Associate Dean of Students at University of the South – Sewanee, Tennessee

Primary Function:
The Associate Dean of Student Life is a senior-level position that provides leadership, vision, and strategic direction for key areas of the student experience. A critical partner to the Dean of Students, the Associate Dean helps build a holistic, inclusive, and supportive campus environment that fosters student success, development, retention, and well-being consistent with the university's liberal arts mission. The Associate Dean is directly involved in complex and sensitive student issues, crisis management, and the management of high-level student services.

Position Appointment Details:

• Career Band; 3C
• Full-Time

Typical Duties & Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Administration

• Serve as the key deputy to the Dean of Students, representing the office on university committees and with external stakeholders as needed.

• Provide strategic leadership, vision, and supervision for specific functional areas within student affairs, such as student conduct, crisis response, and student advocacy.

• Help formulate and implement institutional policies and procedures related to student life and services.

• Oversee and manage departmental budgets and conduct program assessments to ensure alignment with divisional goals.

• Lead, mentor, and supervise staff within assigned areas of responsibility.

Student Involvement

• Advise and support student involvement functions in fostering diverse, accessible, and engaging opportunities aligned with the university’s mission and values.

• Promote a developmental and community-centered approach to student involvement that enhances leadership, learning, and campus engagement.

Greek Life

• Provide oversight for the fraternity and sorority community, ensuring alignment with university policies, risk management practices, and national organizational standards.

• Oversee the management of complex organizational and conduct issues related to Greek Life.
  
  

Student Conduct and Community Standards

• Provide oversight for the management of complex student cases and appeals, ensuring that it aligns with university values and relevant state and federal laws, such as Title IX and the Clery Act.

• Serve as Deputy Title IX Coordinator (for students)

• Promote a restorative and educational approach to student conduct that fosters student learning and accountability.

Crisis Management and Student Support

• Serve in an on-call rotation as part of the student life crisis response team to manage student-related emergencies and incidents.

• Serve as member of the CARE Team which partners with campus resources such as health and wellness, residential life, and academic affairs to coordinate a comprehensive response to students in crisis.

Student Success and Advocacy

• Oversee the development and implementation of support programs for specific student populations, including first-year, transfer, off-campus, etc.

• Act as a student advocate, resolving grievances and complaints in a fair and equitable manner.

• Collaborate with the Dean of Students and departments across campus to promote student success, retention, and graduation.

• Advise the Dean on matters related to fostering a respectful, fair, and welcoming campus environment for all students.

Judgement Required:

• A student-centered philosophy and the ability to balance student needs with institutional policies.

• The capacity to remain calm and decisive in high-pressure or emergency situations.

• Excellent judgment and the ability to maintain confidentiality.

• A strategic and data-driven approach to program development and assessment.

• Strong collaborative skills to foster a cooperative work environment.

Budgetary Responsibility:

Analyzes budgetary data and develops budget proposals.

Machines & Equipment Used:
Typical office equipment: computer, copier, etc.
Education:
Master's Degree required.
Juris Doctorate (JD) or other terminal degree preferred.

Experience:
At least seven years of experience working in the student affairs office at a comparable college or university.

Job-Related Skills:
Strong, demonstrated leadership skills and interpersonal communication skills

Supervisory Roles:

Supervision Received:

This position works with considerable independence and self-direction. Only general direction and scope of the work to be accomplished are discussed with the supervisor.

Positions Directly Supervised:

Director of Community Standards

Director of Greek Life and Student Involvement

Vacant - New Position for Residence Hall Programming and Student Involvement

Associate Director of Student Accessibility Services (TBD)

Positions Indirectly Supervised:

Assistant Director, Student Involvement

Student Engagement Fellow

Personal Interaction/Communication:

• Student Contact: Daily: activities include curricular, extracurricular, disciplinary, counseling, etc.
• Internal: Frequent: providing information, participating on committees
  
• External: Extensive involvement with parents, alumni, governing boards, and other institutions

Confidential Information:

Salaries & employment records of staff supervised; confidential student problems/issues; organizational plans; and student records.

Working Environment:

Normal office environment, frequent evening & weekend work, 24-hour on-call for crisis situations.