Student Development Coordinator, Connection & Engagement

Columbus-State-University; Columbus (GA); On-site; USD 40,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance program

Paid holidays

Vacation time

Job summary

Columbus State University seeks a Student Development Coordinator to foster a vibrant campus community, oversee the Student Activities Council and student organizations, and collaborate with campus partners to enhance student success.

The role emphasizes advisory, program development, and assessment, with a focus on inclusive engagement across Main Campus and RiverPark Campus. Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred for advancement.

Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree.
• Experience (typically 1-3 years) working in higher education in advising, developing, coordinating, and evaluating student life programs.
• Experience working closely with students in a developmental capacity in a higher education setting.
• Experience initiating, planning, implementing, and evaluating episodic and ongoing programmatic efforts.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic planning and knowledge of assessment methods and activities.
• Ability to assess programs and review students' learning outcomes to ensure achievement of objectives and strategies.

Responsibilities

• Student Engagement and Advisement (50%): Advise SAC and oversee all aspects of SAC, including recruitment, training, and leadership board advisement; supervise Graduate Assistant and student leadership team; foster belonging and engagement across campuses.
• Registered Student Organizations (30%): Manage RSOs, registrations, event approval, involvement fairs, and trainings for student organizations.
• Program Development and Campus Collaboration (20%): Lead Cougar Kickoff, Legacy Celebration, collaborate across departments, assess programs, and represent the department on committees.

Skills

Student engagement

Advising

Program development

Collaboration

Assessment

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Student Development Coordinator, Connection & Engagement

Great universities inspire the very best in us. They nurture new ideas, fresh perspectives, and creative problem-solving. They challenge students to discover their passions - and to turn those passions into thriving careers that improve our world.

Columbus State University is exactly that kind of place. With exceptional facilities, ideal class sizes, and unique field experiences, our students have room to create. Here, every faculty and staff member is part of the educational process, actively mentoring students and championing each new step in their journey.

Located just 100 miles southwest of Atlanta, CSU is part of the University System of Georgia and offers a variety of benefits to full-time benefits-eligible employees and some of our half-time (or more) employees. Benefits that may be elected could include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), as well as earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays (if applicable). Also, our full-time employees who have been employed with us successfully for more than 6 months can be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Department Information

Student Life & Development

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director for Student Life & Development, the Student Development Coordinator plays a vital role in fostering a vibrant and engaging campus community that supports student success and retention. With a strong service and relational approach, the Coordinator develops and implements student-centered programs that promote involvement, build community, and create meaningful connections across the University. This position directly oversees the Student Activities Council, Student Organizations and will collaborate with campus partners and implement programming initiatives throughout the University to augment service and program effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Student Engagement and Advisement (50%) - Advise SAC (Student Activities Council) student-programming board reaching Main Campus and RiverPark Campus. Provide primary oversight for all aspects of the Student Activities Council (SAC) including recruitment, training, and leadership board advisement. Oversee program and activity coordination, planning, research, and promotional efforts to support fostering connection and engagement across various student groups. Provide holistic guidance and mentorship to student leaders, fostering personal growth, purpose-driven leadership, and inclusive engagement opportunities for all students across both campuses. Supervise and develop a Graduate Assistant and student leadership team, empowering them to design and deliver meaningful programming that enhances belonging and involvement. Serve as a connector and relationship-builder across campus and the broader community, facilitating collaborative partnerships that support student success, outreach, and engagement.
• Registered Student Organizations (30%) - Coordinate the day-to-day administration of the Registered Student Organization (RSO) program by serving as the primary resource for student organizations, advisors, and campus partners, providing guidance on policies, procedures, and organizational success. Manage the annual student organization registration and renewal process, including reviewing required documentation, maintaining organizational records, and ensuring accurate information within the university’s student engagement platform. Coordinate student organization event registration and approval processes, working collaboratively with campus partners to ensure compliance with university policies, risk management procedures, and event requirements. Plan and oversee student organization involvement fairs and related engagement opportunities to connect students with campus organizations and promote involvement. Assist with the development and delivery of student organization trainings, workshops, and leadership development opportunities, including officer transitions, risk management, and organizational best practices.
• Program Development and Campus Collaboration (20%) - Lead current and future major university engagement initiatives such as Cougar Kickoff and Legacy Celebration Banquet, ensuring thoughtful planning, inclusive execution, and reflective assessment to continually enrich the student experience. Collaborate across departments to support and align programming efforts within student activities, orientation, leadership development, and other student engagement initiatives. Implement departmental assessment processes, contributing to continuous improvement and strategic planning through data-informed practices. Represent the department on committees and initiatives that support the co-curricular mission of the institution. Work alongside students, faculty, staff, and external partners to create purposeful and impactful programming that reflects the needs and aspirations of the student body. This position may be a Purchase Card (P-Card) holder or approver.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree.
• Experience (typically 1-3 years) working in higher education in advising, developing, coordinating, and evaluating student life programs.
• Experience working closely with students in a developmental capacity in a higher education setting.
• Experience initiating, planning, implementing, and evaluating episodic and ongoing programmatic efforts.
• Experience developing and implementing strategic planning and knowledge of assessment methods and activities.
• ability to assess programs and review students' learning outcomes to ensure achievement of objectives and strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Educational Policy, Counseling, or other closely related field with 2 years of applicable experience is preferred.

