Assistant Dean of Student Success

Western University of Health Sciences; Pomona (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Western University of Health Sciences seeks an Assistant Dean of Student Success to lead academic counseling, coaching, and early-alert processes forOptometry College students. You will coordinate interventions, mentor faculty, and drive programs promoting persistence, professional readiness, and licensure preparation.

Under the Associate Dean of Student Life & Success, you will ensure confidential support services, data-driven improvements, and collaboration across faculty, administrators, and

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, education, health professions education, psychology, public health, or a closely related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, academic advising, student success, or related student-support environment.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for academic counseling, student support planning, and coordinated intervention services designed to promote academic progress, persistence, retention, and successful degree completion.
• Leads early-alert, progress-monitoring, and case management processes for students experiencing academic difficulty; coordinates timely outreach, documentation, follow-up, and referrals in collaboration with faculty and University support offices.
• Provides individualized academic counseling and coaching to students regarding academic performance, study planning, time management, professional expectations, and strategies for successful progression through the curriculum.
• Coordinates faculty consultation related to student performance and serves as a resource to faculty seeking guidance on student support, referrals, academic recovery planning, and appropriate intervention strategies.
• Collaborates to align academic counseling, learning support, tutoring, diagnostic assessment, workshops, and targeted intervention services for students with identified needs.

Skills

Student success

Academic advising

Communication

Collaboration

Problem solving

Project management

Data analysis

Confidentiality

Education

Master’s degree in higher education or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Student Information Systems

Learning Management Systems

CRM systems

Data-tracking/reporting tools

Job description

As you take your first step onto a Western University of Health Sciences campus, each path, each person, each structure comes with a transformative story. WesternU is more than the practice of medicine. We are defined by character and culture.

At WesternU, you will discover humanism at the heart of every interaction: a warm welcome, a sincere smile, a positive word, a kind deed, a thoughtful gesture. You will see students work together on case studies; a parade of pets in campus parks; student clubs offering opportunities for career growth and community involvement; and faculty, staff and students designing their future and the future of WesternU. We display a collaborative mindset in how we operate, educate, and serve others.

Although, geographically, we are two campuses - as humanists, we are one: to enhance and extend the quality of life in our communities and achieve excellence in everything we do. We attract diverse, professional faculty, staff and students that thrive in an environment of humanistic health care education. Join our team of faculty and staff and make a difference.

Position Title

Position Title Assistant Dean of Student Success

Position Control Number

Position Control Number 999297

Type of Position

Type of Position Administration

Position Status

Position Status Full-time

Department

Department 2001-College of Optometry

Campus

Campus Western University Campus-Pomona, CA

Position Location

Position Location California

Job Summary

Under the general direction of the Associate Dean of Student Life and Success, the Assistant Dean of Student Success provides leadership for the College of Optometry’s academic success, student intervention, retention, and professional readiness initiatives. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Student Life & Success, the Assistant Dean coordinates proactive, student-centered systems that help students navigate academic challenges, connect with appropriate resources, strengthen their sense of belonging, and progress successfully toward graduation and licensure. The position leads academic counseling and coaching, early-alert and case management processes, faculty advising and mentoring initiatives, student leadership development, and coordinated support for students experiencing academic, personal, or psychosocial challenges.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Individuals must possess these knowledge, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities.

• Thorough knowledge of student success practices, academic advising, retention strategies, early-alert systems, case management, and student development principles.
• Ability to establish trusting, professional relationships with students while maintaining appropriate boundaries, confidentiality, and sound judgment.
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately to sensitive or urgent student concerns and coordinate referrals to qualified professionals and institutional resources.
• Strong consultation and collaboration skills for working effectively with faculty, administrators, staff, students, and external constituents.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate difficult or sensitive information with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
• Demonstrated ability to design, implement, assess, and continuously improve programs using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Working knowledge of student privacy requirements, institutional policies, and professional standards relevant to student records and support services.
• Strong organizational, project management, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, student information systems, learning management systems, customer relationship management systems, and data-tracking/reporting tools.
• Demonstrate a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism

Required Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, education, health professions education, psychology, public health, or a closely related field from an accredited institution.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student affairs, academic advising, student success, or a related student-support environment.
  • Demonstrated experience working with students experiencing academic difficulty and coordinating interventions across faculty, academic, and student-support units.

Preferred Qualifications

• Earned doctoral degree (e.g., EdD, PhD, OD, or related terminal degree) and/or advanced training in student success, academic advising, counseling, or health professions education.
• Prior leadership, program management, supervision, or responsibility for complex cross-functional initiatives strongly preferred.

Academic Advising, Student Progress & Intervention

• Provides leadership for academic counseling, student support planning, and coordinated intervention services designed to promote academic progress, persistence, retention, and successful degree completion.
• Leads early-alert, progress-monitoring, and case management processes for students experiencing academic difficulty; coordinates timely outreach, documentation, follow-up, and referrals in collaboration with faculty and University support offices.
• Provides individualized academic counseling and coaching to students regarding academic performance, study planning, time management, professional expectations, and strategies for successful progression through the curriculum.
• Coordinates faculty consultation related to student performance and serves as a resource to faculty seeking guidance on student support, referrals, academic recovery planning, and appropriate intervention strategies.
• Collaborates to align academic counseling, learning support, tutoring, diagnostic assessment, workshops, and targeted intervention services for students with identified needs.

