Director of Student Advocacy & IvyCares

Ivy Tech Community College•East Chicago, IN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Student Advocate at Ivy Tech Community College – Lake County serves as a neutral, confidential, and informal resource for students seeking assistance in navigating college policies, resolving concerns, and addressing barriers to their academic and personal success. This role promotes fairness, student rights, and risk mitigation while fostering a culture of trust and accountability. The Director also provides leadership and oversight for IvyCares, coordinating wraparound support and resources that help students address personal and basic-needs barriers affecting enrollment, persistence, and completion.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Strong understanding of college policies and student services in higher education.
Experience in mediation, counseling, student advocacy, or a related field.
Exceptional communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to maintain confidentiality, neutrality, and objectivity.
Skilled in identifying trends and making policy or procedural recommendations.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Conflict Resolution, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact to assist students in determining the next steps for resolving academic and non-academic issues.
Explain and interpret college policies, procedures, and student rights.
Provide high-level customer service by offering a safe and neutral space for students to share concerns.
Mimic a case management approach without enforcing policy violations.
Provide informal resolution strategies and act as a confidential intermediary.
Deliver QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and suicide prevention training.
Address concerns before they escalate into formal complaints or disciplinary actions.
Consult on issues of student discomfort (e.g., interpersonal conflicts with faculty or peers).
Review and assess incident reports and student complaints.
Maintain a secure, de-identified database of cases using a color-coded stoplight system to track the resolution methods of each case.
Identify patterns, such as discrimination or policy gaps, and use the findings to make recommendations to leadership.
Submit an End-of-Year Report summarizing themes, risks mitigated, and student retention impact.
Use the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook, college website, Lafayette-specific policies, and ASOM guidelines to advise students.
Partner with mental health and conduct-related staff (e.g., Stephanie) to ensure a cohesive approach to student care.
Advocate for equity and address systemic gaps caused by unwritten or poorly documented policies.
Facilitate training sessions, such as "What is the Role of an Ombudsperson?" for staff, faculty, and student groups.
Actively promote services through orientations, flyers, and campus partnerships.
Conduct 5–10 student appointments per week and devote the remaining time to outreach and reporting.
Provide overall leadership and day-to-day oversight of IvyCares services, ensuring students receive timely, caring, and coordinated assistance.
Assess student needs and service gaps related to transportation, emergency financial assistance, food insecurity, housing, childcare, mental health, technology, and other barriers that may affect enrollment, persistence, and completion.
Develop individualized student support plans and connect students with appropriate campus departments, community agencies, and external resources through effective referrals and warm handoffs.
Oversee IvyCares intake, case coordination, follow-up, and confidential recordkeeping in accordance with FERPA, College policies, and applicable requirements.
Manage IvyCares resources and processes, including emergency aid requests, food pantry access, and the distribution and retrieval of other student-support resources.
Maintain and review IvyCares data to monitor student needs, services provided, outcomes, resource utilization, and the program’s impact on student retention and completion.
Manage the IvyCares budget and related requisitions, ensuring resources are allocated effectively, equitably, and in alignment with College guidelines.
Build and maintain partnerships with campus leaders, faculty, staff, community organizations, and service providers to strengthen the network of support available to students.
Promote awareness of IvyCares services across Lake County through outreach, presentations, workshops, and coordinated campus communications.
Identify trends and recurring barriers, recommend service improvements, and provide reports to leadership on student needs, program activity, resource gaps, and outcomes.

Benefits

Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care
10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
Short-term and long-term disability benefits
Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children
Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
Paid professional development opportunities
Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess
Flexible work arrangements where available
Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)
Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services