This position provides leadership and vision for all student services areas and works as part of the leadership team to create and sustain a student-centered learning environment. As the chief student services officer, the Vice President provides strategic and innovative leadership and oversight for all student services operations and departments of the College including Enrollment and Student Success, Career Services, Counseling and Student Conduct, Financial Aid and Veterans Services, Athletics, Marketing and Public Relations, Student Life, and TRIO programs. The Vice President serves as chief advisor to the President in the formation of policies affecting all student services areas while fostering collaboration with faculty, staff, student organizations, and the communities served by the College to advance the mission of the College. As an officer of the College, the Vice President for Student Services is expected to represent the College whenever they are needed as appropriate.

Description of Essential Functions (critical tasks)

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as the principal advisor to the president on matters of planning and managing the student services operations of the College. Keep the president fully advised on student services related matters of the College through regular communications, reports, and meetings.
• Supervise the staff of all student services related departments. Delegate work, establish priorities, provide direction, train and develop, communicate expectations, evaluate work, discipline as necessary, resolve issues, and ensure work complies with College policies and the law.
• Provide leadership and supervision for the planning, organization, and coordination of the Student Services unit while achieving institutional goals and objectives. Establish and implement short and long-range organizational goals, objectives, strategic plans, policies, and operating procedures; monitor and evaluate programmatic and operating effectiveness and effect changes needed for improvement.
• Promote a welcoming, inclusive, and accessible student-centered environment focused on student academic achievement and personal development.
• Collaborate with the Vice President for Academic Services to implement Guided Pathways as a comprehensive, integrated approach toward enhancing student success and improving student recruitment, retention, and completion.
• Collaborate with the Dean for Workforce Solutions and Community Education to coordinate enrollment and student support services as needed for workforce and community education initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a positive relationship with counselors and administrators from district high schools and ensure staff participation in articulation activities at senior institutions.
• Prepare, recommend, and administer a budget for student services.
• Utilize data analytics and reporting to enhance the student experience and support student services operations.
• Initiate recommendations for the supervision of appropriate student conduct on campus and administer student discipline.
• Assist with campus-wide crisis/emergency response and provide support to students and families in emergency situations.
• Collaborate with the college's Title IX Coordinator to ensure compliance with Title IX in relation to students.
• Build awareness among student services department staff of emerging issues and best practices for serving a diverse population of students and assure staff compliance with Board policy, state and federal regulations, and accrediting agencies through promotion of strong professional development programs.
• Provide guidance to the College's Financial Aid and Veteran Services department and oversee the Presidential Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships, and other scholarship programs for talented students.
• Provide leadership for preparation of the College's academic and registration calendars, commencement activities, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, the Guided Pathways Strategic Enrollment Management Plan, and the Equity Plan.
• Oversee design and implementation of a comprehensive College marketing and public relations plan that aligns with the College's mission, vision, and brand, while promoting pride and spirit for students and staff.
• Facilitate development of relationships with community agencies to establish additional support for students.
• Interpret and analyze pertinent educational and financial laws, legislation, policies, regulations, and procedures to determine impact on the College and formulate compliance and reporting strategies. Develop, implement, and interpret policies and procedures within the areas of responsibility to more effectively and efficiently operate the College.
• Assist the President in maintaining liaison with the Illinois Community College Board, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, and other civic organizations and governmental agencies.
• Lead and serve on various college committees as assigned.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement collaboration and cooperation with other members of the College community to ensure integrated and coordinated operations.
• Assume other related duties as assigned by the College President.
• Maintain a visible profile on campus and with external constituencies.

Specific Functional Job Requirements

Education Requirements:

• Masters degree required; Master’s degree in a student services related field or a doctorate preferred.

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible administrative experience and proven accomplishments in student services including five years of direct administrative oversight of programs and services, departmental budgets, and full-time staff required; experience at the community college level strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated understanding of all student service areas as well as the principles and practices of student personnel administration in higher education. Strong working knowledge of the structured guided pathways approach to academic enrollment and management. Keen understanding of data driven decision making and the documented ability to analyze and assess data for continuous improvement. Familiarity with research methodology and report writing.

• Excellent leadership, supervisory, and communication skills; strong analytical, verbal, and written communications skills, with ability to effectively articulate student services needs and to address college-wide issues; openness and the ability to inspire trust and loyalty among colleagues and the college community; demonstrated commitment to the use of technology and an ability to facilitate staff development in innovative methods of service delivery that enhances student learning; ability to provide direction in student services' long and short range planning, and annual budget development; and proven desire and ability to deal effectively, cooperatively, and tactfully with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and business/industry, governmental and community representatives; a strong commitment to inclusiveness; evidence of strong leadership, vision, and organizational skills.

• Project a professional image as required by the nature of the position. Positive and dynamic leadership skills, exhibiting the highest level of professional and personal honesty and integrity. Proven ability to work as a team player, appropriately exhibiting a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and the ability to tolerate and flourish in an environment characterized by multiple complex factors, competing priorities, ambiguous situations and resource challenges. Strong commitment to the community college philosophy.