Dean Student Experience and Academic Support

Lyceum College; Randburg; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player seeks a Dean of Student Experience and Academic Support to enhance the academic journey for students. This pivotal role involves leading initiatives that improve student engagement and satisfaction while managing academic support services. The Dean will collaborate with various departments to ensure a supportive learning environment and drive data-informed strategies to boost student success and retention. If you are passionate about fostering academic excellence and have a strong background in higher education administration, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Doctorate in Higher Education or related field required.
• Extensive experience in student services and academic support.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to enhance student experience and retention.
• Collaborate with teams to integrate support services into curriculum.

Skills

Student-Centered Approach

Collaboration and Communication

Data Analysis

Organisational and Operational skills

Education

Doctorate in Higher Education

Educational Leadership

Job description

The Dean of Student Experience and Academic Support holds a supportive role to the Chief Academic Officer, responsible for executing delegated academic operational tasks and ensuring smooth academic functions. They chair specific committees as directed, manage institutional-wide training, and ensure the success of the Academic Forum. The Dean is responsible for driving initiatives that enhance the academic experience for students, ensuring a high level of support that promotes retention and success. This role involves managing student-centred academic support services, overseeing the resolution of student queries, and leading student success programmes. The Dean works collaboratively with various academic and administrative departments to ensure a smooth and supportive learning environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Student Experience and Support

1. Student-centred Initiatives
   Lead and coordinate initiatives that enhance the overall student experience, focusing on improving student engagement, satisfaction, and academic outcomes.
2. Student Support Programmes
   Develop and manage academic support services tailored to the needs of students, including advising, tutoring, and special programmes for underprepared or at-risk students.
3. Engagement Tracking
   Monitor and assess student engagement and support outcomes to ensure continuous improvement, regularly reporting findings to the Chief Academic Officer.

2. Academic Support and Success

1. Support Services Integration
   Collaborate with academic and administrative teams to integrate support services into the curriculum, ensuring students receive guidance throughout their academic journey.
2. At-Risk Student Interventions
   Develop early intervention strategies for students showing signs of academic difficulty, working with faculties to ensure timely support.
3. Data-Driven Decisions
   Analyze performance and retention data to identify trends and propose evidence-based interventions aimed at improving student success.

3. Resolution of Student Queries

1. Query Resolution Management
   Address student queries that have not been resolved at the departmental level, working closely with academic and administrative departments to ensure swift and effective resolution. The Dean is responsible for escalating complaints to the Chief Academic Officer if those complaints remain unresolved.
2. Efficient Systems
   Maintain a structured system for tracking student queries, ensuring issues are resolved within established timelines and that key trends are identified for continuous improvement.

4. Collaboration with Academic and Administrative Teams

1. Cross-Functional Collaboration
   Work alongside academic faculties and administrative departments to ensure that academic support services are seamlessly integrated into the student experience.
2. Faculty Engagement
   Support faculty in identifying and assisting students who need additional academic support, providing tools and resources to enhance student success in their modules.

5. Committee Involvement and Institutional Training

1. Academic Forum Leadership
   Organize and facilitate the Academic Forum, ensuring that it runs effectively and that action items are tracked and implemented.
2. Committee Chairing
   Chair relevant committees focused on enhancing student support and academic operations, fostering collaboration across departments.
3. Institutional Training
   Lead the planning and delivery of training initiatives for academic and support staff, focusing on improving teaching strategies and student engagement.

6. Enhancing Student Success and Retention

1. Retention Strategies
   Lead initiatives aimed at improving student retention, focusing on targeted programmes for at-risk students. Ensure that retention strategies are data-informed and responsive to student needs.
2. Programme Development
   Develop and implement programmes that address the specific needs of students, particularly those from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds.

7. Quality Assurance and Compliance

1. Support Institutional Standards
   Collaborate with institutional quality assurance and regulatory risk teams to ensure student support services meet regulatory and institutional standards.
2. Programme Assessment
   Regularly assess the effectiveness of academic support programmes and student success initiatives, ensuring alignment with institutional goals and regulatory requirements.

8. Execution of Delegated Academic Operations

1. Implement operational tasks as directed by the CAO, ensuring the seamless execution of academic operations.
2. Assist in operational strategy execution.

9. Weekly Briefings and Updates

1. Provide weekly briefings and updates to the CAO regarding all academic operations, student queries, faculty support, and teaching enhancement activities.
2. Ensure that the CAO is fully informed of the progress on all delegated tasks.

10. Support in Teaching and Learning

1. Execute teaching and learning strategies as directed by the CAO and Senate, ensuring alignment with institutional goals.
2. Assist in the enhancement of academic delivery and teaching quality without leading faculty development or curriculum design.

11. Acting for the CAO

1. Stand in for the CAO when required, including attending meetings and overseeing committees, but with no authority to make strategic decisions.
2. Ensure all actions during the absence of the CAO are aligned with the CAO's directives and require prior approval.

12. Limited Communication with Stakeholders

1. Ensure that all material external communication with stakeholders, including students, faculty, or outside parties, is first approved by the CAO.
2. Maintain strict adherence to institutional communication protocols, as directed by the CAO.

Requirements

Qualifications

1. Educational Requirement
   A Doctorate in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
2. Experience
   Extensive experience in student services, academic support, or higher education administration, with a focus on enhancing student experience and success.
3. Leadership
   Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage academic support programs that align with institutional priorities.

Skills

1. Student-Centered Approach
   Strong commitment to improving the student experience and supporting academic success.
2. Collaboration and Communication
   Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with a proven ability to work across departments and engage with students under the CAO’s direction.
3. Data Analysis
   Proficient in using data to drive decisions related to student support, retention, and program development.
4. Organisational and Operational skills
   Strong organizational and operational skills with an ability to execute detailed instructions from the CAO.

Competencies

1. Leadership
   Demonstrates the ability to lead initiatives that improve student success and support faculty collaboration.
2. Problem-Solving
   Uses data and feedback to identify challenges and implement solutions that enhance the student experience.
3. Accountability
   Takes responsibility for ensuring the successful delivery of student support programs, with regular reporting on outcomes to the CAO.