Assistant Director, Student Veteran Services

The New School is committed to creating and maintaining an environment that promises diversity and tolerance in all areas of employment, education and access to its educational, artistic or cultural programs and activities. The New School does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, sex or gender (including actual or perceived gender identity or expression or transgender status), sexual orientation, sexual and other reproductive health decisions, pregnancy, religion, religious practices, mental or physical disability, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, veteran status, marital or partnership status, or any other legally protected status.


The Assistant Director for Student Veteran Services develops recruitment, retention, and persistence services for all New School student veterans and is primarily responsible for implementing policies and procedures to provide services and resources for student veterans and/or their dependents (approx. 120 students). This position ensures compliance with federal and state directives and regulations in relation to the US Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) educational benefits, including tuition, housing, and other benefits, and the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill and the Yellow Ribbon program through collaboration with financial aid, student accounts, and the schools. It also develops and assesses academic and career advising strategies and initiatives to help students persist to graduation and obtain successful career outcomes. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with growing populations of students at the university in the areas of student veterans, their dependents, and first-generation students. The Assistant Director is an integral member of the AACD team and reports to the Director of Academic Advising and Career Development.   This position applies knowledge of best practices with respect to U.S. veterans to execute initiatives, programs, and work processes within Student Success and works independently and in collaboration with Enrollment and Success and the schools as well as with external veterans services organizations to improve our recruitment, retention, persistence, and outcomes of veterans. This is the primary university point of contact for veterans services organizations, the federal government, and offices within The New School.
The New School is a university dedicated to progressive education, as such, we are seeking a candidate who has fluency in working with a diverse, multicultural student population. We encourage individuals to apply who will promote and enrich The New School’s academic and culturally inclusive atmosphere within the context of supporting the academic success of our students.

  Responsibilities:

• Working closely with the Senior Director of Academic Advising and Career Development, establishes a recruitment strategy with Enrollment Management for veterans to attend The New School
• Works closely with Financial Aid and Student Accounts to certify, apply aid and problem-solve incoming student veteran concerns
• Assists in the development of policies, and manages the design, implementation, assessment, and ongoing revision of programs and special projects to serve specific student populations in collaboration with Enrollment and Success, faculty, and the schools
• Serves as a university certifying official for veterans and their dependents
• Maintains records in conjunction with other university certifying officials that comply with federal and state requirements, and prepares records and reports for corresponding audits on veteran student enrollment and success
• Creates and manages initiatives that promote student persistence, including collaboration with external veterans services organizations, faculty, and student support services. Serves as a liaison to assigned programs regarding academic planning, curriculum, and career outcomes; attend and participate in regular meetings held by programs and schools
• Establishes measurable standards that assess the effectiveness of programs and identify the strengths and weaknesses
• Developmentally advise students in academic, career, and success goal-setting and achievement via scheduled and walk-in appointments
• Establishes and cultivates relationships with departments and schools to ensure accurate and timely communication of program needs, obstacles, and questions with respect to student success, persistence, and retention, including fiscal plans to ensure comprehensive understanding of federal benefits
• Collaborates with faculty and administrators to create an academic and career development curriculum that supports students long- and short-term goals and responsibilities, both academically and professionally
• Chairs the Yellow Ribbon working group to ensure accurate and effective messaging to new and returning students from application to graduation and successful outcomes
• Provides training and resources for certifying officials to ensure compliance with all federal and state rules and regulations governing veteran student benefits
• Exercises impeccable discretion to implement University, school-specific, and governmental program-specific policies with respect to student status at the university
• Responsible for budget expenditures to support these initiatives

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years related experience in higher education with a focus on student veteran services, student engagement, and advising
• Current veteran and/or previous experience working with student veterans and dependants
• Must have a strong understanding of federal VA bill educational benefits, including chapters 31, 33, 35, and Yellow Ribbon
• Must have experience with VA Once in certifying students’ GI Bill benefits
• Demonstrated excellence in interpersonal skills, including sensitivity to cultural differences
• Proven abilities in personal judgment and critical thinking skills to help others make values-based decisions regarding academic, career, and other success paths
• Strong presentation, written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated organizational skills and ability to work on multiple projects both independently and as part of a team
• Ensures maintenance of The New School’s “military-friendly” designation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and ability to learn new computer applications
• Some travel will be required and may occur outside normal business hours

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in higher education, higher education administration, or a field related to academic offerings at The New School
• Knowledge of Banner, DegreeWorks, and Starfish
• Experience with NACADA, EAB, NACE, NASPA, LinkedIn or other advising-related professional organizations and tools

In addition to a dynamic and progressive work environment, The New School offers a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental insurance, retirement plans, flexible spending accounts and a tuition waiver. We encourage a healthy work/life balance and offer employee assistance services, health and well-being programs and over four weeks of vacation time per year.

 

Apply with us and discover the rewards and opportunities in working for a world-class, urban university.

 

Interested candidates must apply online at: https://careers.newschool.edu/postings/19863