OFFICIAL JOB TITLE: Director of College Now/START Program
DIVISION: Academic Affairs
DEPARTMENT: College Now
BARGAINING UNIT STATUS: ESU, Cat. 18
REPORTS TO: Associate Provost for Student Success
SUPERVISES: Program staff, student workers
SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: The Director of College Now/START (Steps Toward Abstract Reasoning and Thinking) Program leads the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of programmatic initiatives that support the academic success, retention, and graduation of a diverse student population in the College Now/START program at UMass Dartmouth. The Director fosters an inclusive, student-centered environment through evidence-based practices, holistic support services, and collaborative partnerships across the university to support College Now/START students from the point of deposit onward. The role emphasizes the use of student success metrics to drive program strategy and ensure measurable outcomes, including persistence and retention. The Director collaborates with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and campus partners, and serves as a liaison to Admissions and Enrollment Management to support student transitions.
EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Direct, develop, and assess all phases of academic placement, academic support services, and skills development programming for College Now/START students, utilizing current best practices in student engagement, advising, and retention.
- Lead the design and delivery of proactive advising, mentoring, and coaching initiatives, including the use of early alert systems, holistic student support models, and retention technologies to identify and address barriers to student success.
- Establish, monitor, and analyze student success metrics—including retention, academic progress, degree completion, and engagement rates—to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
- Hire, train, supervise, and support program staff, promoting ongoing professional development and a student-centered approach to service delivery.
- Manage program budgets, prepare reports, and develop proposals to secure supplemental funding in alignment with university strategic initiatives.
- Develop and implement targeted interventions and support plans for students at risk of falling behind in their academic programs.
- Coordinate and facilitate workshops, seminars, and professional development opportunities for staff that enhance students' academic skills, sense of belonging, leadership skills, financial wellness, and career readiness.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement by integrating feedback from students and stakeholders and regularly assessing program outcomes for institutional effectiveness.
- Maintain collaborative partnerships with Academic Affairs, faculty, Student Affairs, and campus resource centers to ensure seamless support and holistic development for students.
- Serve as a liaison to Admissions and Enrollment Management, providing program expertise and supporting the transition of students into the College Now/START program, without responsibility for recruitment or admission decisions.
- Develop and manage the post-admissions conditionality criteria and progress of students toward placement into majors, recommends dismissals accordingly.
- Collaborate with Advancement to secure additional funds.
- Lead distribution of scholarship funds to program participants and update funding in the scholarship portal.
- Coordinate scheduling and assignment of staff for instruction of first-year experience course. Assess outcomes and revise curriculum accordingly.
- Represent the College Now/START program in university committees, planning groups, and external partnerships focused on student success and retention.
- Counsel and advise College Now/START students, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that respects the diverse backgrounds, identities, and experiences of all participants.
- Stay current with national best practices and emerging trends in student success, retention, and inclusive excellence in higher education, and integrate these into program design and assessment.
- Perform other duties as assigned to advance the mission and goals of the College Now/START program.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
EDUCATION: Master’s degree.
EXPERIENCE: Significant (over 5 years) experience in an academic and student support programming. Significant administrative and supervisory experience at an institution of higher education. Demonstrated experience in retention and persistence support services.
OTHER: Available during peak periods of the program activity to include occasional Saturday, Sunday or evening work (such as during the Program Banquet, Open House, or College Now Freshmen Orientation). Local, regional, and national travel required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to working with students from underserved populations.
- Working knowledge of regional high schools, community organizations, associations and programs which support the mission, goals and objectives of the College Now Program and other alternative-admission programs.
- Capable of expressing a vision for the College Now Program based on current best practices.
- Previous experience with Assistant or Associate Director’s level.
- Master’s degree in counseling or related field.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to working with students from underserved populations.
- Ability to understand and relate to underrepresented students.
- Ability to work with administrators, faculty and staff of the university, students, and counselors and other community people.
- Ability to provide program leadership in the area of retention and persistence of student academic performance.
- Excellent concurrent project management, including proactive development of priority work plans, timelines and budgets.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and set deadlines.
- Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities concurrently.
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Ability to counsel students.
- Must be extremely detail-oriented and accurate.
- Ability to meet and deal effectively with others and provide superior customer service.
NOTE: Other job-related duties and responsibilities may be assigned and/or the job description changed periodically to reflect changing organization needs.
SALARY: $85,009.00-$106,261.58
UMass Dartmouth offers exciting benefits such as:
- 75% Employer-Paid Health Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Life Insurance
- Long Term Disability
- State Pension Retirement Plan
- Optional Retirement Savings Plans
- Tuition Credit (Employee, Spouse, & Dependents)
- Twelve (12) paid holidays
- Paid personal, vacation, and sick time
- And More!
Benefits for ESU Union: ESU
Applicants must be authorized for employment in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship is not available.
To apply please submit a letter of interest, a current resume and the contact information for three professional references.
The deadline for internal applicants is September 2, 2025.
The review of internal and external applications will be ongoing until the position is filled.