Assistant Vice President of Student Services & Dean of Students

Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students

The Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students serves as a senior student affairs leader and member of the President's Cabinet responsible for fostering a vibrant, safe, Christ-centered campus community that supports student development, engagement, wellness, and success. This position provides strategic leadership, supervision, and oversight for the following areas: Residence Life, Safety and Security, Student Activities, Student Conduct, the Wellness Center, and Campus Ministries.

As a cabinet-level administrator, the AVP/Dean of Students participates in institutional leadership, strategic planning, policy development, and university decision-making processes while collaborating closely with university leadership, faculty, staff, and students to advance the mission and values of the university.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

· Serve as a member of the President's Cabinet and provide leadership on university-wide initiatives and strategic priorities.

· Advise senior leadership on matters related to student life, campus climate, student well-being, and student engagement.

· Participate in institutional planning, policy development, crisis response, and assessment efforts.

· Represent Student Services in campus and community partnerships, committees, and special initiatives.

Student Development & Leadership

· Provide leadership for the overall student experience and co-curricular environment.

· Promote student engagement, retention, leadership development, and holistic student growth.

· Develop and implement programs and initiatives that enhance campus life and student success.

· Serve as an advocate for students while balancing institutional policies and expectations.

Supervision & Departmental Oversight

· Provide direct supervision and strategic oversight for:

o Residence Life

o Safety and Security

o Student Activities

o Student Conduct

o Wellness Center

o Campus Ministries

· Lead, mentor, and evaluate departmental staff and student leaders.

· Facilitate collaboration among departments to ensure integrated student support services.

Residence Life

· Oversee residential education initiatives that promote community, accountability, and student development.

· Ensure effective housing operations, occupancy management, and residential programming.

· Support crisis response and student care efforts within the residential community.

Safety & Security

· Collaborate with campus safety personnel to maintain a secure and welcoming campus environment.

· Assist in emergency preparedness planning, behavioral intervention processes, and crisis management.

· Support institutional compliance with applicable safety regulations and reporting requirements.

Student Conduct

· Administer and oversee the student conduct process in accordance with the Student Handbook and university policies and procedures.

· Promote educational and restorative approaches to student accountability.

· Serve as a hearing officer or appellate officer as needed.

Student Activities & Engagement

· Oversee student organizations, leadership programs, campus events, and student engagement initiatives.

· Encourage opportunities for student involvement that foster community and belonging.

· Support programming that reflects the mission and values of the university.

Wellness & Student Support

· Provide oversight for wellness initiatives that support students' emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental well-being.

· Collaborate with campus partners to identify and respond to student needs and concerns.

· Support prevention education and wellness programming.

Campus Ministries

· Support spiritual formation opportunities and faith-based programming consistent with the university's mission.

· Collaborate with campus ministry staff to encourage student participation in worship, discipleship, missions, and service opportunities.

Orientation & Registration Services

· Provide leadership and oversight for new student orientation and summer registration planning.

· Coordinate orientation and registration programs in collaboration with Academic Affairs, Enrollment, and Student Services.

· Oversee orientation staff and student leaders while ensuring programs support student transition, engagement, and success.

· Develop and assess orientation and registration initiatives consistent with the mission and values of the university.

Qualifications

· Master's degree required; doctorate preferred in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Leadership, or related field.

· Minimum of 5–7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in student affairs or higher education administration.

· Demonstrated experience supervising multiple functional areas within student services.

· Strong interpersonal, organizational, leadership, and crisis management skills.

· Experience serving on senior leadership teams or participating in institutional strategic planning preferred.

· Knowledge of student development theory, conduct processes, Title IX collaboration, and higher education best practices.

· Ability to communicate effectively with students, faculty, staff, parents, and community partners.

· Commitment to supporting the Christian mission and values of the university.

Preferred Characteristics

· Collaborative and student-centered leadership style.

· Ability to foster inclusive and engaging campus environments.

· Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.

· Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and sound judgment.

· Passion for mentoring and developing students and staff.

Working Conditions

· Evening and weekend work may be required to support campus events, emergencies, and student activities.

· Participation in on-call and crisis response responsibilities may be expected.