Director Student Support Services

Employer: Kentucky State University
Location: Main Campus, Frankfort, KY, US

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Employment Type: Full Time
Institution Type: Four-Year Institution

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Job Details
Organization

TITLE: Director, Student Support Services

DEPARTMENT: Student Support Services

REPORTS TO: Dean of Students

CLASSIFICATION: Staff-12 months

EFFECTIVE DATE: TBD

STANDARD WORK HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

LOCATION: On-Site Main Campus

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

JOB SUMMARY:

Under the general direction of the Dean of Students, the Director of Student Support Services provides leadership, oversight, and administrative direction for the federally funded TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) Program. The position is responsible for ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, grant requirements, and institutional policies while advancing student retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes for program participants.

The Director manages program operations, staff supervision, reporting requirements, participant services, and strategic initiatives designed to support low-income, first-generation college students and students with disabilities. This position exercises independent judgment in program administration, compliance reporting, resource allocation, and student success strategies. This role requires a regular, reliable, and consistent on-campus presence to effectively perform leadership, compliance, and student support responsibilities and is not suitable for remote work except as approved in accordance with University policy.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Serves as the primary point of contact for the U.S. Department of Education Program Officer and other federal, state, and institutional stakeholders regarding TRIO Student Support Services compliance and reporting.Leads the preparation, submission, and ongoing management of the Annual Performance Report (APR) and all required federal, monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting requirements.Ensures program compliance with all applicable federal regulations, grant requirements, and University policies governing TRIO Student Support Services.Establishes, monitors, and evaluates program goals, objectives, and performance outcomes to ensure successful achievement of grant-funded deliverables.Provides leadership, supervision, training, and evaluation of program staff, graduate assistants, and student employees.Conducts annual performance evaluations for all program personnel and supports professional development activities.Develops and implements student success strategies designed to increase retention, persistence, academic achievement, and graduation rates among program participants.Oversees participant eligibility certification and ensures compliance with federal TRIO eligibility requirements.Leads onboarding processes for program participants and ensures accurate documentation and recordkeeping.Develops and implements academic support, mentoring, coaching, and intervention strategies for program participants.Coordinates partnerships with campus departments and external agencies to support holistic student development and success.Monitors student progress and provides targeted interventions for students requiring additional academic or personal support.Develops outreach, recruitment, and communication strategies to increase program awareness and participation.Identifies and pursues external funding opportunities to support and expand program services when appropriate.Maintains accurate program records, databases, and reporting systems in compliance with federal and institutional requirements.Analyzes program data and prepares reports to evaluate effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.Represents the TRIO SSS Program at conferences, trainings, and professional development events to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.Maintains a regular, reliable, and consistent on-campus presence to effectively perform the essential functions of the position.Performs other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

Knowledge of TRIO Student Support Services regulations, U.S. Department of Education compliance requirements, and federal grant management practices.Knowledge of student development theory, retention strategies, and academic support programming.Knowledge of issues affecting low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities.Strong understanding of data collection, reporting, and program evaluation in federally funded programs.Strong leadership, organizational, and program management skills.Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate professional and support staff.Strong communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and compliance requirements.Ability to analyze program data and use findings to improve student outcomes.Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.Proficiency with database systems, Microsoft Office applications, and reporting tools.Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position has direct supervisory responsibility for program staff and student employees.

OTHER DUTIES:

Performs related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or a related field is required.Minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, student support services, academic advising, or federally funded program administration is required.Experience with TRIO programs or similar federally funded student success initiatives is strongly preferred.

Licensing and Certifications: NA

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed primarily in a professional office environment with frequent interaction with students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support student programming, reporting deadlines, or institutional events.Work requires regular use of computers and office equipment and may involve prolonged periods of sitting, standing, and walking during student programming activities.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. At this time, Kentucky State University is unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa

Internal candidates are encouraged to apply.

KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY is an Equal Opportunity Employer

The functions, qualifications, knowledge/skills, and physical requirements listed in this job description represent the essential duties of the job, which the incumbent must be able to perform either with or without reasonable accommodation. The Job Functions listed do not necessarily include all activities that the individual may perform.

Our Mission

Kentucky State University is the state's unique, small, liberal studies institution with the lowest student-faculty ratio in the state system. The University shall serve as a residential institution with a range of traditional collegiate programs appropriate to its unique role.

Geographic Region
Kentucky State University's geographic region shall be state-wide for its liberal studies mission, its land grant functions, and its service to state government. In addition, Kentucky State University's primary service area for commuting students shall be for Franklin and contiguous counties.

Institutional Admission Standards
Kentucky State University shall admit students to the institution under selective admission standards to which exceed the minimum guidelines established by the Council on Higher Education, with only limited exceptions. Institutional policy for admitting under-prepared students, including the removal of academic deficiencies within a specified time frame. Through this approach, the University seeks to provide broad access and high-quality programs.

Degree Levels
Selected associate and baccalaureate degree programs shall be oriented toward liberal studies and selected career opportunities related to state government services. Kentucky State University shall offer selected master's degree programs based on demonstrated need, with priority given to a public administration curriculum to meet the needs of state government.

Strategic Directions/Program Priorities
The University shall focus on liberal studies programming. Drawing upon its African-American heritage, the University will promote the values and methods of interdisciplinary and multicultural education in its liberal studies offerings. All students shall participate in common curricula that explore the liberal studies. Drawing upon the multicultural strengths of the University, emphasis shall be placed on preparing minority students for careers in education and in other selected professions including business, computer science, nursing, human services, and public services. These strategic priorities translate into a core of liberal arts baccalaureate degree programs, in addition to degree programs at the associate [A], baccalaureate [B], and master's [M] levels that may include the following: education [B]; business [B]; computer science [A,B]; nursing [A]; home economics [B]; human services [B]; and public administration [B,M].

Enhancement of Instruction
The University shall emphasize teaching. Meeting student needs shall be paramount. The University shall focus on the needs of its students, which include, but are not limited to, full-time and part-time residential students, commuting students from its primary service area, and state governmental employees.

Service and Research Functions
Kentucky State University, as the 1890 land grant institution in the system, shall carry out its responsibilities under federal law and participate fully in appropriate U.S. Department of Agriculture programs, in accord with the mission of the University.

Kentucky State University shall be the major repository for the collection of books, records, and artifacts relative to the history and status of African-American citizens of the Commonwealth and elsewhere. The University shall make such materials available for casual and scholarly study.

Kentucky State University shall focus on meeting the applied research and service needs of state government.

Collaborative Ventures
The priority master's degree program offered by Kentucky State University shall be carefully articulated with related doctoral programs offered by the doctoral-granting institutions in the system. The University shall develop and employ telecommunication resources to communicate with other institutions in the fulfillment of its mission. Curriculum development shall emphasize the transfer of credits form other institutions toward degree completion.

Kentucky State University shall promote cost effectiveness in academic programming and institutional management. Strategic planning resulting in the elimination of duplicative or non-productive programs is essential while the development of carefully selected new programs compatible with the mission is appropriate. Measures of quality and performance shall be the foundation of the University's accountability system which promotes the continuous improvement of programs and services.

Efficiency and Effectiveness
Kentucky State University shall promote cost effectiveness in academic programming and institutional management. Strategic planning resulting in the elimination of duplicative or non-productive programs is essential while the development of carefully selected new programs compatible with the mission is appropriate. Measures of quality and performance shall be the foundation of the University's accountability system which promotes the continuous improvement of programs and services.

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