Dean of Students & Engagement

Bay Path University; Longmeadow (MA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Bay Path University seeks a Dean of Students and Engagement to foster an inclusive and student-centered environment. This position oversees student engagement, career services, and residential life, ensuring alignment with the university's mission. The ideal candidate will possess a Master's degree and extensive leadership experience, particularly in hybrid learning settings.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of progressive leadership experience.
• Deep understanding of hybrid and online learning environments.
• Experience in student conduct and restorative justice practices.

Responsibilities

• Execute inclusive student engagement strategies.
• Provide strategic leadership for Career Services integration.
• Oversee a comprehensive residential life program.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Communication

Crisis Management

Student Engagement

Adaptability

Education

Master's degree in Student Affairs or related field

Doctorate preferred

Tools

Student success platforms

Career management systems

Job description

When Bay Path opened its doors to students in 1897, it had a very clear goal: to provide a practical, affordable, and career-oriented education to prepare students to not only meet the needs of companies, organizations, and communities but to also thrive in their professions, identify and realize their dreams, and make a lasting difference in the world. From the beginning, Bay Path prided itself on being entrepreneurial, constantly pushing the boundaries of the academic experience to fit the student...to start them on the road of success. That spirit and philosophy is best reflected in our shared vision, "At Bay Path, every learner's dreams of a better career, a richer life, and a brighter future will be realized."

Bay Path University, an independent and not-for-profit institution, was named Among Fastest Growing Baccalaureate Colleges and Graduate Programs by The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, and is a member of the Women's College Coalition. With a main campus in Longmeadow, MA, and a satellite location in East Longmeadow, MA, Bay Path offers undergraduate, graduate (for women and men) degrees, and professional certificates.

For 125 years, we have been committed to preparing our students to navigate a constantly changing world. Whether it is one of our innovative academic programs, groundbreaking online learning platform, or We Empower Learners and Leaders initiative, we educate our students in ways that will help them to grow, learn to adapt, and always to flourish. Be part of the change. Be Bay Path.

We invite you to visit our website at www.baypath.edu where you can learn more about Bay Path University.

Job Description:

Position Overview

The Dean of Students and Engagement is a key leadership role responsible for fostering a dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered environment that supports holistic student success across all modalities?on-campus, online, and hybrid. This role provides strategic oversight for student engagement, residential life, career services, student conduct, and well-being initiatives, ensuring an integrated approach that supports both student life and career readiness.

The Dean plays a critical role in shaping a student experience that aligns with Bay Path University's mission and commitment to student success. This position requires a forward-thinking leader who can adapt engagement strategies to meet the evolving needs of a contemporary student population, including adult learners, online students, and residential students.

Key Responsibilities
Student Engagement & Success

• Execute inclusive student engagement strategies that foster a sense of belonging across all modalities, leveraging best practices from national student affairs standards.
• Ensure that student engagement programs and leadership development opportunities serve both traditional and non-traditional learners, including adult and online students.
• Collaborate with academic affairs to align co-curricular experiences with student learning, career readiness, and leadership development outcomes.
• Champion student leadership initiatives, including student government, clubs, and co-curricular activities.
• Ensure strong student communication strategies that bridge the gap between in-person and digital engagement opportunities.

Career Services & Student Professional Development

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the integration of Career Services and career readiness into student engagement, leadership development, and co-curricular activities.
• Working with Career Services leadership, develop a comprehensive vision of career support for adult learners, ensuring equitable access to career coaching, networking opportunities, and employment resources.
• In collaboration with the Director of Career Coaching & Services and the Assistant Dean for Workforce Development,
  • re-envision career-connected learning opportunities such as internships, experiential learning, and employer partnerships so that they support both undergraduate and graduate students
  • establish appropriate KPIs that would allow the University to demonstrate that our education leads to employment outcomes
  • ensure alignment of career development initiatives with academic programs and workforce needs.

Residential Life & Community Building

• Oversee a comprehensive residential life program, ensuring a supportive, inclusive, and safe living-learning environment.
• Lead policy development and enforcement related to housing and residential community standards.
• Serve as an advocate for residential students while ensuring alignment with university policies and procedures.
• Address student concerns regarding residence life, health services, and campus well-being, working collaboratively with cross-campus partners.
• Oversee student conduct staff & processes, ensuring educational and developmental outcomes for students.
• Serve as a key leader in crisis response and on-call support for residential and commuter students.
• Partner with health and counseling services to enhance student well-being initiatives, particularly for students navigating mental health challenges and access barriers.

Online & Hybrid Student Support

• Expand student engagement and support structures for online and hybrid learners, ensuring equitable access to resources, co-curricular experiences, and leadership opportunities.
• Identify and deploy student success technologies to proactively address online students' needs and engagement gaps.
• Foster a digital-first mindset, creating virtual spaces that build community and promote student success beyond the physical campus.

Collaboration & Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Student Engagement & Academic Resources leadership team, contributing to university-wide student success initiatives.
• Expand student engagement and career development ecosystem to students in Cambridge College programs.
• Supervise and develop professional staff, including residential life, student conduct, student engagement, and career services personnel.
• Utilize data-driven decision-making to assess student needs and refine engagement and career readiness strategies accordingly.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Director of Student Life & Engagement
• Director of Health & Wellness
• Director, Career Coaching and Services

Requirements:

• Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Career Development, or a related field required (Doctorate preferred).
• Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive leadership experience in student affairs, career services, or student engagement.
• Deep understanding of student engagement and career-readiness best practices, particularly in hybrid and online learning environments.
• Proven ability to develop inclusive and student-centered programming that fosters engagement and career preparation for diverse student populations.
• Experience in student conduct, crisis management, and restorative justice practices.
• Familiarity with student success platforms, career management systems, and engagement technologies.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills with the ability to work across academic and student affairs divisions.
• Ability to adhere to University policies and procedures.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• General knowledge of the University'smission, purpose, and goals and the role this position plays in achieving those goals.

Additional Information:

Bay Path University is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Application Instructions:

All qualified applicants for this position should attach a cover letter, resume / curriculum vitae, and any other relevant information pertaining to this position and your candidacy. Please apply online. Faxes and emails will not be accepted.

Bay Path University is a smoke and tobacco-free community.

All offers of employment are contingent on satisfactory background check.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), if you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a position please email us at [e-mail] or call 413-565-1157.