Director of Student Affairs, Optometric Medicine - 3603

University of North Carolina Pembroke; Pembroke (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina Pembroke's College of Optometric Medicine seeks a Director of Student Affairs to lead the Office of Student Affairs, overseeing recruitment, onboarding, student engagement, retention, and licensure preparation for the Doctor of Optometry program.

The role requires strategic leadership, collaboration with the Dean and university offices, and a commitment to an inclusive, student-centered environment while safeguarding FERPA, ADA, Title IX, and confidentiality in all

Qualifications

• Master's degree or higher in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, education, health professions education, or a closely related field.
• Experience developing, implementing, and assessing student-support programs, advising systems, policies, and administrative workflows.
• Working knowledge of FERPA, ADA/accommodation processes, Title IX, student conduct, student records, and confidentiality in higher education.
• Strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, written communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive matters with sound judgment, discretion, fairness, and appropriate documentation.
• Commitment to an inclusive, respectful, student-centered educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for the COM Office of Student Affairs and serve as the College's principal administrative officer for student support, engagement, and professional formation.
• Develop, implement, assess, and revise student-affairs policies, procedures, workflows, calendars, and communications in alignment with policy and law.
• Serve as liaison among students, Dean, Associate Dean, Assistant Dean, faculty, staff, and external partners.
• Maintain published office hours, contact pathways, backup coverage, and access during remote operations.
• Supervise COM Student Affairs personnel and support staffing, performance, and development.
• Represent UNCP COM on College and University committees and in professional forums.

Skills

Leadership

Policy development

Student affairs

Communication

Discretion

FERPA/Title IX knowledge

Collaboration

Administrative coordination

Education

Master's degree or higher in higher education administration or related field

Job description

Position Details

• Division: Academic Affairs
• Department: Optometric Medicine (Office)
• Working Title: Director of Student Affairs, Optometric Medicine
• Vacancy Type: Exempt Professional Staff (EPS)
• Min T/E Requirements:
  • Master's degree or higher in higher education administration, student affairs, counseling, education, health professions education, or a closely related field.
  • Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and assessing student-support programs, advising systems, policies, and administrative workflows.
  • Working knowledge of FERPA, ADA/accommodation processes, Title IX, student conduct, student records, and confidentiality requirements in higher education.
  • Strong leadership, organizational, interpersonal, written communication, presentation, and collaboration skills.
  • Ability to manage sensitive matters with sound judgment, discretion, fairness, and appropriate documentation.
  • Commitment to an inclusive, respectful, student-centered, and professional educational environment.
• FTE: 1.0
• Recruitment Range: Salary commensurate with education and experience
• Anticipated Hiring Range: Salary commensurate with education and experience
• Position #: 3603
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Months per year: 12
• Is this a grant funded position?: No
• Primary Purpose of Organization Unit: The University of North Carolina at Pembroke College of Optometric Medicine develops compassionate, skilled and independent optometric physicians through excellence in education, patient care, and research to serve local and regional ocular health needs. The College of Optometric Medicine (COM) provides doctoral level education and clinical training in preparation for licensure. At its full capacity, COM will support full‑time faculty and staff of approximately 35 employees and a population of approximately 128 graduate students. The Doctor of Optometry program provides a comprehensive four‑year curriculum in basic science, optometric science, clinical training, and provision of patient care in the second, third and fourth years of the program and will be accredited by the Accrediting Council on Optometric Education. The unit will also support a public eye care clinic.
• Primary Purpose of Position: The Director is a member of the College leadership team and provides strategic leadership for the full continuum of student affairs, from recruitment and pre‑matriculation onboarding through graduation, licensure preparation, and transition to professional practice. The position coordinates College‑specific student support with University resources and advances academic success, well‑being, professional formation, student engagement, retention, and an inclusive learning environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong commitment to student success and to the UNCP COM mission of preparing compassionate, skilled, and independent optometric physicians through excellence in education, patient care, scholarly activity, and community engagement.
• Employment Background Check: This position is subject to the successful completion of an employment background check. An employment background check includes a criminal background check, employment verification, reference checks, license verification (if applicable) and credit history check (if applicable). In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. New employees are paid only by direct deposit to the financial institution of their choice. Candidates claiming Veterans Preference must attach a copy of their DD‑214 as a part of the online application process.
• Equal Opportunity Employer statement: UNC Pembroke is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The University prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibits discrimination against all individuals based on their age, race, color, genetic information, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and national origin. UNC Pembroke is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and seeks priority referrals of protected veterans for our openings.

Job Description

Leadership and Administration

• Provide strategic leadership for the COM Office of Student Affairs and serve as the College's principal administrative officer for student support, engagement, and professional formation.
• Develop, implement, assess, and periodically revise student‑affairs policies, procedures, workflows, calendars, and communications in alignment with University policy, UNC System requirements, applicable law, and the Optometry Student Handbook.
• Serve as a liaison among COM students, the Dean of the College, the COM Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs, faculty, staff, University student‑support offices, and external partners.
• Maintain published office hours, contact pathways, backup coverage, after‑hours and emergency routing, and comparable access during remote or modified operations.
• Supervise assigned COM Student Affairs personnel, including the Coordinator of Student Affairs, and support staffing, workload assessment, performance management, and professional development.
• Serve on College and University committees as assigned and represent UNCP COM in institutional, community, and professional forums.

