Assistant Director for First Generation College Student Success

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

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement

Life Insurance

Paid holidays

Vacation accrual

Job summary

Purdue University Northwest in Hammond, IN seeks an Assistant Director for First-Generation Student Success to lead the First-Gen Student Success Center, supervise staff, and drive retention and engagement programs for first-generation students.

The role provides holistic advising, data-informed program assessments, and campus collaborations through committees like First-Gen Steering Committee and Navigate Care Team. Requires a Bachelor's; Master’s preferred.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the First-Gen Student Success Center.
• Supervise student staff, including hiring, training, scheduling, and oversight.

Skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Communication skills

Advising & coaching

Data-informed decision making

Collaboration

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Overview of Assistant Director for First Generation CollegeStudent Success

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

The Assistant Director provides holistic advising, coaching, andsupport to students; assists with the implementation of retentionand engagement initiatives; and contributes to data collection,assessment, and reporting efforts to guide continuous improvement. This position collaborates with campus partners, serves oninstitutional committees (e.g., First-Gen Steering Committee andNavigate Care Team), and helps build partnerships that advance acoordinated, 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 StudentSuccess Center, ensuring a welcoming and resource-richenvironment.
• 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 programsand initiatives to ensure that first-gen students persist andgraduate.This may involve creating mentoring programs, workshops,and peer support networks.

Student Support & Engagement:

Provide holistic advising, coaching, and mentoring to support thesuccess and persistence of first-generation and underrepresentedstudents, including developing individualized success plans andconnecting students to campus resources.

• Plan and implement engagement initiatives and monitor studentprogress through outreach and collaboration with campuspartners.

Data, Assessment & Reporting:

• Assist with the collection, tracking, and organization ofstudent success data to support program evaluation and continuousimprovement.
• Monitor first-generation student engagement and collaboratewith campus partners to advance data-informed practices thatimprove student outcomes.

Campus Collaboration & Partnerships:

• Collaborate with campus departments and offices—includingAdmissions, Educational Opportunity Programs, and AcademicAffairs—to ensure a coordinated approach to supportingfirst-generation students.
• Serve on the First-Gen Steering Committee and the Navigate CareTeam to support cross-campus student success initiatives andcoordinated interventions.
• Build and maintain partnerships with local communities andorganizations 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 CollegeStudent Success

• Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability,Retirement, Life Insurance and more

• Accrue 15 days' vacation your first year, then 22 days'vacation your 2nd year plus rollover

• University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waitingperiod)

• University contributions to Health Savings Account –

• Plus a chance to earn more through participating in UniversityWellness Initiatives

• 10 paid holidays

• Employee Wellness Programs

• Paid Parental Leaveafter one year of service

• Tuition remission for you,yourspouse and dependent childrenat any Purdue campus

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

Education of Assistant Director for First Generation CollegeStudent 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 CollegeStudent Success

• Minimum of two years of professional or graduate-level experience in higher education, student success, or a relatedfield, with demonstrated experience supporting diverse studentpopulations
• Graduate assistantships or relevant practicum/internshipexperiences may count toward required experience

Core Competencies of Assistant Director for First GenerationCollege Student Success

• Demonstrated organizational and project management skills, withthe ability to implement student success and retention initiativesin a university setting and complete projects in a timelymanner.
• 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 supportstudent engagement, communication, and program operations.
• Demonstrated ability to support diverse student populations through advising, coaching, and student-centered practices, with anunderstanding of the barriers students may face in highereducation.
• Ability to assess and evaluate program outcomes to informcontinuous improvement.
• Proven ability to foster an inclusive, supportive learningenvironment and advocate for student needs within theinstitution.

Additional Information

Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for thisposition.

Professional references will be verified prior to any offer ofemployment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successfulbackground check along with a motor vehicle records check ifapplicable.

Equal Opportunity

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

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

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

PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regionaluniversities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Collegesreport and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well anInnovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision tocultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNWadvances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positivelyimpacts regional development.

FLSA Status

Exempt