Executive Director for Student Success

Columbus State University; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Albany State University seeks an Executive Director for Student Success to provide strategic, data-driven leadership across retention, persistence, and degree completion efforts. The role oversees Academic Advising, manages budgets and cross-divisional partnerships, and drives high-impact programs like Living-Learning Communities and the Summer Bridge Program.

The candidate will supervise the Director of Academic Advising, develop dashboards, and advance equitable practices for a diverse student

Qualifications

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, including three (3) or more years in academic advising or student success.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience serving diverse student populations within higher education.
• Demonstrated supervisory and team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement systems to collect, maintain, and analyze data.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders to foster a spirit of engagement.
• Earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience leading summer bridge, first-year, or living-learning programs for at-risk or transitioning students.
• Proficiency with student success/CRM and early alert platforms (e.g., EAB Navigate, Starfish) and student information systems (e.g., Banner).
• Experience serving first-generation, Pell-eligible, and academically at-risk students, preferably at a minority-serving institution.

Responsibilities

• Provide visionary, data-informed leadership for the University's integrated student success model, aligning departmental goals with retention targets.
• Develop and execute an annual strategic plan with measurable outcomes; establish KPIs and report progress.
• Champion equity-minded, culturally responsive practices that close achievement gaps for underserved students.
• Supervise the Director of Academic Advising, providing direction and accountability for an intrusive advising model.
• Ensure advising structures and workflows meet undergraduate needs, with attention to student-athletes and transfers.
• Oversee integration of advising with early-alert and case-management systems for coordinated interventions.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data analysis

Equity-minded practices

Supervisory experience

Education

Master's degree

Doctorate (Ed.D./Ph.D.)

Tools

EAB Navigate

Starfish

Banner

Job description

Albany State University is a fully accredited senior unit of the University System of Georgia. Employees receive benefits provided by the University System of Georgia, including, but not limited to, medical and major medical insurance, group life insurance, participation in the Georgia Teachers' Retirement System, Optional Retirement Plan (Faculty and exempt employees only), Social Security and Tuition Assistance Program after six months of employment.

Our West Campus is located at 2400 Gillionville Road, Albany, GA 31707. Our East Campus is located at 504 College Drive, Albany, GA 31705. The Human Resources office for both campuses is located on the West Campus in Building K, Suite 209.

The Executive Director for Student Success reports to the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success and provides strategic, data-informed leadership for a comprehensive, equity-minded student success model that advances retention, persistence, and timely degree completion for Albany State University's undergraduate students. Consistent with the University's mission as a historically Black institution serving a diverse student body including first-generation, Pell-eligible, and academically at-risk students the Executive Director designs, implements, and continuously improves programs and high-impact practices that close equity gaps and cultivate a culture of belonging and academic achievement.

As the administrative leader of the Student Success Center, the Executive Director supervises the Director of Academic Advising along with the office's professional and support staff, manages the office budget and resources, and builds strong cross-divisional partnerships across Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Enrollment Management. The Executive Director oversees the University's signature success initiatives, including the Living-Learning Communities, the Freshman Leadership Academy, the Summer Success Academy, and the Summer Bridge Program serving an at-risk cohort of Summer Success Academy students, ensuring a coordinated, integrated student success experience.

Sponsorship not available for this position.

Strategic Leadership & Vision

• Provide visionary, data-informed leadership for the University's integrated student success model, aligning
  departmental goals with institutional retention and completion targets and University System of Georgia
  student success initiatives.

• Develop and execute an annual strategic plan with measurable outcomes; establish key performance
  indicators and regularly assess and report progress toward achieving and sustaining retention and
  graduation goals.

• Champion equity-minded, culturally responsive practices that close achievement gaps for historically
  underserved and at-risk student populations.
  Academic Advising Leadership

• Supervise the Director of Academic Advising, providing direction, coaching, and accountability for a
  proactive (intrusive) advising model grounded in NACADA standards and guided-pathways principles.

• Ensure advising structures, caseloads, and workflows meet the needs of undergraduate students, with
  special attention to student athletes and transfer, undeclared, and academic-probation students.

