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The Associate Vice President & Dean of Students serves as the Deputy Chief Student Affairs Officer and provides leadership and oversight for the student experience, fostering a safe, inclusive, and engaging campus environment. Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the AVP/Dean of Students serves as an advocate for students, addressing their needs and concerns while enhancing their personal and academic development. The AVP/Dean of Students directly supervises the Director of Housing and Residential Education, the Director of Student Care and Support, and the Director of Community Standards. The AVP is responsible for managing the SAFE Team, overseeing crisis response, enforcing the Code of Community Standards, and collaborating across the institution to support student success and well-being.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

Leadership and Supervision

Foster professional development and collaboration within the team and division by planning and organizing goal-setting and review sessions, informational sessions on current issues in Student Affairs, and associated development topics.
Develop and implement comprehensive professional development plans for directors and their teams to enhance skills, promote growth, and cultivate innovation.
Facilitate regular retreats, workshops, and team-building exercises to strengthen collaboration and shared purpose.
Incorporate diverse, inclusive, and socially just practices to promote student success as it relates to the work done within assigned areas.

Crisis Management and Support

Lead, develop, and convene the campus crisis response team (SAFE Team), ensuring effective assessment of risk and management of emergencies and critical incidents through collaboration with local law enforcement, mental health services, and emergency management teams.
Provide guidance to the student Care and Support Team (CAST) on more complex student cases.
Provide direct support to students and families during crises and serve as a primary point of contact for related issues.
Engage in synergistic partnership with the AVP for the Office of Equal Opportunity to coordinate processes related to Title IX.
Coordinate post-crisis debriefs and develop institutional resilience plans.
Serve as a critical escalation point for on-call and emergency response staff, assisting with triaging situations, making strategic decisions, and ensuring timely communication with appropriate campus constituents.

Community Standards

Oversee the Code of Community Standards, including its regular review, updating, and enforcement in collaboration with the staff in Community Standards.
Accountable for consistent and equitable application and education of the conduct process and related policies across the campus.
Work closely with the Emerson College Police Department in the maintenance of Clery Act violation records for the campus.
Provide oversight to the development and implementation of policies and practices that foster a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus community.
Accountable for compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations related to student conduct, housing, and safety.

Student Advocacy and Support:

Provide leadership in resolving complex issues to enhance the student experience.
Ensures student life areas accomplish the goal of student development by formulating operational policies and procedures that engender an equitable balance between the educational goals of students and their co-curricular needs, planning and coordinating the programs and activities conducted during the academic year, and assessing and evaluating achievement of those goals and objectives through formal assessment, personal observations, reports, student input, and other strategies.
Lead partnerships with academic and administrative departments to ensure students have access to appropriate resources and support by fostering cross-departmental collaboration, developing streamlined referral processes, implementing proactive outreach initiatives, and assessing the effectiveness of support systems to enhance student success.
Identify and address systemic barriers to student success through policy and programmatic initiatives.
Build strong connections with historically underrepresented and marginalized student populations to ensure equitable access to resources by engaging in active outreach, fostering inclusive spaces for dialogue, collaborating with identity-based student organizations, implementing culturally responsive support initiatives, and regularly assessing and addressing systemic barriers to student success.

Student Well-Being and Success:

Promote a campus environment that supports student mental health, well-being, and personal growth by partnering with the Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness and other campus leaders to enhance student support services, advocate for holistic wellness initiatives, contribute to campus-wide well-being efforts, and ensure that student affairs policies and programs align with best practices in mental health and student development.
Develop and oversee intervention strategies within Student Affairs to proactively support students experiencing personal, academic, or well-being challenges.
Enhance crisis response protocols by ensuring effective coordination between student support services, academic partners, and emergency response teams to provide timely and comprehensive interventions.

Campus Engagement:

Engage with students as a visible leader on campus, attending events, meeting with student organizations, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Partner with alumni networks and community organizations to develop programs and connections to enhance the co-curricular experience.

Assessment and Strategic Planning:

Analyze and utilize data to assess the effectiveness of programs and services and make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.
Drive the division’s strategic planning efforts by setting clear priorities, establishing key performance indicators, and aligning goals with institutional growth and student development trends.

Special Projects and Initiatives:

Proactively identify and respond to emerging student needs by designing and piloting innovative programs that address evolving challenges and opportunities in student affairs.
Develop and oversee special initiatives that enhance campus culture and climate, such as targeted support programs, equity-driven projects, or retention-focused interventions.
Champion cross-divisional collaboration by facilitating partnerships that strengthen campus-wide support systems and improve the overall student experience.

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform the job.

Master’s degree in higher education administration, counseling, student development, or a related field required.
Minimum of 12-15 years of progressive leadership experience in Student Affairs, with a focus on student support, crisis response, or community standards required.
Demonstrated experience in supervision and team management required.
Experience leading crisis response teams and managing complex student issues required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – This may be representative but not all-inclusive of the knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

Strong knowledge of student development theories and best practices in student conduct and crisis management.
Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
Familiarity with housing and residence life operations and their intersection with student support.
Ability to inspire and support staff while fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.
Strong advocacy skills to address and support student needs effectively.
Expertise in handling emergencies and critical incidents with professionalism and sensitivity.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and provide clear direction in complex situations.
Deep understanding of student conduct processes and the application of restorative practices.
Knowledge of legal and ethical considerations related to student conduct.
Experience with restorative justice or other alternative dispute resolution models in student conduct processes.
Familiarity with state and federal compliance requirements beyond Clery (e.g., Title IX, ADA, VAWA).
Ability to work effectively with a diverse student population and foster an inclusive campus community.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
Demonstrated success in data-informed decision-making and resource allocation.
Proficiency in data management, assessment, and technology platforms relevant to student affairs.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requires the ability to lift and move objects that are light
Requires the ability to move materials occasionally

WORK ENVIRONMENT – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job.

Usual office conditions
Respond to crises and significant campus incidents outside of standard working hours as needed, providing high-level support, decision-making, and guidance.

Disclaimer: This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees may be required to follow other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties as requested, subject to all applicable state and federal laws. Certain job duties described herein may be subject to possible modification in accordance with applicable state and federal laws.

Compensation: $169,750.00 - $216,400.00 annually, commensurate with experience.

Grade of Position: 23-16E

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 36.25

Division:

In addition to a competitive salary, Emerson College is committed to the health and well-being of our employees and family members. We offer a generous benefits package to regular staff scheduled to work 20+ hours per week.

Benefits include outstanding health plans with limited out-of-pocket expenses, dental plans, generous time-off programs, and a 403(b) retirement benefit with a 9% employer contribution once eligible. Additional benefits such as life and disability coverage as well as commuter offerings are available.

Please refer to our benefits website for a full list of benefits and eligibility requirements.