• Oversees the College’s faculty mentor programs, including program design, faculty guidance and training, student-faculty matching processes, participation monitoring, and continuous improvement.
• Leads student leadership development initiatives, Student Government Association engagement, student buddy programming, and student town halls to strengthen communication, belonging, leadership capacity, and student voice.
• Coordinates support for students navigating disability accommodations and related institutional processes in partnership with the Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Polic ( CDHP ).
• Serves as a student-facing resource for mental health and wellness concerns by providing supportive consultation, facilitating referrals to appropriate University or community resources, and participating in coordinated response to urgent student concerns within the scope of the position.
• Develops and assesses programs that promote student engagement, persistence, resilience, professional identity, and readiness for the demands of optometric education and practice.
• Develops and coordinates licensure readiness initiatives that help students understand professional expectations, milestones, resources, and preparation strategies associated with board examinations and entry into professional practice.

Assessment, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Supports the Student Performance Committee and related student progression processes by organizing student success information, coordinating follow-up actions, and helping ensure that intervention plans are implemented consistently and in accordance with College policies.
• Monitors student success and retention indicators; analyzes patterns in academic performance, referrals, service utilization, and outcomes to identify emerging needs and recommend data-informed improvements.
• Maintains accurate and confidential student records and ensures compliance with applicable University policies and legal requirements governing student information and educational records.
• Maintains adherence to professional and regional accreditation standards. Collects and assesses data, composes documents, and participates in site visits and reporting requirements in support of the College’s accreditation proces

Collaboration & Professional Responsibilities

• Represents the Office of Student Life & Success on College and University committees, task forces, and initiatives related to student success, retention, advising, student affairs, wellness, and professional development.
• Demonstrates a commitment to working in an organization that values and promotes humanism.
• Performs other duties as assigned. The University/College reserves the right to add or modify duties at any time.

Posting Details Continued

Work Schedule

• Exempt position – typical workweek is Monday through Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM. Some nights and weekends required.

We believe in making an impact in the lives of our employees, personally, and professionally. Every employee has different individual and/or family needs. We offer benefits that are both comprehensive and flexible to address your unique needs. We believe work-life harmony is positive and achievable.

We offer competitive salaries, generous paid time off, insurance plans, reimbursements, and retirement benefits. Additionally,

• Our faculty, staff, and administrators are 100% focused on student success.
• Our University culture creates the context for a nurturing and supportive environment.
• Faculty, staff, and students can expect to make deep, personal relationships within the University community.
• As a Faculty, Staff, or Student at WesternU, you can focus on work that you love, be your authentic self, and lead to the future with innovation in health sciences.
• WesternU’s core value of humanism encourages all to bring their whole self in all that they do.
• We are committed to fostering a culture of respect, equity, collaboration, and fun at all levels for all people!

Expected Pay Scale

Minimum

Minimum $80,000.00 Annually

Maximum

Maximum $100,000.00 Annually

Physical Demands

Physical Demands

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting?

Do the essential functions of this job require lifting? Yes

If yes, list maximum weight and duration

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be available to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to operate a computer, communicate verbally, and hear. The employee is regularly required to sit and reach with hands and arms and is occasionally required to stand, walk, and stoop. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. There are no specific vision abilities required.

Describe Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those encountered while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Duties are normally performed in a typical office and academic setting. Occasional work at campus events, meetings, or off-site activities may be required. The noise level is usually moderate due to telephone calls, office equipment, meetings, and normal student traffic.

Posting Information

Posting Number

Posting Number A01067

Posting Date

Posting Date 10/01/2026

Close Date

Close Date 10/01/2027

Open Until Filled Yes

Conditions of Employment - Background Check

To secure employment, successful fulfillment of a background check, including a criminal records check, may be required. Western University of Health Sciences will extend a conditional offer of employment, subject to rescission if the background check unveils disqualifying information or if it is found that the candidate deliberately withheld or misrepresented information. Non-completion of the background check to satisfaction may impact the ongoing employment of a current Western University of Health Sciences employee who received a conditional offer for the position.

Pay Transparency Act

Pay Transparency Act- Western University of Health Sciences is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This range considers various factors in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. The Expected Pay Scale is defined as the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Placement within the Expected Pay Scale is determined by internal equity and relevant qualifications.

Equal Opportunity Statement (EEO)

It is the policy of Western University to provide equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment as required by law without regard to age, race, color, national origin ancestry, citizenship, ethnicity, creed, religion or religious creed, sex or gender (including gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, disability (both physical and mental) including HIV and AIDS, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), pregnancy (which includes childbirth, breastfeeding and medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding), age, genetic information, military and veteran status, or any other applicable protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.This policy applies to all employment practices within WesternU including without limitation, hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoffs, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training. WesternU makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merits, and business needs at the time.

Required Documents

• Resume

Optional Documents

• Cover Letter
• Letter of Recommendation #1
• Letter of Recommendation #2
• Letter of Recommendation #3
• Additional Applicant Document
• Required License/Certification

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? Please provide the name of the website, individual, or organization.

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Are you a current employee at Western University of Health Sciences?
  • Yes
  • No

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