Job Title:        First Year Experience Coordinator                     FLSA Status: Exempt
Department:   Betty Howard Center for Student Success                    
Reports To:     Dean, Betty Howard Center        
Salary Range: $55,000 - $60,000                                 
 

OVERVIEW OF THE UNIVERSITY
Washington Adventist University (WAU) is a Christ-centered institution of higher education that supports a culture of excellence where all feel valued.  Nestled in a desirable residential community in Takoma Park, Maryland, WAU offers its faculty and staff an environment where professional expertise is valued and lasting connections between co-workers are formed as we work together to ensure the success of our students.  Regardless of title, every employee supports WAU’s vision of producing graduates who bring moral leadership and competence to their communities.               

SUMMARY
The purpose of the First Year Experience Coordinator is to lead programs to help freshmen and transfer students adjust to the demands of university life, enhance their academic success, and increase retention rates in alignment with the University’s Vision 2030.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
 

• The recruitment, selection and supervision of the First Year Experience (FYE) student leaders and faculty/staff instructors
• Assisting the Dean of the Center for Student Success and Faculty Development with the training of FYE student leaders and faculty/staff instructors
• Coordinating all components of the FYE class
• Meeting monthly with all of the FYE leaders and providing them with on-going in-service training throughout the academic year
• Conducting the annual assessment of the FYE class, including a review of the curriculum, text book, etc., to meet the course objectives
• Coordinating periodic outreach programs that offer strategies for academic success to the FYE students
• Reviewing the academic alerts for all freshmen and following up with them to offer appropriate intervention and assistance
• Preparing weekly reports on the first year students for whom  early academic alerts were submitted and reporting back to the faculty the outcome of the contact with the students
• Reviewing the mid-semester academic deficiency list and contacting the first year students, outlining their academic situation
• Developing coaching plans to support rising sophomores who are on Enhanced or Directed Academic Engagement (Warning or probation) and making recommendations on what the student can do to improve academic performance
• Working collaboratively with the rest of the BHCSS staff in providing academic warning and subsequent advice to the upperclassmen
• Assisting the Dean of Student Success with the planning, execution and evaluation of New Student Orientation for both the fall and spring semesters, in collaboration with Enrollment Office
• Assisting with the selection and training of the Orientation Assistant Peer Leader (OPAL) Team
• Assisting with the orientation and transition of transfer students by developing and offering targeted programs geared toward that population
• Serving on the university Retention & Progression Committee
• Executing all other duties as assigned by the Dean

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Received:

      Receives direct supervision from the Dean

• Given:

None

QUALIFICATIONS 
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations maybe made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
 

• Education and/or Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree (Masters preferred)  
• 1 – 2 years of experience working with first year students in some capacity
• Demonstrate exemplary interpersonal and organization skills

 

• Language Skills:
• Superior command of the English language. 
• Excellent verbal and written communication.

 

• Mathematical and Technology Skills:
• functional knowledge and application of Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google Suite. Experience with LMS and student success platforms, such as D2L and Stellic is preferred.

 

• Reasoning Ability:
• Ability to deal with a variety of office situations. 

 

• Other Skills and Abilities:
  • Demonstrated experience with orientation programs.
  • Demonstrated experience with new student seminar programs.

Title VII Exception Notice
Washington Adventist University is a religiously qualified Equal Opportunity Employer under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.  As such the University has the legal right to prefer a member of the Seventh-day Adventist ("SDA") Church in its hiring process. In the event that a qualified SDA candidate is not identified, the University will give the opportunity to candidates who must understand and respect the mission, purpose, and identity of Washington Adventist University as a condition of their employment.34 CRF (and subsections), insofar as they conflict with the Seventh-day Adventist teaching and practices.