Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence (SAIE) is the central student affairs division of the University of Denver.
SAIE supports students in their holistic development through advocacy, collaboration, and education, and we strive to be full partners in students’ learning experience. SAIE values student centricity; diversity, equity, and inclusion; collaboration; adaptability; and accountability. The Division’s strategic priorities are:
- Enrich the holistic student experience
- Elevate & Embed diversity, equity & inclusion
- Engage purposeful partnerships
- Enhance staff development, learning & wellbeing
- Enact sustainable practices & operations
SAIE includes Housing and Residential Education; Student Engagement; Fraternity and Sorority Life; Health and Counseling Center; Inclusion & Equity Education; Disability Services Program; The Cultural Center; FIRST@DU; Learning Effectiveness Program; Veterans and Military Resources; Student Outreach and Support; Student Rights & Responsibilities; Budget, Operations, and Division Resources; New Student Programs; Parent & Family Engagement; and Community and Driscoll Commons.
Dean of Students: FIRST@DU
FIRST@DU supports all first-generation and low-income students at the University of Denver (DU). FIRST@DU intends to assist first-generation and low-income students by providing resources, support, and funding to help enrich their experience through pre-orientation, academic workshops, cohort experiences (1GENU, VIP). seminars, events, mentoring, and 4D experience for all first-generation and low-income students.
Position Summary
The Director of FIRST@DU for First-Generation Experience is a leader in the Associate Dean of Students (Assoc DOS) area (Student Inclusion & Belonging in the Dean of Students Office) in the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence (SAIE). FIRST@DU primarily serves first-generation students. The Director reports to the Senior Director of FIRST@DU and supports them in setting the vision for first-generation and low-income undergraduate and graduate student support through an intersectional approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). The Director develops programs and resources to support first-generation and low-income students to create an exemplary first-generation student experience at DU. This position supervises professional staff, graduate and undergraduate students.
The Director will work in deeply collaborative ways with the Senior Director and the FIRST@DU team to: (1) utilize best practices to develop an exemplary first-generation undergraduate and graduate student experience; (2) build community and assist first-generation students in developing a sense of belonging; (3) support and advocate for first-generation students, students from historically underrepresented communities and students from a variety of marginalized positionalities; and (4) foster the public good as centrally informed by a commitment to racial, ethnic, cultural, and other social equity outcomes on our campus and beyond.
The Director will work evenings and weekends, as needed. This position is a full-time, 1.0 FTE position reporting to the Senior Director of FIRST@DU.
Essential Functions
Departmental Leadership
- Support Senior Director of FIRST@DU in creating a vision and direction for FIRST@DU
- Facilitate overall event planning of the yearly calendar and signature FIRST@DU programs to support first-generation and low-income undergraduate and graduate student success, including planning First-generation week
- Develop student support initiatives for first-generation and low-income undergraduate and graduate students
- In collaboration with the campus community, develop the components of the FIRST@DU program
- Supervise the development and implementation of FIRST@DU cohort programs, including 1GENU, Davis New Mexico Scholars, Daniels Fund Scholars, and Hummel Scholars
- Work in partnership with Parent and Family Engagement to develop a program to support and engage first-generation and low-income students’ families
- Cultivate connection and engagement of first-generation and low-income students and BIPOC students, both undergraduate and graduate students
Divisional Leadership
- Create and facilitate professional development on first-generation student success for DU community
- Serve as back-up to Senior Director as first-generation and low-income representative on campus-wide committees, for community engagement and support of DU, Alumni and surrounding first-generation and low-income communities, and Advisory Board chair
Administration
- Develop and implement a comprehensive assessment plan to continue to evolve services and outreach to support the persistence of all first-generation students
- Administer budget for FIRST@DU programs
- Maintain updated notes in the appropriate FERPA protected database (Banner and INSPIRE) in a timely manner within 24 business hours of the student meeting
- Supervise the administration of a budget and assessment for cohort based programs
Supervision
- Supervise, train, and evaluate program coordinators, graduate student assistants and undergraduate students
- Provide oversight of the undergraduate student employee experience in FIRST@DU
- Supervise the development of cohort-based student support
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Expertise, knowledge and experience working with first-generation and low-income college students
- Ability to make independent decisions to ensure departmental objectives are met
- Strong communication, both oral and written
- Ability to productively engage across units, departments, and divisions, including building connections with relevant programs, and initiatives
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Higher Education, or related field
- Three to Five (3-5) or more years of administrative and/or program leadership experience
- Three to Five (3-5) or more years of experience working directly with first-generation students
- Demonstrated commitment to and progressive advancement of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Progressive leadership experience in higher education or large organization
- Experience supervising, evaluating, and training full-time professionals
- Demonstrated advocacy and leadership related to racial, ethnic, and/ other intersectional identities
- Experience with program management and budget management
Preferred Qualifications
- Eight (8) or more years of administrative and/or program leadership experience
- Five (5) or more years of experience working directly with first-generation students
- Experience leading teams
- Five (5) or more years experience supervising, evaluating, and training full-time professionals
Experience with strategic planning, assessment, and/or budget management
Working Environment
1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.
Physical Activities
1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.
Work Schedule
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Application Deadline
For best consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) August 21, 2023.
Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.
Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 11.
Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $70,000-$77,000
The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.
Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver .
Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter
The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. The University of Denver prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age (40 years and over in the employment context), religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital status, veterans status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the university’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For the university’s complete Non-Discrimination Statement, please see non-discrimination-statement .
All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.
Advertised: July 26, 2023
Applications close: