Associate Director, Office of Student Academic Success

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Bridgeport (CT); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401k employer match

Employee & dependent life insurance

Great tuition benefits for employee,sp

PTO program

Flexible work schedules / work from-홈

Job summary

University of Bridgeport is seeking an Associate Director of Academic Success to lead the Heckman Learning Commons, including Tutoring and Learning Center and Testing Center. You will oversee advising, student support, and development of programs to promote persistence and degree completion.

You will supervise student employees, manage day-to-day operations, and partner with faculty and campus departments to ensure equitable access to high‑quality academic support, including proactive

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, or related field.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising, student success, retention, enrollment management, or a related area in higher education.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and assessment skills, with the ability to use data to evaluate student success initiatives, identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Supervisory and budget management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading student retention and persistence initiatives and collaborating across institutional divisions to improve the student experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide support to Director, and leadership and oversight for academic advisors.
• Maintain a caseload of students and provide academic advising, registration support, degree planning, and referrals to appropriate campus resources.
• Develop, implement, and assess student success and retention initiatives designed to improve student persistence, retention, and degree completion.
• Identify and support at-risk students through proactive outreach, intervention strategies, case management, and referrals to campus resources.
• Collaborate with Student Financial Services, the Bursar, Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners to remove barriers to student success and improve the student experience.
• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, students, and families regarding academic policies, student concerns, advising practices, and strategies to support student persistence.
• Foster a culture of care, inclusion, and student success throughout the Heckman Learning Commons and the broader University community.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across academic and administrative departments to support strategic enrollment and retention initiatives.
• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and operational priorities.
• Prepare reports, assessments, and presentations related to student success, retention, advising outcomes, and departmental effectiveness.
• Represent the Heckman Learning Commons on University committees, task forces, and strategic initiatives.
• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.

Skills

Quantitative analysis

Assessment skills

Analytical thinking

Budget management

Supervisory experience

Education

Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, or related field

Job description

The mission of The University of Bridgeport is to promoteacademic excellence, personal responsibility, and commitment toservice. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturallydiverse supportive learning environment prepare graduates for lifeand leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

Position Description Summary/Purpose :

The Associate Director of Academic Success provides leadership,oversight, and strategic direction for academic support serviceswithin the Heckman Learning Commons, including the Tutoring andLearning Center and the Testing Center. Reporting to the Directorof Student Academic Success, the Associate Director develops,implements, and assesses programs and services designed to promotestudent learning, academic achievement, persistence, retention, anddegree completion. The Associate Director supervises student employees; overseesday-to-day operations of academic support services, includingevening operations; and collaborates with faculty, advisors, andcampus departments to ensure equitable access to high-qualityacademic support. The position maintains a student advisingcaseload and provides direct support to students experiencingacademic challenges through proactive interventions, academiccoaching, and individualized success planning.

Essential Job Functions/Primary Responsibilities :

• Provide support to Director, and leadership and oversight for academic advisors.
• Maintain a caseload of students and provide academic advising,registration support, degree planning, and referrals to appropriatecampus resources.
• Develop, implement, and assess student success and retentioninitiatives designed to improve student persistence, retention, anddegree completion.
• Identify and support at-risk students through proactiveoutreach, intervention strategies, case management, and referralsto campus resources.
• Collaborate with Student Financial Services, the Bursar,Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, and other campus partnersto remove barriers to student success and improve the studentexperience.
• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, students, and familiesregarding academic policies, student concerns, advising practices,and strategies to support student persistence.
• Foster a culture of care, inclusion, and student successthroughout the Heckman Learning Commons and the broader Universitycommunity.
• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships across academicand administrative departments to support strategic enrollment andretention initiatives.
• Manage departmental budgets, resources, and operationalpriorities.
• Prepare reports, assessments, and presentations related tostudent success, retention, advising outcomes, and departmentaleffectiveness.
• Represent the Heckman Learning Commons on Universitycommittees, task forces, and strategic initiatives.
• Perform additional duties and special projects asassigned.

Knowledge, Ability and Skill :

• Demonstrated commitment to developing and fostering bestpractices and policies to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion,and build an environment in which all members of the Universitycommunity are treated with respect and dignity.

Qualifications

Minimum Required Qualifications :

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs,Educational Leadership, Counseling, or a related field.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience inacademic advising, student success, retention, enrollmentmanagement, or a related area in higher education.
• Strong quantitative, analytical, and assessment skills, withthe ability to use data to evaluate student success initiatives,identify trends, and inform strategic decision-making.
• Supervisory and budget management experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading student retention and persistenceinitiatives and collaborating across institutional divisions to improve the student experience.

Physical and Mental Requirements :

Work Environment

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Outdoor Weather Conditions

X

Work with fumes or airborne particles

X

Work near moving mechanical parts

X

Risk of electrical shock

X

Vibration

X

Physical Activity

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Standing

X

Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Talking & Hearing

X

X

Using hands/fingers to handle/feel

X

X

Climbing or balancing

X

Bending, pulling, pushing

X

Driving

X

Lifting Requirements

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3

Over 2/3

Up to 10 pounds

X

Up to 25 pounds

X

Up to 50 pounds

X

Up to 75 pounds

X

Up to 100 pounds

X

Over 100 pounds

X

Vision requirements ( Especially relevant if driving isrequired by the job)

_X_ Close vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 inches or less)

___ Distance vision (i.e. clear vision at 20 feet or more)

___ Color vision (i.e. ability to identify and distinguishcolors)

___ Peripheral vision (i.e. ability to observe an area that can be seen up and down or left and right while the eyes are fixed on a given point)

___ Depth perception (i.e. three-dimensional vision, ability to judge distances and spatial relationships)

___ No special vision requirements

Full-Time Employee Benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• 401k employer match
• Employee & dependent life insurance
• Great tuition benefits for employee, spouse &dependents
• PTO program
• Flexible work schedules / work from home opportunities

(This job description does not constitute an employmentagreement between The University of Bridgeport and employee. It isused as a guide for personnel actions and is subject to change bythe University as the needs of the University and requirements ofthe job change.)

The University of Bridgeport provides equal employmentopportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employmentwithout regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexualorientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age,disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or statusas a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state,and local laws. The University of Bridgeport complies withapplicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination inemployment in every location in which the company has facilities.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment,including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion,termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence,compensation, and training.