Director of First Year Experience

Job Description

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University:

Em bry-Riddle Aeronautical University is an independent, culturally diverse institution providing quality education and research in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and other related fields with residential campuses located in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona. The University ' s Worldwide campus provides educational opportunities online and at approximately 130 locations throughout the United States, Asia, Europe, and Central/South America.

As the largest and most comprehensive aviation and aerospace-focused university in the world, Embry-Riddle is a unique institution. Over the past 90 years, the University has evolved with industry to break new ground and produce top-level graduates who serve the ever-changing needs of aviation and aerospace and other STEM-related disciplines. Embry-Riddle offers programs in seven primary fields of study including: Applied Science; Aviation; Business; Computers and Technology; Engineering; Safety, Security, and Intelligence; and Space.

For Academic Year 202 2-23, there were over 1 1,1 00 undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students that attended the University ' s residential campuses and approximately 20,195 students in total enrolled with the University around the world.

The Opportunity:

The Director of First Year Experience (Director) will provide leadership to the development and implementation of a comprehensive and immersive first year experience (FYE) for all new students at ERAU PC. Partnering with the academic and student life leadership, the Director will use best practice guidelines to create an in-depth FYI through strategic programming that focuses on positive academic transitions and the development of learning. Through the training of new and existing educational contributors of the FYE, the Director will create environments of engagement, belonging and enhanced learning both in and out of the classroom.

This position is responsible for sunsetting the current UNIV 101 College Success course and the creation of the new FYE. The Director will assess the new program using best practice guided by SACs accreditation standards. In all matters of assessment, the Director will work with the Assistant Dean of Student Support Services on the PC campus. The Director will work with CTLE, faculty, and college leadership to build the FYE curriculum and Student Life leadership to round out engagement across all aspects of the learning experience and build a foundation of belonging where students are well connected by program and future career interests. The goal is to forge a community that will utilize data, demographics campus community, and academic pathways to build connections that support student success.

The Director is responsible for budget, communications, and needs identification for the FYE including the current Campus Academic Mentor (CAM) program or any future revision thereto. Works with all programs and campus partners to continuously improve and develop the new student experience. In addition to the aforementioned collaborations the Director will work with closely with Academic Advising as follows:

• Develop and continually improve the First-Year support system.
• Research and establish better business practices as related to support system.
• Develop and supervise the position of educational support services, recruit, and hire.
• Increase connections aimed at improving a sense of belonging and purpose at the University.

• Collaborate with faculty to monitor student progress and provide outreach to students as needed, suggesting strategies for success. This will include a specific outreach group for students whose academic performance places them at risk of receiving a failing grade.
• Support the Advising Directors efforts in leading the program for professional development to maintain and enhance relevant advising skills and knowledge.
• Enhance relationships between students, colleges, and student life with a focus a well-rounded student experience.

Administrative Role:

• Develop, implement, and continually improve the FYE
• Create metrics of FYE program success and regularly monitor metrics; engage in continuous improvements to FYE based on analyses of metric data.
• With CTLE and other appropriate partners, train and monitor continuous improvement among the educators/support staff assigned to the FYE.
• Serve as point of contact (POC) for all stakeholders including in regards to students' concerns and create a process to respond, address, and resolve concerns and communicate updates to appropriate leadership/reports.
• Maintain budget and accurate records using technology resources.
• Participate in department meetings and campus-level functions as needed.
• Participate on the belonging, retention, strategic initiative committees and other relevant committees as assigned.
• Demonstrate proficiency in using Microsoft products such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Other duties as assigned based on the needs of the university.

ERAU benefits include:

• Retirement Plan - ERAU offers immediate vesting and provides a 6% gift and will match up to 4% of employee contributions
  
  
• Two BCBS health plans – PPO and high deductible plan with a health savings account
  
  
• Tuition waivers for employees, spouses, and dependent children
  
  
• Use of various campus services: fitness center, library, mailroom and enjoy observation flights
  
  

Qualifications

Required Education:

Master's degree. Area of study: Higher Education, counseling. psychology. STEM subject, or other related fields