The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.
Compensation: 75.000 - 95.000
Director / Student Involvement
Position Number: S-3898
Position Summary: Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, the Director of Student Activities and Involvement (SAI) provides oversight for the administrative leadership, fiscal management, and strategic planning of the department. The Director is adept in aligning SAI priorities with institutional goals related to student engagement, holistic development and wellness, community building, and achieving learning outcomes among registered student organizations, fraternity and sorority, and campus program student leaders. The Director leads a dynamic team of professional and student staff using a humanistic approach, fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, and innovation throughout the unit, ensuring that students feel supported, empowered, and connected to the broader mission of student success. The Director works with students and staff to ensure the development of high-quality programs, services, and campus events. The role involves collaboration with campus and external partners to support RSO registration, RSO recruitment, officer training, engagement, peer mentoring, and event planning. With an entrepreneurial spirit, the Director is responsible for securing and maintaining external funding through advancement initiatives. Additionally, the Director serves as the institutional representative on various university and community committees, promoting awareness and advancing the institution’s commitment to student involvement, leadership, and agency. This role also facilitates and supports professional development opportunities for staff, which includes professional association involvement, training programs, certifications, and one-on-one staff evaluation/coaching. This position supervises departmental staff, including but not limited to two Assistant Directors, one Administrative Office Assistant, and two Graduate Assistants. The Director also contributes to university-wide engagement efforts and is responsible for securing external funding through advancement initiatives.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree preferably in higher education, educational administration, student affairs, or related fields.
- Five years of progressively responsible higher education experience.
- Extensive experience with crisis management, risk reduction, conflict resolution, and restorative practice.
- A personal understanding of holistic student development in higher education settings.
- Demonstrated experience with cultivating a culture of creativity, care, and concern using a student-centered approach.
- Demonstrated experience with strategic planning, implementation, and proven results in cultivating robust learning environments and opportunities that align with institutional priorities.
- Must possess personal integrity, high ethical standards, and the ability to demonstrate decorum and diplomacy with all audiences.
- Must be a strategic visionary with sound technical skills, analytical ability, good judgment, strong operational focus, and demonstrate the ability to successfully implement initiatives and projects.
- Demonstrated ability to build and manage teams in a large, decentralized environment.
- Prior experience responding to sensitive inquiries, reports, and concerns.
- Demonstrated experience with student development, community engagement, and event planning.
- Demonstrated experience with the successful implementation of student learning outcomes, assessment, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated experience coordinating and managing signature programs and services.
- Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with other university and external partners, while remaining approachable and accessible to a wide audience.
- Leverage highly effective and engaging verbal and written communication skills.
- Demonstrated experience with publishing assessment reports, briefs, and presentations.
- Knowledge of computer software programs and operations.
- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel as necessary.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree, preferably in higher education, educational administration, student personnel, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience in several of the administrative areas (seven years related professional experience).
- Experience providing executive leadership in managing compliance and minimizing risk, advancing student engagement efforts, and building a structured advising network.
- Knowledge and experience with the frameworks of psychological safety, restorative practice, sustained dialogue, and social location theory.
- Demonstrated commitment to the creation and implementation of holistic student development opportunities.
Duties & Responsibilities
- In alignment with the mission and priorities of SAI, lead the department in fostering an environment that promotes student success, belonging, and leadership development through intentional structured learning objectives and supportive supervision.
- Advocate for the vital role of student engagement in student and life‑long success.
- Recruit, hire, and supervise SAI staff, including the Assistant Directors, Graduate Assistants, and undergraduate student employees; responsible for the selection, training, and performance evaluation of departmental personnel.
- Develop and implement an efficient and effective staffing model, ensuring that individuals with the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities are in place to support strategic priorities.
- Facilitate a team‑oriented approach to developing substantial partnerships across campus and throughout the broader community.
- Establish, review, update, interpret, and administer departmental and university policies that inform an educated student body, support healthy student organizations, and foster a positive, welcoming campus climate.
- In collaboration with the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, create a structure for ongoing improvement and accountability that reviews broader systems and processes which lead to barriers to student involvement and success.
- Serve as an on‑site point‑of‑contact for campus events and crisis response.
- With the support of a graduate assistant, provide day‑to‑day support to and oversight of registered student organizations and fraternities/sororities, including registration, expansion, recruitment, and hazing prevention.
- Develop and manage a comprehensive risk management strategy, including hazing prevention, for student activities, student organizations, and fraternity and sorority life.
- In partnership with the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, develop the annual budget, setting appropriate targets for revenue and expenses.
- Assist the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs with the management of student payroll, RSO funding allocations, campus programming fund allocations, budget management, student‑body elections, and advisement of Student Government Association.
- Develop rigorous training programs that provide applied learning experiences for students and advisors, preparing them for effective engagement, social responsibility, leadership, and self‑authorship.
- Oversee the implementation of all major campus events, including Mainstage, Homecoming, Greek Week, and Siblings Weekend.
- Collaborate with the Office of Student Conduct to consult and provide sustained support for behavioral concerns, investigatory needs, and upholding the Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities, and Disciplinary Procedures.
- Provide support and resolutions for conflicts which may arise.
- Manage the Engage student engagement platform (by Encoura, formerly Anthology), including the vendor contract and relationship, student data administration, and analysis of engagement data to inform decision‑making.
- Assess programs and services offered by SAI to operationalize a data‑informed approach to achieving unit‑based learning outcomes and university goals with purpose and intentionality.
- Serve on campus committees, task forces, and steering groups, as appointed.
- Represent University Engagement and Student Affairs on behalf of the AVPSA, as needed.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Supervision Exercised
Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.
Equal Opportunity Employer
CMU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and institution. CMU does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex‑based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight.
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CMU does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter. Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both. CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at: Phone: 989‑774‑3253 Office: 103 E. Preston St. Bovee University Center, suite 306 Mount Pleasant, MI 48858 Email:
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