• Oversee the integration of advising with early-alert and case-management systems to deliver timely, coordinated intervention and warm hand-offs across campus offices.

Retention, Persistence & Completion

• Lead the collection, analysis, and interpretation of predictive and real-time data including incoming student

  characteristics, DFW rates, class attendance, faculty early-warning flags, and registration and financial holds to inform effective outreach and intervention.

• Develop retention and persistence dashboards and summary reports for stakeholders to guide program
  development, outreach, and intervention strategy.
• Serve as a central point of contact for students, faculty, and staff regarding retention risk factors; identify
  at-risk students, coordinate individualized success plans, and monitor and document progress.

Signature Student Success Programs

• Direct the development, delivery, and assessment of the University's Living-Learning Communities, the Freshman Leadership Academy, and the Summer Success Academy.
• Lead the Summer Bridge Program, including the design and delivery of intensive academic, social, and transition support for an at-risk cohort of Summer Success Academy students, in partnership with Academic Affairs faculty and campus support offices.
• Embed high-impact practices and evidence-based interventions across all programs and evaluate their effect on student learning, engagement, and outcomes.

Cross-Divisional Collaboration

• Build and sustain relationships among advising staff, faculty, Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Student Affairs to promote strong communication channels and an integrated student success model.
• Collaborate with academic support services and campus partners to implement university-wide success initiatives that meet the needs of diverse student groups.
• Represent student success initiatives on university committees and task forces and assign office staff to appropriate committees and working groups.

Supervision, Budget & Operations

• Provide day-to-day leadership of the Student Success Center; supervise academic administrators and support staff, manage workload and assignments, and support ongoing professional development.
• Identify resource needs, develop budget requests, and manage the annual and program budgets including Title III and other grant-funded resources in compliance with applicable guidelines.
• Convene regularly scheduled departmental meetings with directors and staff and perform additional responsibilities as assigned by the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success.

• Master's degree from an accredited institution.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, including three (3) or more years in academic advising or student success.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience serving diverse student populations within higher education.
• Demonstrated supervisory and team-leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement systems to collect, maintain, and analyze data.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders to foster a spirit of engagement.

• Earned doctorate (Ed.D. or Ph.D.) in higher education, student affairs, counseling, or a related field.
• Experience leading summer bridge, first-year, or living-learning programs for at-risk or transitioning students.
• Proficiency with student success/CRM and early alert platforms (e.g., EAB Navigate, Starfish) and student information systems (e.g., Banner).
• Experience serving first-generation, Pell-eligible, and academically at-risk students, preferably at a minority-serving institution.

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

Knowledge of retention and persistence theory, guided pathways, high-impact practices, and NACADA
advising standards.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable strategy.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Ability to balance and prioritize multiple responsibilities and lead organizational change.
A student-centered, service-oriented approach and a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.

For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Office of Human Resources at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

Excellence

We achieve outcomes of the highest quality, hold ourselves accountable to the highest standard and are committed to continuous improvement in University programs and services.

Respect

We are directed by tenets of ethics, treating other with courteous regard, and being civil in our interactions.

Community

We strive to build community and value a good mindset.

Teamwork

We seek partnerships within the University and community. We practice a supportive spirit that results in the implementation of plans, actions and shared results.

Learning

We cultivate a practice of global pedagogies in a learning environment.

All selected candidates are required to successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting with Albany State University.

• a credit check completed for \"Positions of Trust\" and/or approved departmental purchase card usage
• a motor vehicle report for positions that require driving an Albany State University vehicle
• a successful pre-employment drug test

Albany State University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for living, working, and studying. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, the University prohibits harassment of or discrimination against any person because of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment, pregnancy, and medical conditions related to pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or national origin, religion, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran or military status by any member of the ASU Community on campus, in connection with a University program or activity, or in a manner that creates a hostile environment for members of the ASU community.

For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy please contact the Albany State University Office of Human Resources at [phone]. For individuals requiring disability-related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact the Disability Resource Center at 229-500-3442.

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.