Director of Student Involvement and Leadership
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
Position Summary
The director of student involvement and leadership at Lenoir-Rhyne University (LR) is responsible for planning, implementing and assessing co-curricular experiences and leadership opportunities to create a holistic student experience supporting engagement, retention, and personal and academic success. The director of student involvement and leadership leads the management, development and assessment of activities, programs, student organizations and leadership training; advises the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and Homecoming Student Committee; and provides leadership development and training opportunities for student organizations.
This role involves collaborating with various campus partners, external stakeholders, vendors and student organizations to assist in enhancing the engagement and experience for LR students. The person in this position will also assess the impact of student involvement and leadership development programs and provide substantive, strategic recommendations for improvement, often with a particular focus on student retention. The ideal candidate is self-motivated, innovative, student-centered, possesses strong interpersonal skills, has experience working effectively in a diverse environment and is willing to work flexible hours, including weekends and evenings.
Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff, and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary advisor for the Campus Activities Board (CAB), which includes but is not limited to meetings, planning and oversight of Welcome Week, Final Flip (exam breakfast), Spring Fling and Student Life Awards Ceremony.
- Plan, coordinate, implement and assess annual major campus events (e.g. Welcome Weekend, Family Weekend, Homecoming events), which includes advising homecoming student committee and facilitating annual homecoming parade for a diverse student body.
- Coordinate and promote campus organizational fairs in partnership with other offices on campus.
- Collaborate with the Dean of Students or designee to negotiate and prepare contracts for entertainment and/or external speakers when necessary.
- Oversee the management of student organization policies, maintain up-to-date information and constitutions for campus organizations, and develop and implement departmental processes for student involvement and leadership.
- Create and provide leadership training and organizational development for students and student organizations.
- Provide fundraiser approval to student organizations in collaboration with Conference and Events, Office of Advancement and other offices as needed.
- Serve as the campus liaison for Lenoir-Rhyne University’s participation in NC Campus Engagement (civic discourse and dialogue, election management, service learning).
- Serve as the liaison and administrator for student engagement and student organization platforms.
- Cultivate and maintain collaborative relationships with campus and community partners to support the leadership development and engagement of all students.
- Manage departmental budget.
- Stay current with professional trends in student activities, fraternity and sorority life and intramural sports.
- Perform additional duties as assigned; duties, responsibilities and activities may change.
- Duties as assigned by the dean of students.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Provide direct supervision to the coordinator for student engagement and the graduate assistant for student involvement and leadership.
- Provide guidance on recruitment, training and supervision of the Campus Activities Board Executive Committee.
Required Education, Skills, and Abilities
- Master’s degree preferred; bachelor’s degree required with 2-4 years of progressive leadership in student engagement or related student affairs or event planning areas.
- Knowledge of current issues and trends in higher education student engagement.
- Strong interest in student development across all levels.
- Commitment to confidentiality and adherence to laws and policies governing student services.
- Dedication to student development and serving a variety of student populations.
- Proven ability to lead collaborative efforts among various constituencies.
- Exceptional verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
- Skilled in handling sensitive and confidential situations with professionalism and diplomacy.
- Strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.
- Analytical, problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and relevant student engagement software preferred.
Reporting
- Reports to the assistant vice president for student affairs and dean of students in the Office of Student Life.
Physical Requirements
- Some prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
- Must be able to lift up to 30 pounds at times.
- Ability to attend and preside over events, lectures and meetings.
- Ability to travel with students, faculty and staff throughout campus and off campus as needed.
- Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle.
- CPR and First Aid certification preferred.
Work Schedule:
- Standard office hours: Monday through Friday 8 a.m.—5 p.m., with occasional evening and weekend work based on job responsibilities.
- Subject to change based on university needs, scheduled courses and university growth.
About Lenoir-Rhyne University
Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.
Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy
Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs and activities, that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.
LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the community, including those who identify as transgender and gender nonconforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic protected by law.
To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations—and to affirm its commitment to promoting fairness and equity—LR has developed policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in allegations of discrimination, harassment or retaliation.
LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of all parties during these processes.