Director of Student Services

South College; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Front Loaded PTO

Tuition Assistance

Medical, Dental, Vision

401(k) - with Employer Contribution

Job summary

South College invites applications for the Director of Student Services to provide strategic leadership, oversee Student Success Advisors, and coordinate cross-department efforts to promote student success, engagement, and retention on campus and online.

You will supervise advising practices, develop proactive interventions, manage SAP processes, and collaborate with Financial Aid, Admissions, Library, and Career Services to align programs with institutional goals and student outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience in higher education student services or academic advising.
• Proven ability to lead teams and coordinate across departments.
• Strong engagement with retention and student success initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, supervise Student Success Advisors/Mentors and provide ongoing coaching.
• Lead campus retention initiatives and manage at-risk monitoring with timely outreach.
• Oversee registration, progress tracking, and degree plan reviews aligned with goals.
• Coordinate Welcome Sessions and ensure orientation completion for new students.
• Collaborate with Financial Aid, Admissions, Library, and Bookstore to support students.
• Track progress and guide interventions to improve persistence and outcomes.
• Serve as liaison for complex student concerns and SAP appeals.

Skills

Student Advising

Retention Strategy

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Leadership & Supervision

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Description

Director of Student Services

Benefits

• Front Loaded PTO
• Tuition Assistance
• Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) - with Employer Contribution

South College - We are one of the nation’s fastest growing institutions of higher learning … come grow your career with us. In order to fully meet our Mission to our students, we require a diverse combination of perspectives, backgrounds, life experiences, and ideas from our faculty and staff and will provide them with an equitable and inclusive work environment -where respect and open interchange of ideas are at the heart of that culture.

22, 000 Students

11 Campuses

Competency Based Education

Online

Director of Student Services Description

The Director of Student Services provides strategic leadership, daily oversight, and cross-departmental coordination to foster a student-centered experience that supports academic success, engagement, and retention. The Director is responsible for the supervision of Student Success Advisors/Mentors and the implementation of proactive advising, academic monitoring, and retention strategies.

Responsibilities

• Hire, train, supervise, and coach Student Success Advisors (SSAs)/Mentors, providing regular feedback and continuous training on advising practices, academic programs, and institutional policies.
• Lead campus retention initiatives, including chairing the Retention Committee and managing the At-Risk Student Monitoring process with timely documentation and outreach.
• Oversee accurate student registration processes, academic progress tracking, and quarterly degree plan reviews aligned with institutional and cohort goals.
• Coordinate new student Welcome Sessions (on-campus and virtual) and ensure all new and re-entry students complete the required online Orientation course.
• Foster effective collaboration with departments such as Financial Aid, Admissions, Library, and Bookstore to support student success.
• Track student academic progress and guide interventions to support goal achievement and retention.
• Serve as the primary contact for complex or escalated student concerns, referring to appropriate resources as needed.
• Assist with notifying students of satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeals and ensure accurate documentation and policy adherence.
• Promote student involvement through coordination of Student Ambassadors, Orientation activities, and leadership development opportunities.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to deliver academic workshops on topics such as time management, test anxiety, and study strategies.
• Lead and support community-building initiatives that enhance persistence, belonging, and student development.
• Collect, analyze, and report on Student Services data (weekly, quarterly, annually) to assess effectiveness and guide improvements.
• Recommend and implement strategies for improving advising, retention, and overall student support based on data and institutional priorities.
• Oversee student support services including disability accommodations, Title IX compliance, student conduct, and community resource referrals.
• Develop and offer programming focused on leadership, wellness, and life skills.
• Chair or support the Student Advisory Committee and manage student communication and feedback channels (e.g., surveys, newsletters).
• Supervise academic support services such as tutoring, the Writing Lab, and Tutor.com, and chair or support the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Committee.
• Organize campus community events that enhance student engagement, safety, and well-being.
• Supervise and train Student Affairs & Career Services staff (if applicable), ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
• Provide individualized career advising, including resume development, interview preparation, and job readiness coaching.
• Collaborate with academic programs to track graduate employment outcomes and document placement data.
• Serve as a liaison for alumni engagement by ensuring the campus is effectively represented across relevant platform(s) through strategic content creation and timely posts.

Requirements

Education:

• Earned bachelor’s degree required (Education, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field preferred).
• Master’s degree (Higher Education, Counseling or a related field) preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years relevant experience required (Higher Education, Student Services, Academic Advising or a related area).