Director of the Life Directions Center

About the Job

The goal of the Life Directions Center (LDC) is to provide a holistic and comprehensive approach to student advising, academic support services, and spiritual formation under an overview of mentoring and spiritual care. The LDC mission is to equip authentic Disciples of Christ to discern their life calling, achieve academic success, and engage in meaningful service. The vision is that students will have one advisor throughout their CCU experience to aid them with any issues they may face in college including but not limited to; course and major selections, spiritual growth, life calling exploration well as any specific academic support needs that may arise.

The Director provides leadership to the LDC in working to create an inviting and accepting environment for all students where effective service and resources are provided. The Director helps to create an atmosphere for the advisors that is conducive to working as a team, encourages interaction with students and promotes professional development.

The Director fosters communication and policy development with other Student Life Departments, Admissions, the VP of Academic Affairs for the College of Undergraduate Studies (CUS), Academic Deans, Department Heads, Service Central (Registrar and Student Financial Services), and other academic and service departments as needed and required.

 About CCU

Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.
Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU’s motto is "grace and truth," which comes from John 1.14: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (ESV)

CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.

CCU’s embraces an educational model that was there at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars—competence, character, and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.

A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master’s granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 100 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 8,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.

 What is most appealing about working at CCU?

1. Faith-friendly: CCU’s culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God’s Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.
4. Equip students for kingdom work: You can be a part of helping students discover their callings and preparing them for positions of significant leadership in the church, business, government, education, and other professions, as a key part of our University's Strategic Priorities.

We’re looking for candidates who have:

1. Master’s degree in higher education administration, career services, counseling or related area.
2. At least 5 years of experience in higher education student development or related work.
3. Proven written and oral communication skills.
4. Experience working with personality, strengths and skills assessments, and other resources used in developing life calling and major selection with students.
5. Proven ability in systems development.
6. Familiar with data base systems and technologies used within higher education.
7. Experience with student success programming or working with at-risk students.
8. 2-3 years supervisory experience with professional staff.
9. Passion for helping students develop as the man or woman of God that they are designed to become.
10. Great interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with students and colleagues from all divisions of the campus community, providing a synergistic environment, being a resource and engaging in creative problem solving.

Key Job Duties

1. Contribute to CCU’s mission: Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth. In this role, the Director of Life Directions Center will contribute to the University’s mission by championing the vision and mission of the LDC as a service center committed to promoting student success through a holistic and personalized approach to the student learning experience.
2. Foster timely communication with the Dean’s Council, Service Central (Registrar’s Office) and Admissions around areas such as registration, course scheduling, program changes and student performance.
3. Supervise and provide support to LDC Assistant Directors and LDC advisors as they facilitate the following LDC Service areas: Academic Advising, Academic Accommodations and Accessibility, International Student Services, Study Abroad, Ministry Hours/Service Learning, Tutoring, Life Calling/Undeclared Student Services, ROTC/Veteran’s Services, Athletics Liaison, Daniel’s Fund scholarship program, inactive student degree completion, and other areas that may develop in the LDC range of services. The director will also advise students in the course selection process as necessary.
4. Act as campus contact for Denver Scholarship Foundation.
5. Supervise the LDC Administrative Assistant and their areas of primary responsibilities such as the Testing Center, student staff supervision, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) technology.
6. Administrate several integral LDC processes including: coordinate with faculty, Deans, and respective department personnel for classroom scheduling each semester, troubleshooting waitlists, and expansion/consolidation of class sizes.
7. Promote development of student success programs for at-risk student populations, including formal and informal Academic Alert processes.
8. Serve as a member of Academic Review Committee and oversee probation and suspension policy/process.
9. Serve on the retention committee and integrated enrollment meetings to provide reports as needed.
10. Track overall CUS enrollment and report on key statistics of new and returning populations.
11. Collaborate with departments across the University to provide service and resources to the related student populations and support Student Life department through involvement in campus-wide programming, committees and events.
12. Serve as primary contact for prospective students and their families, specifically helping with questions regarding dual credit, AP, IB, CLEP, and other types of college-level coursework.
13. Develop and evaluate effectiveness of systems and software controlling registration, retention, advising, testing, withdrawals and special populations.
14. Teach a section of INT 101 (FYI) during the fall semester.
15. Oversee development of the department’s budget. Monitor expenditures.
16. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Dean of Students.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. You may be required to work occasional irregular hours, including some nights and weekends. Colorado Christian University expects all faculty and staff to become a part of the University community by participating in activities and events that occur on the campus throughout the year, which may occur during evenings and weekends.

What we offer our employees:

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process. Pay is assigned by reviewing a combination of job-related factors that may include: internal/external pay equity, the salary structure/pay grade, or a candidate’s qualifications/experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage and CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.