Director of Student Advocacy & IvyCares

Position Summary


The Student Advocate at Ivy Tech Community College Lake County serves as a neutral confidential and informal resource for students seeking assistance in navigating college policies resolving concerns and addressing barriers to their academic and personal success. This role promotes fairness student rights and risk mitigation while fostering a culture of trust and accountability. The Director also provides leadership and oversight for IvyCares coordinating wraparound support and resources that help students address personal and basic-needs barriers affecting enrollment persistence and completion.

Key Responsibilities

Student Support & Navigation

Serve as the primary point of contact to assist students in determining the next steps for resolving academic and non-academic issues.

Explain and interpret college policies procedures and student rights.

Provide high-level customer service by offering a safe and neutral space for students to share concerns.

Mimic a case management approach without enforcing policy violations.

Conflict Resolution & Crisis Prevention

Provide informal resolution strategies and act as a confidential intermediary.

Deliver QPR (Question Persuade Refer) and suicide prevention training.

Address concerns before they escalate into formal complaints or disciplinary actions.

Consult on issues of student discomfort (e.g. interpersonal conflicts with faculty or peers).

Risk Identification & Reporting

Review and assess incident reports and student complaints.

Maintain a secure de-identified database of cases using a color-coded stoplight system to track the resolution methods of each case.

Identify patterns such as discrimination or policy gaps and use the findings to make recommendations to leadership.

Submit an End-of-Year Report summarizing themes risks mitigated and student retention impact.

Policy and Procedure Expertise

Use the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook college website Lafayette-specific policies and ASOM guidelines to advise students.

Partner with mental health and conduct-related staff (e.g. Stephanie) to ensure a cohesive approach to student care.

Advocate for equity and address systemic gaps caused by unwritten or poorly documented policies.

Training Outreach and Engagement

Facilitate training sessions such as What is the Role of an Ombudsperson for staff faculty and student groups.

Actively promote services through orientations flyers and campus partnerships.

Conduct 510 student appointments per week and devote the remaining time to outreach and reporting.

IvyCares Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and day-to-day oversight of IvyCares services ensuring students receive timely caring and coordinated assistance.
• Assess student needs and service gaps related to transportation emergency financial assistance food insecurity housing childcare mental health technology and other barriers that may affect enrollment persistence and completion.
• Develop individualized student support plans and connect students with appropriate campus departments community agencies and external resources through effective referrals and warm handoffs.
• Oversee IvyCares intake case coordination follow-up and confidential recordkeeping in accordance with FERPA College policies and applicable requirements.
• Manage IvyCares resources and processes including emergency aid requests food pantry access and the distribution and retrieval of other student-support resources.
• Maintain and review IvyCares data to monitor student needs services provided outcomes resource utilization and the programs impact on student retention and completion.
• Manage the IvyCares budget and related requisitions ensuring resources are allocated effectively equitably and in alignment with College guidelines.
• Build and maintain partnerships with campus leaders faculty staff community organizations and service providers to strengthen the network of support available to students.
• Promote awareness of IvyCares services across Lake County through outreach presentations workshops and coordinated campus communications.
• Identify trends and recurring barriers recommend service improvements and provide reports to leadership on student needs program activity resource gaps and outcomes.

Compensation: $53000-$58000

Qualifications

Bachelors degree required; Masters degree in Higher Education Counseling Conflict Resolution or related field preferred.

Strong understanding of college policies and student services in higher education.

Experience in mediation counseling student advocacy or a related field.

Exceptional communication listening and interpersonal skills.

Ability to maintain confidentiality neutrality and objectivity.

Skilled in identifying trends and making policy or procedural recommendations.

Working Conditions & Schedule

Full-time on-campus position

Some evening or weekend availability may be required for student events or trainings

Regular collaboration with campus departments including Academic Affairs Student Services and Mental Health Support.

Official Academic Transcript required upon hire sent directly from the academic institution to the Office of Human Resources.

Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being growth and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Health & Wellness

• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution

• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia

• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses

• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions legal consultations financial planning consultations and other resources

• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards

• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care

Retirement & Financial Security

• 10% employer retirement contribution fully vested after two years

• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College with optional supplemental coverage

• Short-term and long-term disability benefits

Educational Benefits

• Fee remission for employees spouses and dependent children

• Tuition assistance for undergraduate graduate and doctoral programs

• Paid professional development opportunities

WorkLife Balance

• Generous paid time off including vacation sick leave holidays and winter recess

• Flexible work arrangements where available

• Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)

• Paid parental leave (4 weeks)

Additional Perks

• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

• Additional discounts on gym memberships transportation and various retail services

Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health your family and your futurebecause when our employees thrive our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits visit Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.

Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ethnicity national origin marital status religion sex gender sexual orientation gender identity disability age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the Colleges Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

Required Experience:

Director