Director of Veteran, Military and Adult Student Services - Enrollment and Retention

Universities of Wisconsin • Whitewater, WI

36d • $55,000 - $60,000

About The Position

The Director of Veteran, Military and Adult Student Services provides leadership in the administration, management and strategic planning efforts in supporting student veterans, student military service members, and adult students pursuing their degree. This full-time, 12-month position plays an essential role in leading the campus forward and being a voice for veteran, military, and adult student success initiatives. Through cross campus collaborations, the Director supports strategic recruitment, onboarding, and persistence of veteran, military, and adult students. The Director is responsible for maintaining a high level of knowledge about Federal and State veteran benefit regulation and programs to ensure our benefit-receiving students are obtaining the correct benefits. The position works collaboratively with all Enrollment and Retention and Student Affairs units to build pipelines, promote belonging, and improve retention and graduation outcomes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• 3+ years of experience working with or serving veterans and/or military service members
• Strong organizational, programming and event management skills
• Demonstrated knowledge of GI Bills, federal and state laws and guidelines related to veterans’ services, programs and educational benefits

Nice To Haves

• 3+ years of higher education experience in student support, advising or non-traditional student services
• Military service experience or strong familiarity with military
• Experience with student success software (e.g., PeopleSoft, Navigate/EAB)

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary leadership in the administration, management and strategic planning efforts in supporting student veterans, student military service members, and adult students.
• Serve as a Veterans Certifying Official, managing all aspects of GI Bill and related education benefit processing.
• Supervise and support the Veterans Benefit Coordinator, to provide oversight and management of the application of educational benefits and GI Bill, effectively and efficiently for students.
• Direct the university support of student veterans, student military service members, adult students and their families.
• Develops and monitors the fiscal management of the department.
• Lead the hiring, training, and supervision of staff, including student employees, student interns, and graduate assistants.
• Advise the veteran student organization.
• Chair the Chancellor’s Veteran and Military Service Members Committee.
• Connect students to campus and community resources (academic advising, tutoring, counseling, financial aid, career services, childcare, and housing supports).
• Provide individualized coaching on topics such as goal setting, time management, stress management, study skills, and career exploration.
• Use early-alert systems (Navigate) to identify at-risk students and intervene proactively.
• Maintain confidentiality and accurate student records consistent with FERPA.
• Direct the development of long range and short term strategies for adult student recruitment, retention and support.
• Collaborate with campus partners and departments to facilitate services for adult students.
• Collaborate with Whitewater and Rock advising, to best understand online and in person degree options for adult students.
• Represent the needs of adult students to the university.
• Partner with Admissions and community colleges to strengthen transfer pipelines.
• Conduct outreach at transfer fairs, military education events, and adult learner recruitment programs.
• Serve as the primary contact for ReUp and manage the stop-out recruitment process.
• Provide prospective students with guidance on admissions, transfer credit, GI Bill benefits, and financial aid.
• Collaborate with orientation, first-year, and transfer programs to design tailored onboarding experiences.
• Plan and implement programs, workshops, and special events that promote community and engagement for student veterans and student military service members.
• Partner with faculty, staff, and student organizations to create inclusive, community-building initiatives.
• Provide leadership in the development, implementation, and assessment of outreach and educational programs, including development of training materials related to awareness and understanding of veteran’s needs to the campus and community.
• Evaluate programming effectiveness through feedback, participation tracking, and student outcomes.
• Develop and expand peer mentoring, networking opportunities, and success workshops for veterans, transfer, and adult learners.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to integrate inclusive practices into teaching, advising, and support services.
• Serve on various University, community and state-wide organizations, task forces, and committees.
• Participate in professional development activities, conferences, workshops, and training events.
• Track student engagement, retention, and graduation rates for veteran and adult student populations.
• Prepare reports and assessments for institutional leadership, recommending improvements to programs and policies.
• Use student development theory, best practices, and assessment data to drive program design.
• Reviews recommendations for and provides input on the design and development of new outreach programs or services
• Develops and implements operating policies and procedures to promote the outreach program in alignment with the strategic plan
• Determines outreach program needs and the personnel resource allocation plan
• Monitors the unit or program budget and approves program expenditures
• May exercise supervisory authority, including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and/or approving hours worked of at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees
• Supervises the implementation of outreach-program-focused strategic planning initiatives and objectives

Benefits

• UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package.
• To learn more about the UW System's comprehensive benefit package, review the UW System Employee Benefits Brochure.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director