Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

Purdue University; Hammond (IN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits package

Vacation and holidays

Retirement contributions

Health Savings Account

Wellness programs

Parental leave

Tuition remission

Job summary

Purdue University Northwest seeks an Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success to lead the First-Gen Student Success Center and deliver holistic advising, coaching, and mentoring to first-generation students. The role focuses on retention, engagement, and coordinated campus services to promote graduation and persistence.

The position emphasizes data-informed program development, cross-campus collaboration, and supervision of student staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of two years of professional or graduate-level experience in higher education, student success, or related field.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the First-Gen Student Success Center.
• Supervise student workers including hiring, training, and scheduling.
• Track and monitor student engagement to inform programming and staffing.
• Assist with developing retention programs and initiatives for first-gen students.
• Provide holistic advising, coaching, and mentoring to support student success.
• Collaborate with campus partners and participate in committees to advance student outcomes.
• Support data collection, assessment, and reporting efforts for program evaluation.
• Build partnerships with local communities and Purdue campuses to pathways for access and success.

Skills

Advising & coaching

Student engagement

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Collaboration

Diversity & inclusion

Program evaluation

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Student information systems

Data reporting tools

Job description

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Overview of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

The Educational Opportunity Programs at Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is seeking an Assistant Director for First-Generation Student Success to join their team. The Assistant Director for First-Generation Student Success supports the development, coordination, and delivery of programs and services that promote the retention, engagement, and success of first-generation college students. This role oversees the day-to-day operations of the First-Gen Student Success Center, including supervision of student staff and monitoring of student engagement to inform programming and services.

The Assistant Director provides holistic advising, coaching, and support to students; assists with the implementation of retention and engagement initiatives; and contributes to data collection, assessment, and reporting efforts to guide continuous improvement. This position collaborates with campus partners, serves on institutional committees (e.g., First-Gen Steering Committee and Navigate Care Team), and helps build partnerships that advance a coordinated, student-centered approach to success.

Pay:

• $55,000 - $60,000

Duties and Responsibilities of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

Center Operations & Student Staff Supervision:

• Support the day-to-day operations of the First-Gen Student Success Center, ensuring a welcoming and resource-rich environment.
• Supervise student workers, including hiring, training, scheduling, and oversight of daily responsibilities.
• Track and monitor student engagement within the center (e.g., usage, participation, and trends) to inform programming, staffing, and continuous improvement efforts.

Program Development & Implementation:

• Assisting with developing and implementing retention programs and initiatives to ensure that first-gen students persist and graduate.This may involve creating mentoring programs, workshops, and peer support networks.

Student Support & Engagement:
Provide holistic advising, coaching, and mentoring to support the success and persistence of first-generation and underrepresented students, including developing individualized success plans and connecting students to campus resources.

• Plan and implement engagement initiatives and monitor student progress through outreach and collaboration with campus partners.

Data, Assessment & Reporting:

• Assist with the collection, tracking, and organization of student success data to support program evaluation and continuous improvement.
• Monitor first-generation student engagement and collaborate with campus partners to advance data-informed practices that improve student outcomes.

Campus Collaboration & Partnerships:

• Collaborate with campus departments and offices—including Admissions, Educational Opportunity Programs, and Academic Affairs—to ensure a coordinated approach to supporting first-generation students.
• Serve on the First-Gen Steering Committee and the Navigate Care Team to support cross-campus student success initiatives and coordinated interventions.
• Build and maintain partnerships with local communities and organizations to create pathways that support access, persistence, and success for first-generation students.
• Peform other duties as assigned.

Benefits of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

• Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
• Accrue15 days’ vacation your first year, then22 days’ vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
• University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
• University contributions to Health Savings Account –
• Plusa chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
• 10 paid holidays
• Employee Wellness Programs
• Paid Parental Leaveafter one year of service
• Tuition remission for you,yourspouseand dependent children at any Purdue campus
  

For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/

Education of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required
• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related discipline preferred

Experience of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

• Minimum of two years of professional or graduate-level experience in higher education, student success, or a related field, with demonstrated experience supporting diverse student populations
• Graduate assistantships or relevant practicum/internship experiences may count toward required experience

Core Competencies of Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, with the ability to implement student success and retention initiatives in a university setting and complete projects in a timely manner.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, staff, students, and external partners.
• Proficient in using technology and data systems to support student engagement, communication, and program operations.
• Demonstrated ability to support diverse student populations through advising, coaching, and student-centered practices, with an understanding of the barriers students may face in higher education.
• Ability to assess and evaluate program outcomes to inform continuous improvement.
• Proven ability to foster an inclusive, supportive learning environment and advocate for student needs within the institution.

Additional Information

Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position.

Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment.Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.

Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.

Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is an student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.

Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.

PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Collegesreport andis recognized as a First Scholars institution as well an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, andimpactour world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positivelyimpactsregional development.

FLSA Status

Exempt

© 2018 Purdue University Northwest | An equal access/equal opportunity university