Director of Student Experience

Dominican University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition remission for employees and/or

Flexible spending accounts

Generous PTO

Job summary

Dominican University in Chicago seeks a Director of Student Experience to lead the overall student experience at the Chicago Campus. The role focuses on student engagement, commuter student life, clubs, leadership development, residential life, and belonging, with an equity-focused, mission-driven approach.

You will design inclusive engagement opportunities for commuter and residential students, oversee a vibrant campus calendar, supervise Residence Life, collaborate with academic affairs, and

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, student development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in student support services, residence life, or related roles within higher education.

Responsibilities

• Lead the co-curricular student experience for the Chicago Campus to foster belonging, leadership, and student success for commuter and residential students.
• Oversee residential life operations, housing processes, and coordination with university partners to ensure a welcoming living environment.
• Support holistic student success, crisis response, and collaboration with Safety, Dean of Students, and Title IX offices.

Skills

Crisis management

Student engagement

Program development

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in social work or related field

Tools

Maxient or similar platform

Job description

Position Title: Director of Student Experience

Department: Chicago Campus

Reports To: CEO, Chicago Campus

Location: On Campus (Chicago Campus, IL)

Position Summary:

The Director, through an equity-focused and mission-driven approach, provides leadership for the overall student experience at Dominican University's Chicago Campus, with particular responsibility for student engagement, commuter student life, student clubs and organizations, leadership development, residential life, and student belonging.

The Director is responsible for creating a vibrant campus environment in which students have meaningful opportunities to build relationships, develop as leaders, participate in clubs and organizations, engage with the city, and develop a strong connection to Dominican University. Recognizing that a significant portion of Chicago Campus students commute, the Director will intentionally design engagement opportunities around the needs and schedules of commuter students while creating experiences that bring commuter and residential students together as one campus community.

The Director also oversees the residential experience and the full resident student lifecycle for the Chicago Campus's 80-bed residence hall, including housing operations, residential programming, student support, supervision of Residence Life staff, and coordination with University partners.

The Director plays an important role in holistic student support and case management, particularly for students experiencing housing-related challenges or other circumstances that may affect their ability to remain enrolled and successful. Working collaboratively with Student Success & Engagement, the Dean of Students, Campus Safety, and other University partners, the Director helps coordinate appropriate interventions, referrals, follow-up, and emergency response.

Additionally, the Director supports campus emergency management and assists the Title IX Coordinator with student education, response, and compliance responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Student Experience Oversight

• Serve as the primary leader for the co-curricular student experience at the Chicago Campus, developing a vibrant, mission-centered campus culture that promotes belonging, engagement, leadership, and student success for both commuter and residential students.
• Develop a comprehensive commuter student engagement strategy that recognizes the unique needs and schedules of students who travel to campus, creating meaningful opportunities for involvement before, between, and after classes.
• Create and maintain a regular calendar of campus activities, social events, leadership opportunities, community-building experiences, and other programming designed to increase student connection to the Chicago Campus and to one another which include City as Campus.
• Lead the development and growth of student clubs and organizations, including establishing processes for students to create new organizations, recruit members, identify faculty/staff advisors, access resources, and sustain active organizations from year to year.
• Collaborate closely with faculty and the Executive Director of Academic Affairs to connect curricular and co-curricular experiences and support students' academic, professional, leadership, and personal development.

Residence Life Operations

• Oversee all aspects of the resident student life cycle, from the application process and room selection to move-in and ongoing support throughout the academic year.
• Provide detailed reports on residential housing capacity, fill rates, application completion, and housing deposits, using data to enhance the resident experience.
• Collaborate with the Residence Life staff and Physical Plant to ensure timely completion of maintenance requests and projects within the residence halls, contributing to a safe and welcoming living environment.
• Manage summer and break housing logistics, serving as the liaison for planning and executing summer rentals.
• Advise students on matters related to housing and residential life, including conflict mediation and referral to appropriate on and off-campus resources. Follow up on residents’ concerns.
• Manage and maintain the housing email and Residence Life webpage.
• Assess the effectiveness of living-learning communities and their impact on student retention and overall resident experience, using data to inform continuous improvement efforts.

Holistic Support and Emergency Management

• Participate in a 24/7 on-call duty rotation, responding to emergencies and resident concerns effectively and compassionately.
• Serve as a liaison to Campus Safety, ensuring the safety and holistic experience of residential students.
• Maintain emergency response workflows, maintaining updated protocols to ensure resident safety.
• Support the Dean of Students Office in student conduct processes, adjudicating cases in accordance with university policies and the Student Code of Conduct.
• Support the Title IX Coordinator in training students and implementing regulations, managing cases as assigned, and ensuring compliance with Title IX standards.

Supervision and Staff Development

• Oversee the hiring, training, and retention of Residence Life staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.
• Develop individualized staff growth plans to address the diverse needs of students and staff, ensuring a responsive and supportive environment.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in social work, counseling, student development, or a related field.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience in student support services, residence life, student activities, or related roles within a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated experience in crisis management, including the development of student success plans and tracking progress.
• Experience designing and implementing outreach programs to improve student retention and engagement.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated dedication to fostering an equitable and inclusive environment in line with Dominican University's mission, particularly for marginalized student populations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with the ability to build relationships and collaborate effectively across diverse cultural and academic backgrounds.
• Proven ability to address crises calmly and effectively, providing support and resolution while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism.
• Exceptional time management and organizational abilities, with a strong capacity to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a dynamic and fast-paced environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with student support case-management technologies such as Maxient or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of college student development theories and their application in creating supportive student environments.
• Previous experience working in Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) or other minority-serving institutions, with a focus on meeting the needs of diverse student populations.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to spend long durations of the workday sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Ability to lift up to 15 pounds at times

Salary and FLSA Status

• FLSA Status: Exempt, Full-time, 37.5 hours
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement plan with employer matching contributions
• Tuition remission for employees and their dependents
• Flexible spending accounts (FSA)
• Generous paid time off (PTO)

Employment at Dominican University is contingent upon the successful completion of a background investigation.

About Dominican University

Dominican University is a Catholic, comprehensive teaching university located in River Forest, a suburb of Chicago, with an additional campus in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, Dominican University offers associate, baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. It is highly regarded for its academic rigor, thoughtful accompaniment of students, intentional affordability, and values-based, relationship-centered learning environment.

Dominican currently enrolls over 3,800 students, including 2,690 undergraduates and 1,114 graduate students. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of undergraduate students identify as Latinx, 5% as Black or African American, and 3% as Asian. Under-represented minority students comprise 77% of the undergraduate enrollment and 38% of the graduate enrollment. Over 90 percent of undergraduates receive some form of financial aid. Nearly half of all undergraduates are first-generation college students; over half are federal Pell Grant recipients, illustrating their families’ level of income; and 58% are eligible for low-income MAP grants from the State of Illinois.

Recognized since 2011 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the U.S. Department of Education, Dominican is committed to expanding and enhancing educational opportunities for Latinx students and all students from historically underrepresented groups. For more information, visit www.dom.edu.

Expectations for all Dominican Employees:

To support the University's mission of preparing students to pursue truth, give compassionate service, and participate in the creation of a more just and humane world, engage in university service work that promotes collaboration and community building. This includes participating in organizational initiatives, supporting campus events, contributing to community outreach, and fostering a diverse and inclusive environment through involvement in various staff-driven activities and groups.

Institutional Statement

Dominican University is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Dominican University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, protected veterans, and candidates from diverse backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you need accommodations due to a disability, you may contact us at [e-mail] for assistance.