Admissions, Recruitment, Onboarding, and Orientation

• Collaborate with College leadership, faculty, and University offices on strategic recruitment and admissions activities for the Doctor of Optometry program.
• Support a fair, impartial, documented admissions process, including applicant communication, interview coordination, admissions records, matriculation conditions, and cycle review.
• Administer the version‑controlled pre‑matriculation onboarding process, including distribution of requirements, deadlines, responsible offices, submission systems, completion tracking, deficiency notices, referrals, approved extensions, and final clearance.
• Coordinate orientation, convocation, onboarding education, student acknowledgment processes, and transition‑to‑professional‑school programming.
• Coordinate communication regarding health requirements, immunizations, annual tuberculosis testing, annual influenza vaccination, required student health insurance or approved waiver, technology, equipment, books, clinical attire, background checks, drug screening when required, Basic Life Support, HIPAA, FERPA, infection‑control, and other readiness requirements.

Student Support, Advising, and Retention

• Serve as the primary College point of entry for student concerns and coordinate triage, referral, follow‑up, and escalation for academic, personal, professional, financial, wellness, accessibility, housing, transportation, technology, and basic‑needs concerns.
• Coordinate academic‑support referrals with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and clinical‑support referrals with the Assistant Dean for Clinical Affairs.
• Develop, implement, and assess retention, early‑alert, tutoring, mentoring, advising, and student‑success initiatives tailored to the professional optometry curriculum.
• Coordinate the COM tutoring program and ensure that optometry‑specific remediation is directed by appropriately qualified faculty while University tutoring and writing resources supplement College support.
• Support students involved in remediation, reassessment, probation, leave of absence, reinstatement, return‑to‑activity, professionalism improvement, or modified progression processes within the authority assigned by College policy.
• Monitor aggregate utilization, referral completion, response times, unmet needs, student feedback, and service capacity while protecting confidentiality, and initiate corrective action when access or capacity is insufficient.

University Resource Coordination and Accessibility

• Maintain and annually verify the COM student‑support referral map and student‑facing directory.
• Connect students with Financial Aid, Student Accounts, the Registrar, the Accessibility Resource Center, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, CARE Team, Career Center, Housing and Residence Life, Braves Resource Center, Public Safety, Student Conduct, Title IX, equal‑opportunity resources, Veterans Services, Information Technology, and other University services.
• Coordinate with the Accessibility Resource Center to route accommodation requests and support implementation of approved accommodations in academic, laboratory, simulation, examination, clinical, externship, and other required activities.
• Maintain confidentiality and appropriate records in accordance with FERPA, University policy, and applicable privacy requirements.

Student Life, Leadership, Organizations, and Community

• Advise and support optometry student organizations, student government, class leadership, committee representation, professional associations, and College‑approved student activities.
• Coordinate leadership development, service, civic engagement, wellness, belonging, community‑building, recognition, honors, and awards programming.
• Coordinate student organization compliance with University recognition, event, facility‑use, funding, nondiscrimination, risk‑management, public communication, and professional conduct requirements.
• Work with University offices to assist students, including students with families, in identifying housing, basic‑needs, recreation, dining, transportation, and community resources without guaranteeing placement or availability.
• Coordinate major student‑centered events, including orientation, white coat or professional ceremonies when applicable, convocation, recognition events, commencement‑related activities, and College traditions.

Career, Residency, Licensure, and Professional Development

• Coordinate optometry‑specific career development with faculty, Academic Affairs, Clinical Affairs, alumni, professional organizations, employers, residency and fellowship programs, and the University Career Center.
• Provide or coordinate programming related to curriculum vitae preparation, interviewing, professional portfolios, practice opportunities, residency and fellowship exploration, postgraduate pathways, employer engagement, and professional networking.
• Serve as the primary Student Affairs contact for NBEO eligibility support, institutional certification coordination, licensure‑related examination planning, state‑board awareness, and student communication regarding external deadlines and requirements.
• Maintain evidence of career, residency, licensure, and professional‑development programming and assess student needs annually.

Student Records, Complaints, Conduct, and Compliance

• Maintain student‑affairs records, referral records, onboarding records, advising documentation, student organization records, complaint and grievance records, and other assigned student documentation in secure University‑approved systems.
• Assist students in identifying the correct process for complaints, grievances, grade appeals, academic appeals, conduct matters, Academic Honor Code matters, Title IX matters, disability concerns, FERPA record challenges, financial aid appeals, and clinical‑site concerns.
• Receive and route College‑specific student complaints and grievances, support timely acknowledgment and documented review, and uphold nonretaliation requirements.
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs, Clinical Affairs, the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee, the Student Assessment and Promotion Committee, and University offices when academic, clinical, professionalism, conduct, safety, or progression issues intersect with student support.
• Support compliance with FERPA, Title IX, ADA, Clery‑related student information, nondiscrimination requirements, and applicable institutional policies.

Equipment, Communications, Assessment, and Accreditation

• Coordinate group‑purchasing opportunities and student communication for required optometric, ophthalmic, medical, clinical, laboratory, diagnostic, technology, attire, and safety equipment in consultation with Academic Affairs and Clinical Affairs.
• Maintain accurate student‑facing communications, calendars, directories, links, forms, and resource information and participate in the College's publication‑control process.
• Collect, analyze, and report student‑affairs data for quality assurance, institutional review, accreditation, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.
• Prepare and maintain evidence related to student support services, admissions support, onboarding, advising, wellness, accessibility coordination, career services, student organizations, complaints, records, and other responsibilities assigned to Student Affairs.
• Perform other duties consistent with the role and as assigned by the Dean.

Work Environment

• Some evening and weekend work is required for student events, orientation, ceremonies, and urgent student matters.
• Occasional travel may be required for recruitment, professional development, student engagement, or College representation.
• The position requires regular interaction with students, faculty, staff, University offices, clinical education leadership, and external partners.