Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes Best Employers lists each year. Including:
2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes Americas Best Midsize Employers list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes Americas Best Employers by State list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC systems westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The primary location of this position is the Cullowhee, NC campus.

The Office of Student Retention implements targeted student success interventions that are guided by evidence-based practices and institutional data and analytics.

The Assistant Director will champion these efforts for upper-class students with an emphasis on increasing four-year graduation rates.

Responsibilities include:
Finish in Four - Champion efforts that increase four-year graduation rates. These efforts may include at-risk student interventions, collaborations with programs and departments, a focus on removing barriers for student success, and the creation of policies and practices that increase degree attainment.
Upper-class Student Retention Initiatives - Create and implement programming efforts for upper-class students focused on increasing retention and persistence.
At-risk student support - Academic coaching for a small caseload of at-risk students. This includes teaching LC 101, an academic recovery course for students on academic warning designed to coach students in developing academic and self-management skills for success.
Supervision - Supervise the Program Coordinator.
Data-Driven Analysis & Assessment - Collaborate with Office of Institutional Planning & Effectiveness for analysis and assessment of programming and interventions for continuous improvement;
Retention and Persistence initiatives - Create, implement, and support initiatives to increase semester-to-semester enrollment, decrease time to graduation, and advance the rate of degree completion;
Office duties - assist with academic standing, appeals, term withdrawals, and re-admission after suspension/dismissal.

The candidate should have a comprehensive knowledge of academic and support programs and a thorough understanding of student development theories in practice. This role is highly collaborative, and the selected candidate must be able to collaborate with faculty and staff in the academic colleges, student affairs, academic support units, and athletics. An institutional perspective, excellent communication, and consensus-building skills, as well as an ability to interpret significant student data and generate appropriate actions are essential.

As part of a relatively-new office dedicated to supporting students, the Assistant Director will have the exciting opportunity to contribute creatively to the offices vision and to develop innovative student programming.

To be considered, you must apply online. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of professional references to complete the application process. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.

For questions or additional information, please contact Amber Lowe at allowe@email.wcu.edu