Assistant Director for Higher Ed Partnerships

Position Title Assistant Director for Higher Ed Partnerships Position Number 065871 Department College Access Partnerships - 240105 Description of University
Appalachian State University, in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The transformational Appalachian experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and embrace diversity and difference. As one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina system, Appalachian enrolls about 20,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors. Minimum Qualifications

• Master's degree along with 5 years of experience in college access and partnership development/implementation experience.
• Strong public relations skills, and outstanding organizational skills.
• The ability to establish and maintain strong positive rapport with a variety of partners.

License/Certification Required
N/A Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The Assistant Director for Higher Ed Partnerships serves as a liaison between Appalachian GEAR UP and 8 Institute of Higher Education/College ( IHE ) partnerships with the aim of improving outcomes identified and approved in the NC Appalachian GEAR UP Partnership grants. This position requires a strong foundation in and knowledge of college access and readiness best practices and serves as an educator to other professionals responsible for providing services to approximately 14,000 GEAR UP students. The position requires an understanding of individual school district and IHE needs and will work to actively seek new opportunities, partnerships, and services that can help meet those needs.

Duties and responsibilities of the position include but are not limited to the following:

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT

• Work with higher education partners to strategically align GEAR UP goals with institutional goals to develop mutually beneficial solutions.
• Work with higher education partners to develop services for middle and high school students that meet GEAR UP goals and aim to improve student preparation for and enrollment in postsecondary education.
• Collaborate with school district and higher ed partners to assess community needs and identify higher education programs that would prepare students to fill the community needs.
• Explore possibilities for expanding and enhancing dual enrollment participation in high school.
• Collaborate with higher education partners to provide services that ensure a greater percentage of students are college-ready prior to high school graduation.
• Work with IHE and Local Education Agency/School District ( LEA ) partner teams to assess the strengths and needs of the college access and success experience in their district; facilitate and support a GU program design that addresses the identified needs.

LEADERSHIP

• Facilitate connections between district and higher education stakeholders in order to strengthen relationships that effectively serve students in reaching graduation and higher education goals.
• Collaborate with higher education partners to ensure support and retention of GEAR UP students.
• Serve as a consultant to 8 IHEs to support implementation of GEAR UP at their institution and the GEAR UP school districts.
• Ensure districts have what they need to increase dual enrollment participation.
• Build an engaging and collaborative network of higher ed partners that support each other and work together to solve systemic college access barriers.
• Collaborate with the GEAR UP assistant director team to ensure synergy among each of the functional teams (district partnerships, curriculum & instruction, finance & administration, and evaluation).

COMPLIANCE

• Work with partners to develop work plans that outline yearly plans for spending contracted awards and approve annual plans.
• Maintain compliance with all federal, state, institutional, and programmatic policies including but not limited to FERPA, CFRs, EDGAR, etc.
• Provide guidance and support to partners to ensure the implementation of services is done in compliance with federal, state, institutional, and programmatic policies.

DATA AND REPORTING

• Ensure all higher education services are tracked in Lyceum.
• Develop and implement a plan for regular data reporting to districts and IHEs that highlights how services-to-date advance the articulated goals of their partnership with the LEAs, and serve as a formative tool for future service implementation.
• Develop and implement a plan for the assessment of the IHE partnerships to ensure continuous quality improvement.
• Facilitate and support a needs-based program design by working with partners to assess needs and identify gaps.
• Support IHEs in the exploration and pursuit of mutually beneficial research/evaluation projects.

OTHER

• Assist as needed with the delivery of direct student services such as summer camps, parent/student workshops, etc.
• Other duties as assigned.

The Division of Enrollment Management is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally and ethnically diverse University community that is inclusive of all individuals and groups. Successful candidates will demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing diversity and dedication to recruiting and serving students with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and other distinct characteristics in respectful, sensitive, and understanding ways. Suggested Salary Range $60,000 - $66,500 Physical Demands of Position
Typical physical demands of a professional position within a university. Special Instructions to Applicants
Please attach required documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume

List a minimum of 3 references in the application or attach a List of References with Contact Information.

This position is grant-funded through September 2027, with the potential for extension. AA/EEO Statement
Appalachian State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.

Important Contacts:

Director of Human Resources/ EEO Officer
Office of Human Resources
330 University Hall Dr.
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-3187

Office of Title IX Compliance
123 I.G. Greer Hall
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-2144

ADA /504 Coordinator & Office of Disability Resources Director
Office of Disability Resources
224 Joyce Lawrence Lane/Suite 112 Anne Belk Hall
Boone, NC 28608
(828) 262-3056 Diversity and Inclusion at Appalachian
We at Appalachian State University are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence both locally and globally.

We understand that the successful implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence is the responsibility of the entire university community, including alumni and official university governing bodies. A diverse campus community supports an influx of broad and distinct ideas that increase learning opportunities and strengthen the impact of our community as we work collectively to achieve a just experience for all.

We actively encourage, support, and promote a global mindset and an equitable environment where all will know that they belong and are safe to express their culture, identity, values, ideas, opinions, and creativity. We are committed to creating a culture of equity opportunity for all, one that has an expectation of fairness, justice, and equity-minded practice at all levels of the university community. Quick Link https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/31691