Consistently demonstrates support of the College's vision for the effective coordination of an integrated set of data-informed academic advising and transition services that support equitable outcomes in student achievement, momentum, retention, and on-time degree completion/transfer. Exercises fiscal responsibility and acumen. Fosters collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff and students in support of student success initiatives for all students and, in particular, student groups with unique barriers to success including first generation college students, students with documented disabilities, adult learners, and students from marginalized populations. Works collaboratively and cooperatively campus-wide with administrators, faculty, and staff to foster consistent college-wide communication, and intentional and ongoing advising and student success professional development opportunities. Works collaboratively and cooperatively campus-wide with administrators, faculty, and staff to raise awareness and clarify the role of Accessibility Services, its practices and policies in accordance with ADA and other appropriate laws. Oversees the development of an onboarding and training program for new counselors, consistent with current, evidence-based practices in the field, and ongoing professional development for academic counselors, embedded counselors, and support for faculty with advising responsibilities. Stays apprised of evidence-based practices and other developments in the field of academic advising, accessibility and student success. Supports a culture of assessment through the tracking, collection, reporting and analysis of services for continuous improvement. Shares results with Student Affairs and relevant members of the campus community. May perform other incidental tasks, as required.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Guidance and Counseling or a related field and six years of practical experience in teaching, counseling and/or personnel work; OR
Master's Degree in Guidance or Counseling or a related field and five years of practical experience in teaching, counseling and/or personnel work.
Thorough knowledge of counseling and guidance techniques and psychological evaluation techniques
Thorough knowledge of the subject matter
Good knowledge of teaching techniques
Ability to plan and supervise the work of others
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
Ability to establish and maintain effective faculty, student, and administrator relationships.
Evidence of responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students and evidence of equity-minded practice.

Nice To Haves

A Master's Degree or higher
Understanding, knowledge, and experience providing leadership for advising models, effective practices in academic advising, accessibility services, or best practices for student success and retention, preferably in the community college sector
Ability to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data
Competence in the usage of PeopleSoft, Degree Works, Starfish, Bright Space, and Microsoft Office products
Highly developed problem solving and conflict resolution skills
A strong interest in building cooperative relationships
Demonstrated ability to manage budgets and comprehensive departmental operations
Bilingual verbal and written fluency

Responsibilities

Assesses and evaluates operations and facilitates changes, as needed.
Partners with campus leaders in leveraging technology-enabled solutions to streamline workflows, referrals, early warning, and more to foster a community of care on behalf of our students and to help bring successful approaches and interventions to scale.
Consistently demonstrates support of the College's vision for the effective coordination of an integrated set of data-informed academic advising and transition services that support equitable outcomes in student achievement, momentum, retention, and on-time degree completion/transfer.
Exercises fiscal responsibility and acumen.
Fosters collaborative working relationships with faculty, staff and students in support of student success initiatives for all students and, in particular, student groups with unique barriers to success including first generation college students, students with documented disabilities, adult learners, and students from marginalized populations.
Works collaboratively and cooperatively campus-wide with administrators, faculty, and staff to foster consistent college-wide communication, and intentional and ongoing advising and student success professional development opportunities.
Works collaboratively and cooperatively campus-wide with administrators, faculty, and staff to raise awareness and clarify the role of Accessibility Services, its practices and policies in accordance with ADA and other appropriate laws.
Oversees the development of an onboarding and training program for new counselors, consistent with current, evidence-based practices in the field, and ongoing professional development for academic counselors, embedded counselors, and support for faculty with advising responsibilities.
Stays apprised of evidence-based practices and other developments in the field of academic advising, accessibility and student success.
Supports a culture of assessment through the tracking, collection, reporting and analysis of services for continuous improvement. Shares results with Student Affairs and relevant members of the campus community.
May perform other incidental tasks, as required.