Associate Dean of Students

Gustavus Adolphus College; Saint Peter (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Paid parental leave

Job summary

Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN seeks an Associate Dean of Students to lead the Student Life Division, coordinate care and advocacy for students, and advance retention and belonging initiatives. The role oversees departments, manages budgets, and contributes to campus-wide student success programs.

The position requires 3+ years in student-facing roles, a related Bachelor's degree, and availability for occasional after-hours work.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in student-facing job function in a higher education setting.
• Bachelor’s Degree in related field.
• Ability to work occasional nights, weekends, holidays as needed to support the College.
• Ability to measure success in overall results of work output.

Responsibilities

• Direct Student Support: serve as the dean for assigned cohorts, providing direct student support, counseling, advocacy, care-mapping, and problem-solving services to students and their families.
• Student Support Specialist & Case Management: deliver coordinated care, navigation, and wrap-around support for students facing complex personal, academic, or institutional challenges.
• Basic Needs & Wellness Integration: lead integration of basic needs resources with holistic wellness initiatives; connect students with Counseling Center, Health Service, and community resources.
• Retention Focus & Engagement Opportunities: develop and implement retention strategies and student engagement opportunities to foster belonging and persistence, especially for at-risk students.
• Care Mapping & Team Collaboration: conduct care-mapping sessions; serve on Student Assistance Team, Behavioral Assessment Team, and Bias Response Team.
• Departmental Supervision: supervise multiple departments within the Student Life Division.
• Personnel Development: manage recruitment, orientation, development, and engagement initiatives, including chairing search committees.
• Budget Management: oversee budgets and support budget managers.
• Leadership Group: participate in Dean of Students leadership and Student Life Leadership Team to contribute to strategy, crisis management, and student success initiatives.
• Crisis Response: participate in on-call rotation for 24/7/365 emergency response.
• Committee Service: engage in divisional and College-wide committees and planning activities.
• Awards & Honors: manage Student Life awards process and Honors Weekend events.
• Other Duties: perform other duties; some evenings, weekends, and holidays required.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Masters Degree in relevant field

Job description

Associate Dean of Students Dean of Students

Openings: 1

Description

JOB SUMMARY: The Associate Dean of Students provides leadership within the Student Life Division while serving as a key resource for student support, care coordination, advocacy, and retention. This role supervises departments and professional staff, supports students navigating complex personal, academic, and institutional challenges, and leads initiatives that promote student wellbeing, engagement, belonging, and persistence. The Associate Dean also contributes to divisional strategy, crisis response, budget management, staff development, and campus-wide student success initiatives.

Employment Status: Full-Time (1.0 FTE), Exempt (Salaried), Benefits Eligible

Salary Range: $70,000-85,000

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Support, Care Coordination & Retention:

• Direct Student Support: Serve as the dean for assigned cohorts, providing direct student support, general counseling, advocacy, care-mapping, and problem-solving services to students and their families.
• Student Support Specialist & Case Management: Act as a Student Support Specialist / Case Manager within the Dean of Students office to deliver coordinated care, navigation, and wrap-around support for students facing complex personal, academic, or institutional challenges.
• Basic Needs & Wellness Integration: Lead the integration of basic needs resources (housing/food security, emergency support) with holistic wellness initiatives; serve as a primary liaison connecting students with the Counseling Center, Health Service, and community resources.
• Retention Focus & Engagement Opportunities: Develop, assess, and implement targeted retention strategies and student engagement opportunities designed to foster connection, sense of belonging, and persistence, particularly for students identified as at-risk or navigating significant barriers.
• Care Mapping & Team Collaboration: Conduct individual care-mapping sessions with students to outline actionable growth pathways; actively serve on multi-disciplinary support groups including the Student Assistance Team, Behavioral Assessment Team, and Bias Response Team.

Leadership, Supervision & Operations:

• Departmental Supervision: Supervise and support multiple departments within the Student Life Division.
• Personnel Development: Manage professional staff recruitment, orientation, ongoing development, and employee engagement initiatives, including chairing search committees.
• Budget Management: Oversee and manage operational budgets within areas of responsibility and provide support to budget managers in departments under direct supervision.
• Leadership Group: Serve as an active member of the Dean of Students leadership team and the Student Life Leadership Team, contributing to divisional strategy, crisis management, and student success initiatives.

On-Call Responsibilities & Institutional Service:

• Crisis Response: Share responsibilities in the campus-wide Deans on-call rotation for 24/7/365 emergency and crisis response.
• Committee Service: Participate in designated divisional and College-wide committees, programs, and strategic planning activities.
• Awards & Honors: Administer the annual Student Life awards process—soliciting nominations, coordinating selection, and managing associated Honors Weekend events.
• Other Duties: Perform other duties as assigned. (Note: Some evening, weekend, and holiday work is required).

Prerequisites

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3+ years in student-facing job function in a higher education setting
• Bachelor’s Degree in related field
• Ability to work occasional nights, weekends, holidays as needed to support the College
• Ability to measure success in overall results of work output

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and understanding of the residential liberal arts college experience
• Masters Degree in relevant field

WORK EXPECTATIONS:

• Must live within 20 miles of the Gustavus Adolphus College campus
• Expected to work primarily in person, on campus (potential remote work options at the discretion of the supervisor)

Gustavus offers competitive and comprehensive benefits which include:

• Medical insurance (which includes access to Nice Healthcare) as well as dental, vision, and life insurance
• Workplace accommodations for physical or mental health concerns
• Onsite health services
• Free parking, exercise classes, and use of library and athletic facilities
• Paid parental leave
• Employer contribution to retirement savings plan (after one year of employment)
• Tuition benefit plan for employees and spouse

Gustavus Adolphus College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.

Gustavus Adolphus College is one of the nation’s leading private liberal arts colleges serving approximately 1,800 students. The College aspires to be a community of persons from diverse backgrounds who respect and affirm the dignity of all people. Known for its strong science, writing, music, athletics, study-away, and service-learning programs, Gustavus is located on a scenic 340-acre hill in St. Peter, Minnesota only one hour southwest of the Twin Cities.