Assistant Director - Programming and Belonging
Clark University

Category:: Staff and Administrators
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Department:: MCFG-Multicultural & First Gen. 2910
Locations:: Worcester, MA
Posted:: Oct 31, 2024
Closes:: Open Until Filled
Type:: Full-time - Exempt
Position ID:: 182640

About Clark University:

Founded in 1887, Clark was one of the first all-graduate institutions in the United States. Today the University is a highly-ranked, student-centered institution educating approximately 2,350 undergraduate and 1,150 graduate students to be imaginative and contributing citizens of the world and to advance the frontiers of knowledge and understanding through rigorous scholarship and creative effort. This commitment to scholarship and inquiry reflects the University's commitment to "challenge convention and change our world" and to address issues of critical importance to society. It is also reflected by Clark's many national and international distinctions, including recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts, innovation, community engagement and impact, as a top green campus, and for having a distinguished geography and international development program. Clark has also been included in the groundbreaking Colleges that Change Lives guide since it was first published in 1996.

Clark is located in Worcester, Massachusetts, a dynamic, diverse city "on the rise." The second largest city in New England, Worcester is home to 11 institutions of higher learning and is increasingly recognized for its growing healthcare and biotechnology communities, its thriving cultural scene, and as a vibrant food hub.

Job Description:

The Assistant Director for Programming and Belonging is a student-centered, identity-conscious, and intentional educator who supports a vibrant and inclusive campus community will work as part of a team to develop and execute curricular and co-curricular initiatives for students of color, first-generation college students, and LGBTQIAA+ students as they work toward their academic, leadership, and career goals. The office develops and implements comprehensive programs of activities and support to promote the academic and social success of historically underrepresented communities at Clark University. Through mentoring, training, and community spaces, the Assistant Director advocates, empowers students to find their voice, and provides holistic resources as they actualize their potential through programming, trainings, advising, and support. As part of the engagement and transitions team within the Division of Student Success, this position will partner and support students' identity and leadership development, connections, and belonging on campus. The Assistant Director will report to the Director of Student Engagement & Equity.

The Student Engagement & Equity team is a newly created and evolving area that is foundationally built on Student Leadership and Programming (SLP), Community Engagement and Volunteering (CEV), and Identity, Student Engagement, and Access (ISEA). The responsibilities in this role focus on programming, initiatives, and outcomes overseen historically within ISEA. ISEA oversees two pre-orientation programs, the ACE (Advancing Clark Excellence) Summer Institute and Connections@Clark, programmatic efforts for first generation, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC students including celebration months, awareness days and weeks, and identity-specific traditions on campus, one-on-one student advising, oversight of the MOSAIC collective and affiliated student organizations, and student success workshops and additional programming. The area offers staff and student led affinity groups such as Sisters in Stride (for woman-identified students of color), MOCA (for man-identified students of color), QTSOC (Queer/Trans Students of Color) for students who want to explore the intersections among gender, sexual orientation, and racial identities, Latinos Out Loud (LOL), and the First Gen Affinity Space, Gen1. This works compliments the work that occurs within Community Engagement and Volunteering and Student Leadership and Programming, helping to develop socially conscious and empowered leaders who embody Clark's Mission to Challenge Convention and Change the World.

The Assistant Director Will:

Lead and Enhance the Connections at Clark Pre-Orientation Program

• Manage coordination and organization of family and student recruitment for Connections at Clark
• Coordinate, as part of the Student Leader Selection process, Connections Mentor selection, training, supervision, and evaluation
• Create the Connections at Clark curriculum, a 5-day, identity-conscious leadership pre-Orientation program centering students of color to support student engagement, belonging, retention and persistence
• Collaborate across campus to develop relationships to support student growth and development
• Develop and enhance various Connections at Clark touch-points for Connections Mentors and Connection student participants throughout their undergraduate career

Develop, facilitate and support programming to support and uplift the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities

