Assistant Director, Student Access and Equity

George Mason University’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education (ODIME) and LGBTQ+ Resources is looking for enthusiastic and energetic candidates to fill the Assistant Director position, as part of the Student Access and Equity (SAE) team. 

George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

The Student Access and Equity (SAE) team supports campus and student engagement for students who are historically underrepresented in higher education and their allies, enhances the collegiate experience of undocumented students at Mason through programmatic and personal support and development, as well as training and education for the campus community. This position will also provide general support to the team’s efforts to support first generation students, including coordinating work with first generation student initiatives and programs.

The Student Access and Equity team is one of three teams within ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources that support students. Adjacent to this team is also a strong connection with the additional two teams: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + Resources (LGBTQ+ Resources) and Student Engagement for Racial Justice (SERJ).

Position Overview:

The Assistant Director is responsible for the planning and management of student focused programs and initiatives that have a specific charge towards the development, affirmation, and support of students who are undocumented, DACAmented, and have Temporary Protected Status. This position reports to the Associate Director.

Responsibilities:

• Support, advise, and liaise with affiliated student organizations that support undocumented students, such as:
  • Mason DREAMers; 
  • UndocuAlly Training Team; 
  • First Gen Mason. 
• Provide direct advising and support to undocumented students, including meeting with students individually to assess support needs and collaborating with units within and outside of University Life to resolve student issues, including referrals to campus or community-based services: Office of International Programs and Services, Registrar, Financial Aid, Admissions, Career Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Academic departments as relevant;
• As a member of the ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources department, direct support for students from other underrepresented identities in higher education, included but not limited to, students who are first generation, racial and ethnic heritage identities who constitute a minority, and gender and sexual orientations, represented in the multicultural and intersecting identities college students possess. Preparation to support these students include trainings required of all staff within the department, examples are:
  • Working with Students with Disabilities; 
  • Working with International Students; 
  • Safe Zone Training; 
  • UndocuAlly Training. 
• Maintain ongoing knowledge of information relevant to the campus regarding undocumented students, including but is not limited to:
  • Benchmarking with related services on other campuses; 
  • Identifying trends in literature; 
  • Awareness of policy changes; 
  • Advocacy as relevant and appropriate to aid in their success. 
• Serve as Point of Contact for the unit regarding policies and legislation impacting undocumented students including connections with aligned organizations such as: Legal Aid Justice Center, Mason DREAMers Advisory Board, C-Con, UndocuBlack, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, and others as relevant; 
• Supervise 1 Student Support Coordinator, 2-4 UndocuAlly Trainers; 
• Management of the First Generation Next Generation Fund. This includes, convening and selecting committee members as needed, outreach to advertise scholarships to students, management of DACA renewal rolling-basis applications as available, submission of paperwork and direct student support meetings for recipients. Aligned with this is the management and awareness of funding available and needed for the scholarships/awards to continue as a relevant source;
• Engage in a programming portfolio that includes the following: 
  • UndocuAlly Training; 
  • UndocuTalks; 
  • Immigration Monologues; 
  • DREAM Week. 
• Develop annual program outcomes, evaluations, and annual reporting for above stated programs, including relevant national, local, and campus-wide trends and needs for identified student populations. Alignment with learning and programming outcomes for the department as well as evaluations of those outcomes on a regular basis; 
• Manage the budget for programs included in the above portfolios and staffing, including purchasing of programming supplies, monitoring of work hours for supervised staff, as well as responsible management of funds. Included in budget management is seeking opportunities for external funding outside of the department from University Life, George Mason University opportunities, as well as those beyond the institution to expand and support work as relevant and approved by supervisor;
• Coordinate UndocuAlly Training. Responsibilities include, but not limited to: recruitment, hiring, and supervision of trainers; recruitment of participants; design and implement curriculum for participants and trainers; assessment;
• Provide general support to additional team-level work with first generation students, including the Student Transition Empowerment Program (STEP) and First Generation Student programming;
• Serve on the ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources professional staff team. Attending staff meeting, small team meetings, large area meetings, and other meetings as assigned. Attend ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources signature events. Gain and maintain overall knowledge of ODIME & LGBTQ+ Resources, University Life, and George Mason University; 
• Serve on University Life and University-wide committees, including search committees, as assigned/approved by Supervisor;
• Other duties as assigned by Supervisor and/or Director. 

Required Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree in counseling, higher education, or related field and previous higher education experience;
• The ability to engage diverse communities in problem solving strategies, interpersonal and/or group conflict resolution skills;
• A commitment to student leadership development and learning through programming; 
• The ability to apply qualitative and quantitative assessment protocol.

Competencies:

See Advising and Supporting, Student Learning and Development (NASPA)

Advising and Supporting:

• Know theory and techniques for advising and supporting others from various cultures and identities. Ability to help others set goals and achieve them; to evaluate what students need to succeed. Dispositions to support others, foster trust, and respect the identities, views, and choices of others.

Student Learning and Development:

• Know student development theories and models that facilitate holistic development. Ability to articulate how theoretical constructs influence development; recognize how one’s own development can bias one’s perspective. Disposition to think abstractly about lived experience; to reflect on one’s identity, learning, and practice. 

Special Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number FA63BZ at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.