Proposed Salary

The proposed annualized salary range for this position is $40,253 - $43,784 and includes full benefits.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Demonstrate knowledge and experience supporting student engagement initiatives, program design, and team development.
• Demonstrate understanding of student development theory and proven experience in designing inclusive, mission-driven engagement initiatives that foster belonging, leadership, and holistic growth.
• Strong ability to lead with empathy and purpose in fast-paced, multifaceted environments - balancing strategic vision with thoughtful attention to operational detail and program execution.
• Demonstrate capacity to cultivate meaningful student leadership through mentorship, education, and collaborative program development that supports retention, progression, and personal development.
• Creative and forward-thinking approach to co-curricular programming that is responsive to student needs and aligned with institutional goals.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire trust, build partnerships, and convey ideas effectively across an array of audiences and mediums.
• Commitment to ethical stewardship and accountability in managing budgets, student staff, and institutional resources with integrity and transparency.
• Competency in collecting, evaluating, and translating data into actionable insights that inform continuous improvement and elevate the student experience.
• Ability to manage and facilitate other duties as assigned.

Contact Information

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Dempsey, Hiring Manager, via email at [e-mail].

USG Core Values

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 .

• Excellence: Actively engaging outstanding methods in teaching, academic discovery, creative pursuits, student success, cultural enrichment and the overall campus community.
• Creativity: Pursuing distinction through inquiry and innovation, challenging convention and focusing on solutions.
• Engagement: Dynamic civic involvement and participation of students, faculty, staff and alumni in the university experience.
• Sustainability: Advancing fiscal responsibility, well-being, innovation, lifelong learning and environmental stewardship.
• Inclusion: Cultivating and championing a campus environment that welcomes diverse backgrounds, ideas, perspectives and practices.
• Servant Leadership: Leading through ethical empowerment and service.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates are required to submit and successfully pass a background investigation to include reference checks and verification of academic credentials (if applicable). Other additional requirements may be required based upon specific position duties:

• A credit check completed for Positions of Trust and or approved departmental Purchase Card usage;
• Pre-employment drug testing for positions with high-risk responsibilities.
• Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that are required to drive a Columbus State University fleet vehicle or other vehicle designated as a fleet vehicle. A successful drug screening will be required as a condition of employment a randomly thereafter.

*Applicants for positions of trust may be asked to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment. *

For Faculty Hires: Final candidates will be required to provide proof of completed academic degree(s) as well as post-secondary coursework in the form of original transcript(s). Those candidates trained by a foreign institution will also be required to provide an educational/credential evaluation.

All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information by exercising sound judgment and adhering to cybersecurity and privacy policies during their employment and beyond. Additionally, all members of the USG community must adhere to the USG Statement of Core Values must also be aware of and comply with the Board of Regents policies on Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom.

Columbus State University is proud to be an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity institution. It is the policy of our institution to recruit, hire, train, promote and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws.

Other Information

• This is not a supervisory position.
• This position does not have any financial responsibilities.
• This position will not be required to drive.
• This role is considered a position of trust.
• This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
• This position will not travel

• Position of Trust + Education