• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range:$82,000 - $90,000

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Student Affairs is a key member of the School of the Arts Student Affairs team whose duties are integral to the student experience. The person in this role must be comfortable with and have the necessary judgment to make independent decisions and be a thought partner in the management of the Student Affairs Office.

The candidate should have a passion for working with students and thrive in creative and dynamic environments. They should also understand and be committed to fostering a community that thrives in diversity, where all members are equitably supported.  The position requires the ability to alternate between planning large and small events, attending to daily tasks, and maintaining privacy with sensitive material. Attention to detail, tact, and discretion are key.

The Associate Director of Student Affairs disseminates information on School-wide and University policies and procedures; advises students and refers them to the appropriate offices for assistance; plans orientation and commencement; determines housing allocations; monitors student registration; collaborates with the School’s Finance Office to monitor billing to maximize retention; maintains student databases and files; prepares reports to further advance the goals of the office and determine student needs; prepares surveys for informational purposes as needed; advises student groups; and helps to foster an inclusive community that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Responsibilities

• Serves as a primary point of contact for School of the Arts students for a variety of questions, including questions about School and University procedures and policies.
• Provides information through School of the Arts websites, email, the School of the Arts community portal, and student meetings regarding the onboarding of incoming students, immunization requirements, housing, health services and insurance, school policies, graduation, university resources, events, and student activities and programming, and other topics related to the co-curricular life of the students.
• Works with the Dean while planning orientation and commencement.
• Determines incoming student eligibility for Housing and assigns housing allocations. Helps resolve housing issues as needed.
• Works with the Offices of the Registrar and Student Financial Services to facilitate student registration and resolve issues in consultation with the Directors of Academic Administration, monitors student registration and billing to assure compliance with CU and SOA policies, assists students to resolve registration concerns, assists with cross-registration at other schools, and assures correct certification of full-time status in Student Information Services (SIS).
• Works collaboratively with individual academic programs and the Admissions and Financial Aid Office to track student progress toward fulfillment of graduation requirements in accordance with Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
• Supports Assistant Dean of Student Support as needed as they review and processes withdrawals and leaves of absence.
• Responsible for supervising the activities of the Interdisciplinary Arts Council (IAC) and other student groups, facilitates student events, and manages and reconciles budget allocations for student organizations.
• Maintains student database and files; prepares various other reports and surveys based on database information.
• Keeps SOA website current with events and news. Reviews and revises all web and printed copy related to Student Affairs. Works with Dean to coordinate and update modifications with Office of Communications.
• Prepares vouchers and purchase requisitions for payment through SOA Business Office, manages Student Affairs petty cash account; understands and complies with all University business policies that apply to financial transactions.
• Organizes special SOA student events in collaboration with Alumni Affairs and the Artists' Resource Center.
• Refers students having difficulty due to medical, emotional, familial, or psychological reasons to SOA Assistant Dean of Student Support and appropriate CU services and resources, including the Offices of Disability Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, and Health Services as needed.
• Refers students having financial difficulty to the Financial Aid Office. Will also refer students to Assistant Dean of Student Support and the Artists' Resource Center as appropriate. Follows up as needed.
• Provides on-call support for Student Affairs Office. Works with relevant offices within and outside SOA to help address crisis situations as needed.
• Participates in various University committees as needed.
• Represents the School of the Arts as a University Delegate.
• Assists Dean of Student and Alumni Affairs with other related duties as assigned, including managing calendars and helping with scheduling, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field with a minimum of five years of relevant work experience is required.
• Must have a strong interest in the arts.
• Ability to exercise exceptionally good judgment, to be innovative, and to understand the importance of School of the Arts and University governance and policy is required.
• Tact, discretion, and ability to maintain complete confidentiality are essential.
• As part of a small team, willingness to carry out routine clerical tasks and maintain own schedule of appointments.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, written and oral communication, presentation and analytical skills required.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent follow-through required.
• Strong professional and ethical standards.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, sometimes high-stress environment on concurrent projects with frequent interruptions is essential.
• Ability to develop relationships with the larger Columbia community is essential.
• Computer experience (word processing, database management, report servers, Excel spreadsheets, social networking) required.
• Ability/willingness to learn new software systems as required.
• Duties often require evening and weekend work to attend student events.
• Some travel may be required.

All applicants must attach a cover letter and resume. Applications without these two documents will not be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree preferred.
• A passion for working with students and events programming desirable.
• Familiarity with SIS is helpful.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.