Assistant Dean for Student Affairs

Seattle University; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Seattle University invites applications for the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). You will lead student support services, guiding undergrad and graduate students toward academic success and persistence, aligned with our Jesuit mission and inclusive excellence.

You will shape recruitment, retention, and lifecycle events from admissions to graduation, collaborating with faculty, chairs, and university partners to strengthen CAS student experience and

Qualifications

• Experience supporting undergraduate and graduate students in higher education.
• Ability to provide strategic leadership for student services.
• Familiarity with academic policies and advising processes.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic and personal guidance to CAS students.
• Consult with CAS chairs and faculty on advising and policy decisions.
• Represent CAS in committees and review processes with the Registrar and Dean’s Office.
• Oversee academic standing reviews and probation/dismissal decisions for CAS students.
• Oversee student petitions and degree requirement matters (registration, grading).
• Coordinate with University Advising, Student Financial Services, and other offices.

Skills

Team collaboration

Emotional intelligence

Ethics and integrity

Flexibility and innovation

Inclusion

Outcomes-oriented

Job description

Position Details

• Months Per Year: 12
• Work Model: Onsite

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

• Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives.
• Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.
• Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions.
• Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact.
• Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.
• Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.

Job Description Summary

The Assistant Dean for Student Affairs will provide forward-looking, strategic leadership to enhance the academic experience of all undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). The Assistant Dean will oversee the college's student support services and carry out other innovative services to support the academic success, persistence, and development of students in CAS. More broadly, this position will contribute to the College's work on the University Strategic Directions and the College of Arts & Sciences strategic plan to improve our inclusive academic excellence.

The Assistant Dean will provide strategic leadership to enhance the recruitment, retention, and lifecycle events of CAS students. The Assistant Dean will carry out strategies, projects, and events across the student experience, from admissions to graduation and beyond. Central responsibilities of this position include increasing and sustaining student enrollment through thoughtful recruitment and yield activities, providing orientation programs for new students and their families, and facilitating lifecycle events and student ceremonies. More broadly, this position will contribute to the University's Strategic Directions and the College of Arts & Sciences strategic plan to improve our inclusive academic excellence.

Applications will be accepted through November 1, 2026

Position Description

Essential Job Functions

Key functions of the role include providing academic and personal guidance to students, consultation to academic department chairs and all CAS faculty, representing the college in committees, board, and policy work, overseeing the academic standing review of CAS students and determining quarterly probation and dismissal decisions, and overseeing student petitions and college decisions regarding degree requirements, registration, and grading.

These functions are carried out in consultation and/or in collaboration with the academic departments and programs in CAS, the CAS Dean and Dean's office, University Advising, Student Financial Services, Office of the Registrar, University Advancement, University Events, Student Affairs, and other SU colleges and offices. The Assistant Dean reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Essential duties include:

• Represent CAS as Dean's Designee with the Office of the Registrar on academic forms including Petitions to the Dean and Petitions for Exceptions to Policy, Hardship Withdrawals, Student Leave of Absences, and other relevant review and approval capacities.
• Oversee quarterly academic standings of all CAS students below the minimum required GPA, making determinations on academic warning, academic probation, and academic suspensions. The Assistant Dean will meet with students on academic suspension and will make determinations on academic reinstatement.
• Meet with students experiencing academic and personal hardships and assist them in navigating the Hardship Withdrawal process.
• Represent CAS at the Dean of Students office's weekly CARE team meeting and/or consult with CAS Lead Advisor, reviewing student issues deemed moderate or higher, and planning for appropriate interventions with impacted CAS students.
• Maintain professional relationships with University Advising and the professional academic advisors in CAS to