Assistant Director for Care and Advocacy

Call for Applicants

Assistant Director for Care and Advocacy

Dean of Students Office

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges , a school of medicine , a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School , and Honors College .

About Student Affairs

Student Affairs’ Aspirations for Student Learning serve as a framework for our roles as educators as we work alongside students to encapsulate their learning into a strengths-based discovery of their talent so they may: commit to unwavering curiosity ; pursue self-understanding and integrity ; practice civility ; prepare for a life of courageous leadership ; and ultimately , embrace Ut Prosim as a way of life . We operationalize these aspirations through ExperienceVT whereby we work alongside undergraduate, graduate and professional students to create a customized plan for their experience designed to accomplish their individual goals. We measure our success by the success of our students. To that end, we will do whatever it takes to support the individual well-being and success of every student at Virginia Tech.

Moreover, we pay significant attention to those within the Virginia Tech student experience that feel marginalized and isolated. Student success hinges upon each person being able to bring their whole selves into our community. Identifying commonly held beliefs and perspectives that can be agreed upon despite differences is an end that we continually seek.

The Opportunity

The Dean of Students Office (DOS) is committed to offering care and support to students to assist them in flourishing personally, academically, and socially. Guided by a strategic framework that engages, educates, equips, and empowers students, the Dean’s team stands ready to support all students and community members at Virginia Tech. The Dean’s team is comprised of passionate and student-centered professionals, who work closely with the seven undergraduate colleges and administrative offices throughout Virginia Tech.

The Dean’s team employs a focused pursuit of care to assist students through a relationship-rich approach. Members of the Dean’s team embrace a strengths-oriented paradigm, and believe that they can shape, respond to, and advocate for a dynamic, inclusive, and learning-centered Virginia Tech experience. The primary functions of the Dean of Students Office are: Advocacy; Academic Engagement; Student Engagement; Interfaith Leadership; First-Generation Student Success; and Off-Campus Life.

In fall 2022, Virginia Tech will transition to a new Residential Well-being program and model for the on-campus living experience. The goal of this innovative living-learning shift is inclusive residential environments where all students thrive. This new model will integrate Residence Life with Hokie Wellness and create strong partnerships with the Dean of Students Office , Cook Counseling Center , and ExperienceVT . A component of this department is the development of a more robust and student-success driven model for case management, which will integrate with the efforts of the Dean of Students Office.

The Assistant Director for Care and Advocacy will work alongside the Dean’s team to support coordinated care in Residential Well-Being and the Dean of Students Office. The ideal candidate will enthusiastically work to bridge administrative pathways for care and support as students transition throughout their experience.

Primary Responsibilities

The Assistant Director for Care and Advocacy will:

• Support the student advocacy and case management responsibilities for the Dean of Students Office.
• Oversee advising support for Student Conduct and Title IX case needs.
• Provide case management and student support/inquiry follow-up for Care Team and the Bias Intervention and Response Team.
• Offer advocacy and triage support to students and families.
• Handle incoming requests for support received from academic colleagues via Navigate coordinated-care network.
• Primary liaison to University Case Management team for COVID-19 support.
• Manage data analytics and reporting for the Dean of Students Office related to student support.
• Offer support to student participation in The Market food assistance program.
• Serve as resources to other campus departments as needed for student support.
• Serve on division and university-wide committees as needed.

Desired Qualifications

The successful candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and be able to demonstrate the following experiences and capacities:

• Commitment to inclusive and diverse practices that recognize intersectionality and multiple identities.
• Advising and/or advocacy for students in a higher education environment.
• Managing confidential and sensitive information with high levels of discretion.
• Enthusiasm for a team-oriented philosophy when advancing strategic goals of an organization.
• High degree of curiosity and generosity when seeking and developing relationships.
• Comfortable with change and energized by creating innovative resources/programs for students.
• Collaborative spirit when working with students, faculty, staff, families, and community members.
• Ability to be proficient with the use of innovative technologies for case management support.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in counseling, student affairs, higher education or field related to the responsibilities of the position.

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Commensurate with experience

Review Date

April 25th, 2022

Additional Information:

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact (Shaka Sydnor) at (shaka@vt.edu) during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Advertised: March 21, 2022
Applications close: