Assistant Director, Student Access and Equity (Undocumented Student Support)

The George Mason University, Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment invites applications for a Assistant Director, Student Access and Equity (Undocumented Student Support). 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 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 three 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 Student Access and Equity (SAE) Team: The Student Access and Equity team supports campus and student engagement for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies. This position enhances the collegiate experience of first-generation students at Mason through programmatic and personal support and development as well as training and education for the campus community. This position will also provide general support to the team's efforts to support first-generation students, including coordinating work with first-generation student initiatives and programs, including students in the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP).

The Student Access and Equity (SAE) Team is one of three teams within Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment that support students. Adjacent to this team is also a strong connection with the additional two teams: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + Resources (LGBTQ+ Resources) and Student Engagement for Racial Justice (SERJ).

About the Position: The Student Access and Equity (SAE) Team seeks to hire a full-time Assistant Director to work with campus-wide initiatives that center undocumented students. Reporting to the Associate Director, the Assistant Director will coordinate and/or support university-wide initiatives toward equity and support for undocumented students. The Assistant Director is responsible for the planning and management of student focused programs and initiatives that have a specific focus on the development, affirmation, and support of students who are undocumented, which includes students without documentation and those protected by Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), and asylum policies in the United States.

The Assistant Director will be skilled at developing campus-wide initiatives, programs, and policies that center increased access for undocumented college students. This includes particular attention to the management of multiple committees and teams who serve the undocumented community, development and delivery of awareness training (UndocuAlly Training), and support as the needs and policies change for undocumented students at the local (university), state, and federal levels.

Responsibilities:
Direct Student Support: * Provide direct advising and support to undocumented 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: Office of International Programs and Services, Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions, Career Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Academic departments as relevant; * Supervise 1 Student Support Coordinator, 2-4 UndocuAlly Trainers; * Recruit, hire, coach, and give guidance for professional development which includes holding weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one meetings, setting and assessing professional goals, accountability for, as well as the evaluation of professional conduct and job responsibilities. * Support, advise, and liaise with affiliated student organizations that support undocumented students, such as: ** UndocuMason (formerly Mason DREAMers) ** UndocuAlly Training Team ** F1rst Gen Mason (first-generation student organization)

Policy Awareness: * Serve as Point of Contact for the unit regarding policies and legislation impacting undocumented students including connections with aligned organizations such as: Legal Aid Justice Center, UndocuMason Advisory Board, C-Con, UndocuBlack, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and others as relevant; * Maintain ongoing knowledge of information relevant to the campus regarding undocumented students, including but is not limited to: ** Benchmarking with related services on other campuses ** Identifying trends in literature ** Awareness of policy changes ** Advocacy as relevant and appropriate to aid in their success * Management of the First-generation Next Generation Fund. Includes: convening and selecting committee members as needed, outreach to advertise scholarships to students, management of DACA renewal rolling-basis applications as available, submission of paperwork and direct student support meetings for recipients. Aligned with this is the management and awareness of funding available and needed for the scholarships/awards to continue as a relevant source.

Event Planning and Evaluation: * Coordinate UndocuAlly Training. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: recruitment, hiring, and supervision of trainers; recruitment of participants; design and implement curriculum for participants and trainers; assessment. * Engage in a programming portfolio that includes the following: ** UndocuAlly Training (3 trainings Fall, 3 trainings Spring, 1 training Summer) ** UndocuTalks ** Immigration Monologues ** DREAM Week * 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; * Other duties as assigned by Supervisor and/or Director.

Departmental Expectations: * As a member of the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment 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 additional team-level work with first-generation students, including the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) and First-generation Student programming; * Serve on the Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment professional staff team. Attending staff meetings, small team meetings, large area meetings, and other meetings as assigned. Attend Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment signature events. Gain and maintain overall knowledge of Center for Culture, Equity, and Empowerment, University Life, and George Mason University. Serve on University Life and University-wide committees, including search committees, as assigned/approved by Supervisor.

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 undocumented college students in a college setting or experience with undocumented 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 undocumented student initiatives and programs; * Direct experience with equity-minded policy development in the college and or at the organizational level; * 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. Competencies: * See Advising and Supporting, Student Learning and Development (NASPA)

Advising and Supporting: * Know theory and techniques for advising and supporting others from various cultures and identities. Ability to help others set goals and achieve them; to evaluate what students need to succeed. Dispositions to support others, foster trust, and respect the identities, views, and choices of others.

Student Learning and Development: * Know student development theories and models that facilitate holistic development. Ability to articulate how theoretical constructs influence development; recognize how one's own development can bias one's perspective. Disposition to think abstractly about lived experience; to reflect on one's identity, learning, and practice.

"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."

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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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