Acting Dean Of Student Life

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world's most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC's undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world-as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O'Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

• Generous paid time off

• Paid holidays (up to 14 days)

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits

• Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)

• Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program

• Great employee discounts

• Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions

Serve as a Student Affairs Leader and directs the Student Life area at SAIC: serve as the School's chief architect for retention planning and provide leadership for student and institutional assessment; facilitate the development and implementation of the institutional retention plan; and work closely with the Dean of Academic Advising and CAPX, the Associate Dean of Academic Advising, and other student services and the academic program to help monitor and improve the retention and graduation rates. Oversee the FirstGen Fellows and Chicago Scholars Program and faculty/staff. Provide direction for a vital and growing Residence Life department, including maximizing revenue and seeking alternate solutions to address residence hall room shortage. Direct the co-curricular functions and provide leadership for Campus Life including facility management and student development. Direct the institution's response to student crises, including leading the weekly Student Support Group and serving as the OSA lead to the Threat Assessment Team, which is required of every institution of higher education in the State of Illinois. Manages crises for students living both on and off-campus. Provide direction to the Associate Dean for Residence Life and Student Conduct on managing institutional student conduct, including serving as hearing board chair. Monitors budget exceeding 1.4 million in operating and capital expenses and 14.5 million dollars in revenues. Seek out national and international funding sources through grants and other opportunities and manages grant funding for student life. Oversee Student Affairs office in the Vice President's absence as assigned and help provide direction for the day-to-day management of the office.

Interim term

• June 2024

• December 2024

RESPONSIBILITIES:

1.Supervision -- Hire, train, and supervise the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Residence Life and Student Conduct, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Student Success, the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Campus Life and the Director of Student Support. Provide direction for approximately 2professional staff/faculty employees and more than 100 student workers.

2.Student Success, Persistence and Completion - supervise the Associate Dean of Student Success and the FirstGen Fellows and Chicago Scholars programs. Serve as the School's chief architect for retention planning. Direct the School's retention efforts, including internal and external assessment and data analysis, goal planning and implementation, and overseeing the development and implementation of a comprehensive retention plan. Assist in developing and meeting realistic retention goals; provide leadership to the SAIC Retention committee; and work closely with other student services and academic administration to support students and to improve the school's graduation and retention rates. Develop materials to assist faculty and staff better understand common experiences of our students as well as assisting individual departments in the implementation of appropriate programming and support.

3.Food Pantry, Student Persistence Fund and other support initiatives - partner with the Assistant Director of Student Affairs to research and continue to develop SAIC's Food Pantry. Partner with OA and SFS to manage the Student Persistence (emergency fund). Work with campus partners to identify additional support initiatives (e.g. Computer lending) to students who demonstrate need.

4.Food Service - as part of the developing a robust student experience, lead the School's development and implementation of a holistic and comprehensive food service program, including assessment, training, and evaluation.

5.Institutional Policy and Procedure Development/Compliance Issues - lead the school's annual revision of the Student Handbook and Student Rights and Responsibilities, governing conduct of all degree students at the School. Work closely with VP for Student Affairs and the Associate Deans to continually develop, revise and implement SAIC policies related to student conduct. Liaison and work closely with the academic administration and faculty to develop and revise academic policies to best support students and to assist them in reaching their individual and collective goals. Collaborate with administrative directors and academic leadership to identify and change school policies that hinder student success. Lead the OSA compliance efforts to stay current on and manage specific local, state and federal policy requirements and laws that may impact the School such as: HEOA, FERPA, Constitution Day, and Voter Registration.

6.Risk Management - assess and manage risk related to student life, student conduct and residence life. Develop and revise policies and protocols related to campus life including travel, programming, and athletics. Consult with the General Counsel's office to assist in managing risk. Work closely with the international student affairs staff to review policies related to off-campus study trips and to train faculty on managing student life while on trips. When appropriate, audit trips and study programs to evaluate the trip management and facilities and to assist with the revision of policies and procedures.

7.Student Conduct -provide direction and support to all Associate Deans of Student Affairs and the Residence Life staff to coordinate the school's student conduct procedures, consulting with the VP and Dean of Student Affairs when appropriate. Serve as a conduct officer in upper-level conduct cases; liaison with Campus Security to facilitate the investigation of alleged misconduct; consult with the General Counsel's Office (when appropriate) to manage risk related to student conduct; manage administrative conduct meetings; and serve as the conduct board advisor at the discretion of the VP and Dean of Student Affairs. Provide leadership and direction for the implementation of a conduct/student concerns database tracking system that will provide SAIC with the ability to better track and coordinate the student conduct process and student issues. Improve and create appropriate workflow and procedures to track these issues. Serve as Liaison to Title IX office.

