Student Success Program Director, Education Unit Head & Faculty

The University of Saint Mary is conveniently located a short 30 minutes' drive from Parkville, Shawnee, Basehor and Kansas City, Kansas. USM offer all full-time employees Medical, Dental, Vision, University Paid Basic Life & AD&D, Short and Long-Term Disability along with a generous Tuition Remission for the employee, spouse and dependents under the age of 24 years old.

THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SAINT MARY:

The University of Saint Mary is a Roman Catholic, liberal arts university located in Leavenworth, Kansas, just 25 minutes away from Kansas City. For over 100 years, the University of Saint Mary has helped students find their way to meaningful lives and careers through an education that blends the liberal arts and a focus on critical thinking with the development of key professional skills. USM serves about 1,400 students at its main campus in Leavenworth, its satellite location in Overland Park, as well as online.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Student Success Program Director and Education Unit Head is a 12-month faculty position with workload release allocated to provide strategic leadership for student success initiatives and educator preparation programs. This position serves as the academic and administrative lead for educator preparation programs while advancing institutional student success and retention efforts. This position is responsible for ensuring program quality, regulatory compliance, continuous improvement, and alignment with institutional mission, accreditation standards, reporting requirements, and student success outcomes. This position supports students across all locations and program modalities through collaborative, data-informed leadership and strategic student support initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Student Success Program Director

• Supervises Student Success Coaches, Student Success Coordinator, ADA Specialist, graduate assistants, work-study students, and other assigned personnel.
• Coordinates student interventions throughout the semester and collaborates with faculty, Division Chairs, and Student Life regarding student success planning and implementation.
• Responsible for evaluation of student success services and initiatives, including gathering data, maintaining records, preparing and presenting evaluation reports, and disseminating information.
• Develops reliable reporting metrics to evaluate academic readiness, persistence, and retention strategies' success across all student populations.
• Leads efforts to monitor grade and attendance reports and determines appropriate intervention activities for students considered academically at risk.
• Develops and coordinates academic success programs and workshops for academically at-risk and underprepared students.
• Implements initiatives and individualized success plans for conditionally admitted students and students on academic probation.
• Utilizes research-based strategies related to learning, cognition, time management, study skills, and student wellness to support academic performance.
• Leads regular meetings with the Student Success team, promoting collaboration, communication, and teamwork.
• Manages tutoring services, including peer tutoring programs, study groups, online tutoring resources, and supervision of student tutors.
• Oversees First-Generation Scholars programming and implementation.
• Supports career readiness and career preparation resources in collaboration with academic divisions.
• Serves as the Institutional Administrator for the Accuplacer placement exam, Tutor.com, Grammarly, LinkedIn Learning, and LinkedIn Talent Insights.
• Develops and monitors budget execution; provides staff with information regarding budgetary decisions, planning, and implementation.
• Oversees ADA accommodation coordination and supports communication between the ADA Specialist, faculty, and the university community.
• Assists with planning and logistics of New Student Orientation academic events.
• Attendance at New Student Registration, Visit Days, Net Student Orientation and other related events and activities.
• Coordinates and/or completes summer trainings as assigned.

Education Unit Head

• Provides strategic leadership and oversight for all educator preparation programs, aligning unit goals with institutional mission, workforce needs, accreditation expectations, and strategic priorities.
• Supervises, supports, and evaluates teacher education program directors, coordinators, and faculty.
• Communicates academic policies, procedures, university updates, and accreditation expectations to faculty and staff.
• Ensures compliance with CAEP, InTASC, state accreditation and program approval standards, and federal reporting requirements.
• Oversees accreditation processes, including preparation and submission of reports, monitoring accreditation findings, and supporting new or revised program proposals.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with P-12 schools, districts, community stakeholders, advisory councils, and professional organizations. Represents the unit in external partnerships and accreditation activities.
• Develops reliable reporting metrics to evaluate educator preparation outcomes across multiple student populations.
• Collect, manage, analyze, and report program assessment and accreditation data, including Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs), Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs), and other key performance indicators, to support continuous improvement, accountability, and accreditation reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and transparency of publicly reported data (e.g. USM website, newsletters and advisory council meetings) and maintain audit-ready documentation for all reporting and accreditation processes
• Facilitates continuous improvement initiatives through data-informed decision-making and program evaluation.
• Supports faculty engagement in assessment, accreditation, data use, and continuous improvement processes; Facilitates professional development related to assessment, accreditation, student success, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee program operations, including enrollment, course delivery, weekly reporting, budgeting, staffing, resource allocation, and advocacy for resources necessary to maintain program quality and accreditation.
• Attends required university, division, and program meetings, trainings, and events.
• Participates in institutional service and committee work.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Doctorate in Education field.
• Minimum 3-5 years of teaching experience; collegiate level preferred.
• Experience in educator preparation programs.
• Demonstrated administrative or leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated knowledge of accreditation processes, preferably CAEP.
• Experience with assessment, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and program evaluation.
• Knowledge of educator preparation standards, licensure requirements, and student success best practices.
• Experience with Title II reporting and state program approval processes, preferred.
• Familiarity with Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) requirements, preferred.
• Familiarity with ADA requirements and student accommodation processes, preferred.
• Experience leading accreditation reviews and site visits, preferred.
• Experience with program review and continuous improvement processes, preferred.
• Demonstrated success in program development and improvement
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and changing landscape.
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Experience in training, developing, and supervising strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of best practices in student engagement, retention strategies, and academic interventions; ability to maintain confidentiality and support diverse student populations.
• Ability to work successfully with multiple demands, shifting priorities and a changing landscape.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel.

TO APPLY:

Submit a cover letter, resume and contact information for at least three current professional references.

Saint Mary is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Questions: email human resources at hr@stmary.edu