Assistant Director, Student Access and Equity (First-generation Students)

The George Mason University, Student Access and Equity (SAE) team within The Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment seeks to hire a full-time Assistant Director to work with campus-wide initiatives that center first-generation students. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Center: The Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment (CCEE), formerly named the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Education, leverages programs and services focused on advocacy and direct student support to strengthen equity and inclusion at George Mason University. Our advising fosters opportunities for identity development, cross-cultural engagement, and inclusive learning communities, affirming the indivisible aspects of all our identities.

Our department is comprised of three main areas: Student Access and Equity (SAE), Student Engagement for Racial Justice (SERJ), and LGBTQ+ Resources, serve as resources to those in the Mason Community who seek to meaningfully engage and interact with people with different identities and intersections to co-create an equitable campus environment.

About the Position: Reporting to the Associate Director, the Assistant Director will coordinate and/or support university-wide diversity programming initiatives. The Assistant Director will be skilled at developing campus-wide initiatives and programs targeted toward first-generation college students. This includes particular attention to the management of a Living Learning Community (LLC), mentoring program, and expansion of services for first-generation students at the undergraduate, graduate, and alumni levels. This includes involvement in the campus-wide first-generation student task force and connections to the NASPA designations for Mason as a First-gen Forward campus and First Scholars cohort.

Responsibilities: Direct Student Support and Outreach: * Provide direct advising and support to first-generation college students, including meeting with students individually to assess support needs and collaborating with units within and outside of University Life to resolve student issues, including referrals to campus or community-based services: Early Identification Program, Financial Aid, Admissions Office, Office of the Registrar, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Academic departments; * Lead outreach and engagement efforts for first-generation students for the broader Mason campus, including all locations (Arlington. Mason Korea, and Science and Technology campuses), and all levels of study for undergraduate and graduate students with some attention to faculty and staff who are first-generation. This may include particular attention to: ** Management of social media presence for first-generation students and maintenance of the weekly First Gen Newsletter. ** Academic departments that host a larger number of first-generation students and serving as a resource to those departments for programs and initiatives or onsite office hours. ** Attendance to Spotlight Days for admitted students to advertise all programs from the department connected to first-generation students, including STEP and First Gen LLC. ** Serving as additional support advisor and liaison for all students who attend Mason and have completed the Early Identification Program (EIP). * Support, advise, and liaise with affiliated student organizations and groups who serve first-generation college students, such as: ** First Gen Mason. ** First Gen Peer Mentors. ** First Gen Living Learning Community. ** Early Identification Program Mentors.

Initiative Development and Support: * Support the advancement of first-generation student programs campus-wide through participation with the First-generation Working Group and in the development of two initiatives that are in their early stages of development: (1) First-generation Alumni Network and (2) First-generation Peer Mentoring Program. * Maintain ongoing knowledge of information relevant to the campus regarding first-generation college students, including but is not limited to: ** Preparation and maintenance of reporting, information sheets, and presentations for University Life regarding the needs of first-generation students. ** Benchmarking of services and programs on a national level. ** Identifying trends in literature for best practices in the success of first-generation students.

Supervision: * Supervisory responsibilities include, but not limited to: recruiting, hiring, coaching, and guiding professional development; holding weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one meetings; setting and assessing professional goals; accountability for, along with evaluation of, professional conduct and job responsibilities. This role supervises a host of graduate and undergraduate staff: ** Supervise one (1) Student Support Coordinator to assist with first-generation programming portfolio and initiatives. ** Supervise and support one (1) Resident Assistant assigned to the LLC. ** Supervise 10-12 First-generation Student Mentors. * Teach one or more sections of the courses as the primary instructor (University 100 - Fall Courses and/or Spring Courses). This is a course requirement for both the STEP and The First LLC students as well as a great professional development opportunity.

Programs and Evaluation: * Coordinate The First-generation Learning Living Community (The First, LLC), in collaboration with Housing & Residence Life and Supervisor. The LLC currently is a mixed-level LLC and includes both upperclass students and first year students. Note: this program will not be active in 2021-2022, but may be in the future. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: ** Collaboration with Housing & Residence Life professional and student staff on the planning and implementation of LLC programs. ** Lead the recruitment, application review, and selection of student participants. ** Attendance to all LLC related meetings, trainings, and workshops. ** Confirm housing assignments and selection of LLC Resident Assistant. ** Assessment and evaluation of LLC participant experiences and programs. ** Point of contact for LLC students of concern. * Engage in a programming portfolio that includes the following: ** First Gen Welcome Reception (September). ** First Gen Living Learning Community programming (2-3 programs per semester). ** First Gen Faculty/Staff Mixers (one per semester). ** First Gen Study Halls (one per semester). ** First Gen Graduate Student Reception (Spring semester). * Develop annual program outcomes, evaluations, and annual reporting for above stated programs, including relevant national, local, and campus-wide trends and needs for identified student populations. Alignment with learning and programming outcomes for the department as well as evaluations of those outcomes on a regular basis; * Manage the budget for programs included in the above portfolios and staffing, including purchasing of programming supplies, monitoring of work hours for supervised staff, as well as responsible management of funds. Included in budget management is seeking opportunities for external funding outside of the department from University Life, George Mason University opportunities, as well as those beyond the institution to expand and support work as relevant and approved by supervisor.

Departmental Expectations: * As a member of the department, direct support for students from other underrepresented identities in higher education, included but not limited to students who are first-generation, racial and ethnic heritage identities who constitute a minority, and gender and sexual orientations, represented in the multicultural and intersecting identities college students possess. Preparation to support these students include trainings required of all staff within the department, examples are: ** Working with Students with Disabilities. ** Working with International Students. ** Safe Zone Training. ** UndocuAlly Training. * Provide general support to team-level work with multicultural students while also being available as a resource for first-generation students (campus-wide) and undocumented, DACA, and TPS students to support success in their curricular and co-curricular collegiate experiences; * Serve on the department's professional staff team. Attending staff meetings, small team meetings, large area meetings, and other meetings as assigned. Attend departmental signature events. Gain and maintain overall knowledge of department, University Life, and George Mason University; * Serve on University Life and University-wide committees, including search committees, as assigned/approved by Supervisor; * Other duties, as assigned by Supervisor and/or Director.

Required Qualifications: * Master's degree in Counseling, Higher Education, or related field - completed by the first day of work listed on the offer letter; * Direct work with first-generation college students in a college setting or experience with first-generation students in a college and/or related, educational setting; * Experience working with a diverse body of students, staff, and faculty.

Preferred Qualifications: * Two or more years of experience with first-generation programs; * Understanding of and experience applying student development theories and/or student leadership development; * Experience planning events and programs, using program and learning outcomes; * Experience with assessment, including knowledge of the assessment cycle and development and evaluation of outcomes.

"For full consideration, applicants must apply at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ ; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information."

"Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report "Up and Coming" spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

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