Assistant Director, Emerging Scholars Program

Work Schedule

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional evenings and weekends.

Position Summary

The assistant director of the Rice Emerging Scholars Program (RESP) is responsible for assisting with the planning, executing, and assessing of all components of a comprehensive summer program for incoming first year STEM students. The assistant director coordinates all elements of the RESP summer program outside of the classroom as well as provides leadership in the form of advising, training, and supervision to the upperclassmen who serve as RESP Student Fellows. The assistant director is also the primary advisor to RESP Scholars during the academic year, and works with the associate director to provide comprehensive academic and student transition support throughout their tenure at Rice. The assistant director is responsible for planning, executing, and assessing term-time co-curricular activities for RESP Scholars.

Education Preferred

Master’s degree (preferably in college student personnel, counseling, student affairs, or a related field).

Type of Experience

Experience in providing student support in a college or university setting.

Substitution for Experience Requirement

May substitute additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis in lieu of the experience requirement.

Experience Preferred

• Experience working with new or first year student populations
• Experience working with underrepresented student populations, particularly in STEM disciplines
• Experience in event planning and execution
• Experience providing academic support, leadership development, and program development
• Experience problem-solving and advising students with complex and diverse needs
• Experience employing proactive/intrusive advising strategies
• Experience supporting student success/undergraduate retention initiatives
• Experience working with faculty
• Experience working in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment

Skills Required

• Coaching and instructional skills, organizational abilities, attention to detail, and the ability to quickly assess the effectiveness of an intervention
• Knowledge of theories, including student development, learning, and identity development and experience applying those frameworks professionally
• Ability to problem-solve and support /advise students in personal and /or academic crisis
• Strong communication and rapport building skills and experience collaborating with faculty, staff, students, families, and administration
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines
• Demonstrates understanding of the experiences of students in transition and the strategies necessary to facilitate their success
• Experience and comfort working with diverse student populations, including but not limited to first generation college students, low-income students, and underrepresented student populations

Skills Preferred

• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to build rapport and sustain relationships with students
• Familiarity with student transition issues

Internal / External Contacts

Internal Contacts: The incumbent has contact with students during Summer Bridge component and through the academic year and with Rice departments during the coordination of the Summer Bridge components of the program.

External Contacts: The incumbent has contact with the families of Rice students during the Summer Bridge component of RESP.

Company Standard of Civility

Serves as a representative of the University, displaying courtesy, tact, consideration and discretion in all interactions with other members of the Rice community and with the public.

Security Sensitive

As defined under the Texas Education Code and Rice Policy No. 425, this position is security sensitive and employment in this position is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Essential Functions

• Identifies and advises students needing additional support and provides sustained, individualized, holistic, developmentally appropriate coaching to assist in their academic, social, leadership, and interpersonal development
• Assists first and second year students in developing roadmaps for their success at the university, using varied strategies to facilitate the identification and implementation of their goals
• Assists in the monitoring of student academic performance and their persistence towards graduation, preparing reports, and maintaining student files as necessary
• Maintains an awareness of best practices in proactive / holistic advising, student success coaching, and the higher education / student affairs landscape, integrating these ideas into his / her advising practices
• Assists in developing student success interventions, workshops, and other programs aimed at facilitating the transition to college
• Develops trainings aimed at educating student leaders, faculty, and staff about the populations supported by the office and the ways in which they can support student transition
• Performs all other duties as assigned