Associate Director for Student Life, Fraternity & Sorority Life

Mission

We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision

To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
 
Located in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

James Madison University is seeking a dynamic Student Affairs professional to lead its fraternity and sorority community. The Associate Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life is the senior position in the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life and is responsible for promoting the success of a fraternal community comprised of over 4,000 members across 31 chapters. The position provides strategic vision, leadership, support, and training to promote a culture of inclusiveness, excellence and the ideals of scholarship, service, leadership, and personal accountability. 
The Student Life Department at James Madison University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all of its forms. We embrace self-discovery, belonging, and authentic engagement with each other and our communities. We value inclusion, innovation, and a focus on students. 

Student Affairs Values

• Focusing on Students
• Leading Courageously
• Transcending Boundaries
• Creating Belonging
• Embracing Innovation and Change
• Honoring and Valuing Our Staff
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Employee Supervision.  Supervise two AP Faculty Coordinator positions and indirectly supervise two Graduate Assistant and numerous student positions in carrying out the Fraternity & Sorority Life mission. Hire, train, schedule, and support staff in meeting programmatic goals. Provide clear expectations, timely and constructive feedback, appropriate professional development, and effective management of performance issues if and when they occur. Maintain hiring documentation, complete ePARs, and submit payroll in accordance with established procedures. Foster a productive work environment, a culture of personal and professional excellence, and working relationships based on inclusiveness and mutual respect.

Leadership.  Lead all aspects of the Fraternity and Sorority community in fostering values-based organizations, providing members the ideal fraternal experience, and contributing to the JMU community. Specifically, directly or indirectly oversee recruitment, new member education, expansion and chartering of processes in accordance with university, international headquarters, and NPC/IFC guidelines. Assist advisors of Panhellenic and Interfraternity Councils with officer, advisor, and leadership development. Develop and implement programs and events that provide meaningful recognition of individual and chapter achievement. Create and implement educational, developmental, risk prevention and management programs. Assist councils and chapters with public relations, promotion of events, achieving philanthropic goals, engaging in community service, and building connections with local community. Advise the community on university and national policies. Develop and implement strategies in addressing unrecognized organizations. Develop effective working relationships with key stakeholders such as advisors, IHQ representatives, and campus partners. Assist ORL with residential housing processes. Assist the Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices with implementation of conduct accountability policies and procedures.  Coordinate FSL programs and services with those of other offices/departments, such as SAI, SLC, CMSS, ORL, and Public Safety.

Assessment.  Work with the Director to develop and implement ongoing assessment efforts with the expressed purpose of measuring attainment of objectives and program improvement.  Assessment should ascertain needs, participation and non-participation demographics, participant satisfaction, and accomplishment of stated goals and learning objectives.  Assessment results should inform resource allocation, program improvement, and marketing processes. 

Marketing.  Use various marketing mediums and strategies to disseminate information related to Fraternity & Sorority Life and associated programs and resources. Maintain the Fraternity & Sorority Life website. Utilize website usage analytics and other inputs in adapting website design, marketing efforts, and information dissemination.

Budget Management.  Coordinate with the Director and FSL staff to maintain all office budgets, ensure appropriate and effective use of available resources, and assist in the annual budget development process.

Collaboration.  Proactively develop and maintain collaborative relationships with Student Activities and Involvement, Off-Campus Life, Student Leadership Center, Center for Multicultural Student Services, Residence Life, Student Accountability and Restorative Practices, University Unions, Public Safety and other stakeholders where such relationships would promote efficiency/effectiveness in fulfilling the Fraternity and Sorority Life mission.

Committee Work.  Serve on department and university committees as assigned. Actively participate in accomplishing established goals and objectives.

Professional Development.  Accomplish a minimum of 20 hours of professional development, attend Student Life professional development training, participate in staff retreats and other job-related training specific to the fraternity and sorority community. Effectively utilize conferences and other professional development opportunities as tools for staying current in the field of fraternity and sorority life.

Other responsibilities as assigned. 

Required:

• Four years of experience in the fraternity and sorority community 
• Experience developing, communicating, and achieving organizational mission and vision. 
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and meeting the diverse needs of a college student population. 
• Theoretical and practical understanding of risk management and prevention in a fraternity and sorority and residential university setting 
• Experience developing and implementing assessment and evaluation in achieving continuous program improvement 
• Ability to work independently and to build and lead cohesive, high performing teams 
• Ability to apply student development theory in managing staff and developing and implementing educational programs 
• Ability to foster a collaborative environment and to work collaboratively across organizational lines with a variety of constituents to include students, advisors, faculty, staff, headquarters’ contacts, alumni, parents, and community members 
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting staff growth and development for new professionals, graduate assistants, and student staff in a professional environment 
• Effective written and verbal communication skills 
• Demonstrated involvement at the local, regional and national level 
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as appropriate

Preferred:

• Master’s degree in college student personnel, higher education administration, or related field preferred 
• Multiple years of increasingly responsible supervisory experience preferred 

To apply go to https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/10291 or visit JobLink.jmu.edu and reference posting number F1716. Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience.

James Madison University is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.