• Facilitate and support one or more of the affinity groups (such as Sisters in Stride, MOCA and Queer/Trans Students of Color) and related identity-development initiatives
• Oversee, plan, and execute the Multicultural Graduation and Lavender Graduation as part of a comprehensive off-boarding student experience
• Work in partnership with the Student Engagement and Equity team in the development and facilitation of workshops for the academic year and in the creation of programs and events as it relates to the heritage/history months and the honoring and celebrating of identities by creating, facilitating, and overseeing one or more identity-specific month or programming series
• Create, facilitate, and oversee LGBTQIA+ specific workshops, events, and programs, including, but not limited to, TDOR, TDOC, National Coming Out Day, LGBTQ History Month, and Pride Month
• Provide academic, professional and social support to students through 1:1 and small group advising
• Serve as a care case manager, creating and facilitating action plans to support their engagement, belonging, retention, and persistence
• Assist in the marketing and promotion of departmental, institutional, and community resources through various mediums, including website, e-communication, social media, etc.
• Advise and partner with the MOSIAC student collective and multiple identity-based student clubs at Clark with regards to programming, identity-development, needs, club advising, and history/heritage months
• Co-lead the Identity Leadership Retreat, an off-campus experience for undergraduate students to develop a deeper sense of self, personal identity, and leadership skills
• Support the student programming board through student leader training and programming assistance
• Collaborate with members of the Clark community to support and grow initiatives and programming that support first-generation, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ students
• Other duties as assigned

Serve as a member of the Division of Student Success

• Participate in departmental and divisional meetings, trainings, and activities to support student retention, success, engagement, and belonging
• Serve as a responsible committee representative as requested on university task forces and committees to support student retention, programming, and persistence
• Maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate for staffing late night/weekend events as needed
• Support key initiatives and experiences within the University, such as opening weekend, commencement, family weekend, traditional events, etc.
• Serve as a responsible committee representative as requested
• Promote efficiency and courtesy throughout the University community and ensure that it is consistent with the engagement team and student success's mission and values
• Remain cognizant of the University's mission and identity, the constant promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and the importance of student voices

Requirements:

Knowledge Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of equity-centered identity-conscious support programs, and previous experience creating and facilitating programs that center the intersectional needs of students of color and first-generation college students and LGBTQIA+ population
• Background in retention theories, assessment, and/or higher education access with an applied working knowledge of privilege and anti-oppressive frameworks.
• Experience facilitating conversations around power, privilege, oppression, and identity
• Ability to communicate effectively across cultures and within a team
• Adaptability and the ability to proactively solve problems quickly and efficiently, both as a team and autonomously
• Ability to create and maintain inclusive, supportive programs & accessible resources for underrepresented students
• Ability to build effective, culturally aware, relationships with students, campus partners, faculty, and the community
• Comfort with technology including MS Office, EMS Event Management System, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, Anthology, Slate, and social media

Preferred Requirements

• A master's degree in education, student affairs, counseling or a related field, is preferred.
• Two to four years of relevant experience in student affairs/multicultural and higher education administration, or combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrate success multi-tasking and working effectively in a busy, multifaceted office environment
• Creativity and resourcefulness in completing tasks and advancing the work student success
• Willingness to maintain a flexible schedule to accommodate pre-planned evening or weekend programs as needed
• Demonstrated understanding of, appreciation of, and commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion

Additional Information:

As of June 1, 2023 Clark University no longer requires employees or students to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, Clark urges all community members to follow CDC guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination, which recommend that everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines including booster doses. This is important for your own personal health as well as the health of our community.

At Clark University, we are dedicated to building a workplace that celebrates diversity and fosters inclusion. We believe that diversity of experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds leads to a more innovative and productive work environment. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our hiring practices, employee development programs, and campus culture. We welcome and encourage individuals of all backgrounds to join our team and contribute their unique ideas to help us achieve our goals.

Clark University offers a generous benefit package for full and, if applicable, part-time employees that include; paid time off, generous retirement plan, group health and dental insurance, life insurance, and tuition, along with use of many campus amenities. For a complete list of benefits for eligible employees visit here.

To review the Clark University Police Department Annual Security and Fire Safety Report visit here.

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this position, you must submit your credentials online. Create a Clark University Careers Account by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below. You will be able to upload the following documents, which are required for consideration:

• Resume
• Cover letter

See the FAQ for using our online system. Please contact us if you need assistance applying through this website.

Already have a Clark University Careers Account? Login to your account to add documents or update your account.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Salary will be commensurate with skills and experience.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States for any employer.

A successful background check is required upon acceptance.