Assistant Director for Retention

UWLAC University of Wisconsin La Crosse; United States; On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Health insurance

Holidays & sick days

Retirement plan

Job summary

The University of Wisconsin invites applications for the Assistant Director for Retention in Student Affairs. The role leads holistic advising, retention outreach, and program assessment to support student success.

The AD supervises two Retention Specialists, coordinates living-learning initiatives and partnerships with Financial Aid, Institutional Research, and campus partners, with a focus on underrepresented and first‑generation students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's preferred.
• Minimum 4 years in higher education.
• Experience with student populations in higher ed.
• Ability to build partnerships campus-wide.
• Experience advising student groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead holistic advising practices to support student success.
• Supervise two Retention Specialists.
• Coordinate retention programs and learning communities.
• Collaborate with Financial Aid and Institutional Research on data.
• Develop assessment plans for retention outcomes.
• Engage with diverse student populations and partners.

Skills

Holistic advising

Program development

Assessment and evaluation

Multiculturalism knowledge

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s Degree in Higher Education or related field

Tools

Workday

Navigate

Canvas

Job description

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process.

Position Title: Assistant Director for Retention

Job Category: Academic Staff

Employment Type: Regular

Job Profile: Student Affairs Assistant Director (C)

Job Duties

The Assistant Director (AD) of Retention reports to the Director of Multicultural Student Services.

The AD leads the development of holistic advising practices, academic/financial retention outreach and programs, and assessment of retention program initiatives which centers on student success, by utilizing one’s expertise on multiculturalism and social identities.

In addition, the AD supervises two Retention Specialists that provide academic programs and services that support student success.

The AD is responsible for overseeing Partners in Residence Initiative, AERIE living/learning community, UW System Wisconsin Tuition Promise, and assist in an emerging learning community.

The review of applications starts on November23,2026. Applications received on or before November23rd are prioritized and review will continue until the position(s) is/are filled.

Initial interviews will be conducted virtually, with shortlisted candidates invited to campus.

UW-La Crosse does not offer H‑1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.

If you have questions regarding this, please contact Human Resources at 608‑785‑8013.

Key Job Responsibilities

Academic and Financial Retention: Work with academic college and/or departments when advising students with academic, financial and/or social challenges, and make referrals when necessary to assist student's persistence through graduation.

Serve as a liaison with the UW‑La Crosse Financial Aid office; meet regularly with Financial Aid staff members to stay updated on regulations and policies that Satisfaction Academic Progress and other financial opportunities.

Coordinate academic and financial retention emerging practices and/or trainings for OMSS staff.

Direct and assign OMSS staff on early alerts students and meet regularly with students who are in advisement load, academic probation, academically ineligible and/or are attempting to reenter the university.

Ensure record keeping and use of EAB Navigate as a practice for tracking appointments, progress and campaigns.

Develop and facilitate the high impact practice program and/or services that relate to the retention and graduation of students.

Provide intrusive academic advising to various student populations such as participants in high‑impact practice programs, on academic progress, suspension, warning, and probation.

Create opportunities for student engagement to advance learning, leadership, and/or mentorship with retention base programming.

Identify student needs and strategize solutions to enhance academic success and academic program progress of probation, transfer, and new/continuing students.

Engage with the recruitment and retention of a diverse student population and provide leadership for the development of living and learning programs.

Administration: Assists in increasing the access, outreach, retention and success of underrepresented students, first generation students, low‑income students, and other intersecting identities.

Foster relationships with appropriate campus departments to develop academic and career related programs to assist student's persistence through graduation.

Collaborate with campus partners to coordinate support initiatives such as: financial aid, graduate preparation, mental health awareness, and other initiatives to address program and services related to retention.

Oversee the hiring, training, evaluation, and supervision of two full‑time professional Retention Specialists.

Supervise, onboard, and conduct developmental performance reviews for professional staff.

Establish methods/plan to measure and maintain ongoing assessment efforts to evaluate the quality of internal high impact practice programs for retention program outcomes and effectiveness.

Oversee staff member of program implementation and assist in the review of assessment for AERIE and Wisconsin Tuition Promise and assess the findings on an annual basis.

Coordinates transition and retention strategies for students to address differentials in attrition and retention.

Work with Institutional Research office to develop strategies and initiatives to collect data, evaluate/assess retention efforts, and help develop measurable strategies, learning outcomes, and action plans for key student cohorts to improve retention and graduation rates.

Department and other campus retention efforts: Establish and maintain ongoing efforts to assess and evaluate the quality of campus life for students and recommend appropriate solutions to address campus life issues.

Serve on university committees.

Occasional weekend, evening work and travel is required.

Other duties as assigned, reflective of unit and divisional mission and values.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree with an advanced degree preferred.

Minimum 4 years full-time experience in a higher education setting, related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Experience working with student populations in higher education via program development, implementation, and assessment.

Experience or demonstrated ability to work with low income, first generation, transfer, and multicultural students in an educational setting.

Ability to work cooperatively/effectively to develop key partnerships with various faculty, staff, and students throughout the campus community and community partners.

Experience advising student groups.

Demonstrated proficiency in oral and written communication skills.

Strong computer skills, including proficiency w/ MS Office applications.

Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a part of a team.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs & Administration, Leadership, or other closely related field.

Experience coordinating marketing, communication strategies, and working with internal/external stakeholders for projects.

Knowledge and application of student development and learning theory in the advancement of policies and procedures supporting student’s success.

Direct experience in leading and executing activities that promote multiculturalism or working with multicultural student groups.

Experience managing or supervising professional and/or student staff.

Strong computer proficiency with Workday, Canvas, and Navigate.

Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills.

Compensation

$60,000 / year

Benefits

• Paid vacation for 12‑month positions.
• Excellent flexible health insurance with low co‑pays and good coverage.
• Paid holidays and paid sick days.
• After 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post‑career.
• Benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.
• Benefit eligibility is determined at the point of hire.
• Benefits are also pro‑rated based on the appointment percentage.

Equal Opportunity Employer

UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies.

We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

About the Universities of Wisconsin

The Universities of Wisconsin serve approximately 161,000 students. Awarding nearly 37,000 degrees annually, the Universities of Wisconsin is Wisconsin’s talent pipeline, putting graduates in position to increase their earning power, contribute to their communities, and make Wisconsin a better place to live.

Nearing 90 percent of in‑state Universities of Wisconsin graduates stay in Wisconsin five years after earning a degree – with a median salary of more than $66,000.

The Universities of Wisconsin provides a 23:1 return on state investment.

The Universities of Wisconsin also contribute to the richness of Wisconsin’s culture and economy with groundbreaking research, new companies and patents, and boundless creative intellectual energy.

The Universities of Wisconsin and its employees are purpose‑driven, people‑focused, and committed to stewardship.

Policy Information

Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.

CBC & Reference Check Policy All candidates for employment are subject to a pre‑employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.uwlax.edu/student-life/student-resources/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000.