Director of Student Activities - Office of Student & Residence Life

Ashland University; Ashland (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashland University invites applications for the Director of Student Activities, a key role within Student Life and Success. You will lead engagement opportunities, coordinate campus events, and supervise student organizations to foster belonging, learning, and growth.

Responsibilities include advising CAB and Technical Productions Crew, managing Engage Ashland, and supporting orientation and programming initiatives. Evening/weekend hours and Ohio community presence are expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required plus 2 years full-time college experience.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to build rapport with students.
• Confidential handling of information.
• Must be a mandatory Title IX reporter.
• Authorized to work in the United States; visa sponsorship not offered.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate/evaluate campus-wide events (Involvement Fair, Week of Welcome, Homecoming, Springfest).
• Advise CAB, supervise and develop student leaders and programs.
• Advise Technical Productions Crew and ABCC of Student Senate.
• Oversee budget for student organizations.
• Liaise for 100+ student organizations; manage Engage Ashland and publicity.
• Maintain Student Organization Manual and training.
• Host Programming Team meetings and calendar.
• Support orientation programs and Hazing Prevention training.
• Attend NACA conference with student delegation.
• Supervise undergraduate intern.
• Participate in Strategic Planning Team for residential life modernization.

Skills

Event planning

Organizational skills

Rapport with students

Teamwork

Title IX compliance

Confidentiality

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Engage Ashland

Job description

Position Details

Position Information

Position Title Director of Student Activities - Office of Student & Residence Life Job Description

As a key member of Student Life and Success at Ashland University, the Director of Student Activities is responsible for creating significant opportunities for student engagement that foster a sense of belonging, learning and personal/professional growth, while also aiding in student retention.

• Coordinate/plan, implement and evaluate traditional campus-wide events including the Involvement Fair, Welcome Tent, Week of Welcome, Homecoming, and Springfest, among others.
• Advise the Campus Activities Board, the primary student programming organization. Primary responsibilities include supervision, selection, contract negotiation, program implementation and evaluation. In addition, the advisor assists in recruitment, selection, training, and holistic development of CAB members and attends campus events.
• Advise the Technical Productions Crew, the student led organization whose main function is to provide sound, stage and lighting for campus programs.
• Advise the Activities, Budgeting, and Chartering Committee (ABCC) of Student Senate on matters of chartering and funding. Serve as historian and non‑voting member.
• Provide budget oversight for all student organization funding.
• Serve as the staff liaison for 100+ student organizations. Implement annual processes including roster updates to Engage, provisional and full charter applications, and funding requests, etc.
• Maintain Student Organization Manual.
• Create, implement, and assess training for student organizations to include student organization policies, procedures, and utilization of Engage Ashland software.
• Manage Engage Ashland software, Engage Ashland Instagram account and create publicity materials to increase use of these platforms. Approve events and forms submitted through Engage.
• Manage Student Organization Resource Room and all event supplies.
• Host Programming Team meetings and maintain programming calendar.
• Assist with Orientation programs and serve as support during the implementation of orientation initiatives, including June/July Summer Orientation Days and Orientation Weekend.
• Co‑facilitate annual Hazing Prevention training session during Orientation Weekend.
• Plan and facilitate annual Leadership & Service awards program.
• Attend annual NACA conference with a student delegation.
• Supervise undergraduate intern.
• Serve on Strategic Planning Team, Theme 3B: Modernize and reimagine residential living and programming to enhance recruitment, retention, and student satisfaction.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required plus a minimum of two (2) years full‑time, professional experience in a college setting.
• Effective use of organizational and planning skills with attention to detail and follow through.
• Ability to build positive and meaningful rapport with students.
• Maintain confidentiality of work‑related information and materials.
• Ability to work as an individual and as a member of a team. Mandatory Title IX reporter.
• Applicant must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Ashland University will not sponsor or take over sponsorship for an employment visa.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Prior professional experience in college student programming and advising student organizations, contract negotiation, and budget management.
• Candidate should consider living near Ashland, Ohio as this position does require frequent evening and weekend hours.

Physical Demands

• Evening and weekend hours.
• Heavy lifting, use of ladders, unloading/loading event trucks.