Director of Student Success bei Bethany College

DIRECTOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

Job Description

FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports To: Dean of Academics
Department: Academics
Position Type: Full-Time, Salary

Bethany College – Lindsborg, Kansas

Bethany College seeks a dynamic and student-centered professional to lead our Student Success Center in supporting the academic achievement and personal development of our student body. This new leadership position is instrumental in fostering student achievement, retention, and timely graduation through personal interactions, strategic initiatives, data-informed outreach, and comprehensive support services. This is an ideal position for a higher education professional passionate about holistic student support in a small, close-knit liberal arts environment.

Why Bethany College?

Founded by Swedish immigrants and affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Bethany College offers a supportive community where faculty and staff know students by name and mentor them in a highly personalized environment. Our location in Lindsborg, Kansas, a vibrant, nationally recognized small town located about an hour outside Wichita, provides rich opportunities for music, art, recreation, and culture. As a small, private, rural college, Bethany plays an essential role in fostering curiosity, creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement. Since 1881, Bethany has prepared students to contribute meaningfully to the world through faith, learning, and service.

Job Requirements

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Support & Programming

• Lead a small staff providing comprehensive academic support services including tutoring, ADA Accommodations, study skills workshops, and learning strategy development
• Develop programming and academic support for specific groups of students, such as first-generation college students, transfer students, international students, etc.
• Design, implement, and monitor early intervention programs for at-risk students, including use of the college’s Early Alert System
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students needing additional support to increase retention
• Manage academic coaching programs
• Supervise First-Year Advising for all incoming first-time Freshmen, including updating the advising handbook and participating in scheduled virtual and in-person enrollment days
• Work with faculty in implementing processes and policies designed to support academic success, retention, and progress toward graduation
• Engage collaboratively with faculty, staff, and coaches across the College in ensuring students have pathways through their coursework to graduation.

 Student-Athlete Support

• Develop specialized programming for our significant student-athlete population
• Coordinate with the athletics department on eligibility monitoring and academic planning
• Create time management and study skills workshops tailored to athletic schedules
• Provide liaison support between academic and athletic departments

 Center Operations & Leadership

• Oversee the Student Success team, including hiring, training, and conducting performance evaluations for academic coaches and peer tutors
• Manage center budget, resources, and space utilization, including study spaces across campus
• Develop assessment tools to measure program effectiveness and student outcomes
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports for administration

 Campus Collaboration

• Partner with Admissions, Student Affairs, Athletics, and Academic Affairs on enrollment and retention initiatives
• Serve on the Retention Committee
• Build relationships with faculty and staff to enhance referral processes
• Support faculty with advising and persistence efforts

 Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. A minimum of three years of experience related to student success, retention, or academic support services.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively across departments
• Demonstrated experience with managing a team of direct reports
• Experience using a student information system or advisement system is a plus.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Graduate degree in a related field.
• Proficiency in Spanish is advantageous.
• Experience in a small liberal arts college environment
• Experience with early alert systems and retention programming
• Knowledge of ADA guidelines and accessibility services, and accommodations
• Familiarity with data analysis and assessment in student affairs or academic affairs

Join Us

At Bethany College, we are committed to fostering a campus culture where students explore their vocations, develop their gifts, and serve their communities. If you are energized by the opportunity to make a lasting difference at a small college with a big heart—and to help students see all that the liberal arts and a faith-rooted education can offer—we welcome your application.

Application Deadline: 

 Open until filled

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and three professional references to [email/application portal]. Please direct any questions about the position to the academic dean, Dr. Tash Smith, at [email protected].

Bethany College provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Bethany College complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.