Assistant Vice President for Student Transitions

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a top 50 global research university on the cutting edge of technology and scientific advancement, seeks a highly accomplished leader to serve as the Assistant Vice President for Student Transitions.

About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America’s first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,500 students and over 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit www.rpi.edu.

Student Life at Rensselaer

The Division of Student Life at Rensselaer provides a comprehensive suite of student success programs and services appropriate to the personal, academic learning and living needs of students. The staff, in the Division of Student Life, collectively works to align and advance the Rensselaer Plan 2024 in instilling students with core competencies of intellectual agility, multicultural sophistication, and a global view. The Rensselaer approach to education prepares students for leadership and to become productive citizens for life. Undergraduates can take advantage of extraordinary learning opportunities, including research, internships, and international programs.

Driven by an ambitious planning process, the Institute has revitalized the student experience through the creation of a comprehensive living/learning approach. The Clustered Learning, Advocacy, and Support for Students (CLASS) was designed to provide support and co-curricular opportunities for students throughout their undergraduate years. CLASS provides unparalleled developmental education and support in every sphere of student life — from Rensselaer’s revitalized residential settings to leading-edge classrooms and laboratories. Building upon both residential and time-based clustering, CLASS supports personal growth, social and academic excellence, and preparation for leadership, by placing faculty and staff mentors and unique opportunities at the center of students’ lives.

About the Position

Dr. Peter Konwerski, newly appointed Vice President for Student Life, and former Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs at The George Washington University, seeks to partner with the Assistant Vice President for Student Transitions in raising the Division of Student Life’s profile at Rensselaer to new levels of distinction. The position of Assistant Vice President for Student Transitions will provide leadership and oversight for four key Division of Student Life areas:  The ARCH undergraduate student here and away experience; Office of the Registrar; the Center for Career and Professional development; and the Office of International Services for Students and Scholars.

The Assistant Vice President for Student Transitions will provide leadership for CLASS - the transformative Rensselaer student experience, which begins with the First-Year Experience and continues with developmentally appropriate activities throughout the student’s collegiate years, culminating in graduation and beyond Rensselaer. Through ongoing support, guidance, and co-curricular activities, CLASS connects students to a network of faculty, staff, and other students, guiding both their individual growth and development and their place within a strong community of learners. The position reports to the Vice President for Student Life and represents a substantial opportunity to affect individual student growth and institutional culture. 

The Successful Candidate

The successful candidate must possess a thorough knowledge of student development theories and their application to students at a private highly selective technological research university. As a member of the Student Life leadership team, he/she must possess the requisite skills to actively promote CLASS and assume responsibility and accountability for its functions, e.g., Pipeline Initiatives, Transfer and Transition Services, Office of the Registrar, the Arch program, which adds flexibility for student scholarly discovery, and the Center for Career and Professional Development.

He/she must have demonstrated knowledge of the federal and state protocols and practices related to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and compliance areas related to student affairs, e.g., the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Additionally, the successful candidate must have experience in analyzing data, preparing reports, and recommending strategies, particularly as this experience applies to finance, assessment, and goal achievement.

The Vice President for Student Life will rely on the Assistant Vice President in numerous key areas, among them: development of the annual Student Life Performance Plan and the performance-based budget; alignment of the Student Transitions portfolio with the goals of The Rensselaer Plan 2024; oversight of all human resource functions within the Student Transitions portfolio; and development (with Institute Advancement) of proposals for external funding to support students and address needs based on current issues and emerging trends in higher education. 

The successful candidate will possess a master’s degree in higher education administration, student personnel, or a related field, and will have minimally eight (8) years of progressively responsible student affairs experience including service at the Director or Dean level. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required. 

How to Apply

Interested candidates should send a letter of application and resume that relates the applicant's knowledge, skills, abilities, competencies and professional work experiences to the stated qualifications for the position and notable achievements. The application packet should be sent to AVPSTRPI@wspelman.com. The subject line in the email should be AVPSTRPI. Confidential inquiries may be made by contacting Megan Spelman at megan@wspelman.com or at 585-366-4329.

Applications are being reviewed as submitted and will be considered until the position is filled.

Rensselaer has a strong institutional commitment to diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. As such, the Institute welcomes applicants who will bring diverse intellectual, geographical, gender, and ethnic perspectives to the Rensselaer community.