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Director, First-Year Experience and Students in Transition

College of Charleston: Human Resources

Director, First Year Experience and Students in Transition

Posting Details

POSTING INFORMATION

Internal Title

Director, First Year Experience and Students in Transition

Position Type

Classified

Faculty / Non-Faculty / Administration

Non-Faculty

Pay Band

GEN10

Level

Department

Office for Student Success

Job Purpose

The Director of First-Year Experience provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the institution’s First-Year Experience (FYE) program. This position ensures the successful implementation of the university’s first-year degree requirement and supports a seamless academic transition for first-time, full-time students.

The Director serves as the central point of accountability for all FYE initiatives, including faculty recruitment and approval, course scheduling, enrollment management, student tracking, early alert interventions, budget oversight, assessment, and institutional communications. The Director supervises professional staff and coordinates cross-functional partnerships to promote first-year student success.

In addition, the Director provides institutional leadership in the development, coordination, and assessment of new and evolving transition programs that support the success of other student populations, including second-year students, first-generation students, and transfer students.

Minimum Requirements

Master’s degree in any field and supervisory experience are required, in addition to experience

managing budgets and fiscal processes. Candidates with an equivalent combination of experience and/or education are encouraged to apply.

Doctorate preferred in any field, and the following experience is also preferred:

Experience leading first-year, transition programs, or student success initiatives
Experience with enrollment management systems and student tracking software
Experience working with students in an advising, mentoring, or coaching capacity

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of student development theory and first-year transition best practices.
Ability to design, implement, and assess student success programs.
Ability to manage complex enrollment processes and scheduling systems.
Knowledge of Banner or comparable student information systems.
Fiscal management skills.
Ability to analyze data and implement targeted interventions.
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, administrators, and student support units.

Additional Comments Regarding Position

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please complete the application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.

*Salary is commensurate with education/experience which exceeds the minimum requirements.

Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check.

All applications must be submitted online https://jobs.cofc.edu.

Salary

*$57,700 - $80,800

Posting Date

03/30/2026

Closing Date

04/20/2026

Benefits

Insurance: Health/Dental/Vision
Life Insurance
Paid Leave: Sick/Annual/Parental
Retirement
Long Term Disability
Paid Holidays
Free CARTA Bus Service
Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP)
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Full Benefits Package – Click Here

Open Until Filled

Posting Number

2026045

EEO Statement

The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of sex, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, and other classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please visit eop.cofc.edu.

Quicklink for Posting

https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/17777

Job Duties

Activity

Strategic Leadership and Program Oversight

Serve as the institutional leader and central point of accountability for the First‑Year Experience (FYE) program, ensuring completion of the FYE requirement within the first academic year for first‑time, full‑time students.
Lead periodic reviews of the program in the context of the national landscape for first year programs and new research on college transitions.
Oversee implementation of the FYE academic model, including enrollment in approved FYE Courses and the required First‑Year Synthesis Seminar (FYSS 101) taught by Peer Facilitators.
Lead planning and execution of a primarily fall enrollment model in FYE courses
In collaboration with the Center for Excellence in Peer Education, establish annual program goals aligned with student retention, transition success, and institutional priorities.
Provide institutional leadership for students‑in‑transition initiatives, including second‑year, transfer, and post‑graduate transitions, in collaboration with campus partners.
Represent the FYE program in divisional and institutional strategic planning and coordination forums, including regular cross‑unit meetings.

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time

Activity

Faculty Recruitment and Academic Collaboration

Hold final authority and accountability for the recruitment and approval of faculty teaching in the First Experience in collaboration with Deans, Department Chairs, and Program Directors to align FYE offerings with academic programs.
Oversee academic alignment and cohesion between FYE academic courses and the attached First‑Year Synthesis Seminar (FYSS).
Serve on the FYE Faculty Advisory Committee and supervise the Faculty Coordinator, providing guidance on faculty outreach, relationship building, and faculty professional development.

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time

Activity

Enrollment Management and Course Scheduling

Lead development and execution of the annual FYE and FYSS course schedule, coordinating Banner builds and scheduling with the Registrar’s Office to ensure sufficient seat capacity for the entering class.
Manage, in coordination with the Associate Director, fall and spring pre‑enrollment and orientation enrollment processes, monitoring enrollment patterns and anticipating capacity needs.
Oversee advertising, outreach, and faculty recruitment for Spring FYE Abroad, ensuring alignment with enrollment targets and program objectives.

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time

Activity

First-Year Student Tracking and Early Alert

Direct the First‑Year Early Alert process through the institutional CRM.
Oversee tracking of FYE requirement completion as a degree requirement and FYSS attendance/completion in coordination with CEPE.
Design and implement intervention strategies with advising and student support offices for students at academic risk.

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time

Activity

Budget Management

Manage the overall FYE program operating budget, collaborating with the unit Budget Manager to forecast expenditures, allocate funds, and ensure appropriate use of resources.
Approve faculty add‑pays and authorize program‑related expenditures

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time

Activity

Assessment and Continuous Improvement

Lead assessment of FYE courses and overall program effectiveness, collaborating with Institutional Research and campus partners to analyze student performance and transition outcomes.
Use assessment data to inform continuous improvement and provide annual reports on FYE completion rates, retention metrics, and program effectiveness.

Essential or Marginal

Essential

Percent of Time