8.Residence Life- provide direction for the Associate Dean for Residence life to provide comprehensive support and service for a 1000+ be residence life program, oversee the management of two residence halls and a leased facility housing more than 200 students. Provide leadership and direction for all aspects of the residence life program including: housing occupancy; capital asset and facilities management; student development; staff management; and marketing and summer programs. Work closely with the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Residence Life to maximize revenue during the summer and academic year and to locate alternative housing for the growing student enrollment.

9.Campus Life

• Supervise the Associate Dean for Campus Life to direct all aspects of the campus life program, activities and co-curricular initiatives. Work closely with Campus Life staff in the development of policies, procedures and programs that best support students' co-curricular experiences. Work with Campus Life to assess student needs and to improve existing programs and implement new programs (such as Co-Curricular Transcript, movement groups) that will better support their growth as individuals and as artists.

10. Crises Management-- manage crises at all levels, including on and off-campus students, and to provide direction for managing the most serious student crises, serving on-call for staff 24-hours a day. Liaison with SAIC resources such as the General Counsel's Office, counseling services, and division chairs. Chair the weekly Student Support Group Meetings, coordinating the School's response to student crises. Work with parents and other family members, when appropriate, to provide support and assistance. Develop the Department's Crisis Response Protocols and coordinate the School's Threat Assessment Team. Oversee Deans on Call, available 365 days per year, 24 hours per day.

11. Budget -- manage 8 different operating and capital budgets with expenses in excess of 1.4 million dollars and revenues of approximately 14.5 million dollars. Work in partnership with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Residence Life to monitor occupancy and revenue projections and realities.

12. International Initiatives

• Work closely with the staff of International Affairs to identify and implement ways to improve the international student experience. Develop ways to integrate international and domestic student needs and concerns. Direct the management of the Nuveen Center for International Student Learning to support international students in the residence halls and to provide support for domestic students interested in studying abroad. Identify new initiatives, such as International Student Parents Orientation, and improve existing initiatives to support our growing international population.

13. New Student Orientation/Welcome Week

• Direct the activities designed to assist more than 770 new students and their parents integrate into SAIC. Provide specific support for the first 6 weeks of students' experiences at SAIC. Provide support and leadership for staff and faculty who work with students during this critical time of integration.

14. Graduation

• Oversee the Associate Dean for Campus Life who chairs the School's graduation program, working with key staff and faculty from the President's Office, the Dean's Office, The General Counsel's Office, and the Office of Student Affairs. Plan, organize and implement a ceremony with over 5000 attendees. Liaison with various locations, e.g. Wintrust Arena, to provide best experience for students and their families.

15. Facilities Management

• Direct the management of residence hall and common area facilities, including community lounges and food service areas. Liaison with the food service vendors to provide high quality, cost conscious options for the community. Work with the VP of Student Affairs and students to develop a plan for a comprehensive Campus Center to be opened in Fall 2010 or Fall 2011 Provide direction and leadership for the implementation of such a center.

16. Parent Programs - work with the Associate Dean of Campus Life to ,anage parent efforts at SAIC, including Parent Orientation and Family Weekend. Develop a comprehensive plan to improve communications and support of parents and families of current and prospective students. Work with staff and faculty to improve parent communication and support. Partner with the Office of Advancement to support parent initiatives.

17. OSA Management -- Oversee Student Affairs office in the Vice President's absence assigned. Serve as a departmental leader and assist in providing overall direction and input as to departmental goals, objectives and mission.

18. Marketing/Communication - coordinate OSA efforts to create a single identity and to improve marketing of individual departments and programs. Liaison with the Communications Department to improve marketing and communications efforts to prospective students, current students and parents, alumni and other audiences.

19. Institutional and Departmental Mission, Vision and Values

• Lead the office of Student Affairs' efforts to revise the OSA and individual departmental mission, vision and values. Develops, writes, and promotes departmental mission, vision, values and responsibility statements. On an annual basis, develops, writes and assesses goals and learning outcomes. Coordinate OSA responsibilities related to the assurance process.

20. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Art, Education, Counseling or related degree required; Master's degree preferred

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in student affairs/higher education

• Must have direct experience working in residence life including supervising on-call staff

• 3+ years of experience supervising individuals and the ability to effectively manage and supervise employees, including: organizing, prioritizing and scheduling work assignments; supervising individual employee's response to students concerns; and attending to their professional development

• Must have experience working with students in a variety of situations, including management of student conduct and student crises. Must be sensitive to the needs of a diverse, urban, artist population. Must have considerable experience in managing staff in working with students with significant concerns and issues

• Demonstrated the ability to exercise sound judgment, exhibit leadership, and manage complex and sensitive crisis situations. Must have excellent decision-making abilities

• Experience in providing a high-level of customer service within a demanding environment to a variety of constituencies, including but not limited to: students, parents, faculty, staff, campus leadership, and external entities

• Demonstrated understanding of the most current issues in Student Affairs and higher education; including but not limited to: student development strategies and theories, legal and risk-management issues, student success initiatives, etc.

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, veteran status or citizenship. The Institute complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at apply_help@artic.edu.