Chief Student Success Officer - College of Liberal Arts

The College of Liberal Arts (CLA) is the largest college at the University and in the state of Minnesota.

This position sits within the CLA’s Office of Undergraduate Education. CLA is committed to an exceptional, inclusive undergraduate experience and education. We provide resources, opportunities, and systems from recruitment through graduation that promote student success, career readiness, and personal wellbeing. Our goal is to enable students to leverage the advantages of their liberal arts education to the benefit of society.

The core values of the CLA include: 

• Freedom of thought and expression
• Respect, diversity, and social justice
• Excellence in all we do
• Efficiency and adaptability in the achievement of our mission

Meet Dean GerShun Avilez.

Strategic and Operational Leadership of the College (30%)

• Serve as an integral member of the dean’s leadership team, contributing to strategic decision-making and institutional governance.
• Work in partnership with the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs to advance initiatives with curricular development, academic planning, and faculty development in alignment with and in support of undergraduate student success.
• Work with partners within the University and from other institutions of higher education to foster a strong relationship for development, academic partnerships, pathways, and affiliations.
• Provide strategic oversight and operational leadership for student services, encompassing staff development, planning, and resource allocation.
• Supervise a diverse team of directors.
• Facilitates and directs alignment, communication, and collaboration within Undergraduate Education and across CLA.

Collegiate Enrollment and Retention Oversight (30%)

• Oversee the recruitment, retention, and degree attainment of undergraduate student populations, ensuring alignment with the CLA’s mission, values, and strategic priorities.
• Lead the development and execution of comprehensive enrollment management strategies.
• Foster an inclusive community and promote equity for all students. Oversee outreach to diverse student populations to support goals and sense of belonging.
• Manage the CLA Care Team’s partnership with the Office of Student Affairs to coordinate crisis responses. Communicate with students, families, and stakeholders during critical situations.
• Use data-driven insights to track student retention and graduation trends. Leverage insights to refine initiatives that promote sustained student success and high retention rates.
• Ensure comprehensive support for high-priority students. Develop personalized interventions for those facing academic, personal, or financial challenges.
• Connect students with necessary resources to ensure their success and retention.

Financial and Administrative Leadership (20%)

• Oversee an annual budget that exceeds $10 million and an organizational unit with more than 100 employees.
• Collaborate with unit directors to coordinate annual budget planning.
• Provide strategic oversight of comprehensive compensation and staffing plans in collaboration with the Office of Human Resources.

Academic Engagement Initiatives (10%)

• Partner with the associate dean of Undergraduate Education and the Office of Faculty and Academic Affairs to advance high-impact practices to enrich the student experience, such as:
  • Experiential learning
  • Undergraduate student research
  • Internships
  • Study abroad
  • Community-engaged learning
• Develop and lead student engagement strategies. Coordinate activities and programming with academic units to foster a dynamic and inclusive campus environment.

College and University Leadership and Engagement (10%)

• Serve on committees including:
  • Curriculum, Instruction, and Advising (CI&A)
  • CLA Assembly
  • CLA Budget Advisory Committee
• Co-chair (with the associate dean for Academic Planning and Undergraduate Education) the new CLA Committee on Enrollment and Academic Planning and the new CLA Committee on Student Engagement and Curricular Innovation
• Attend Office of Undergraduate Education committees such as:
  • University of Minnesota Council of Undergraduate Education
  • University Student Equity and Success Committee
  • Associate Dean Committee for the Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education

• BA/BS degree plus at least 12 years of relevant experience, or master's degree plus at least 10 years of experience in higher education in at least one of the following areas:
  • Student affairs
  • Student success
  • Enrollment management
  • Academic student support
• Evidence of commitment to belonging, diversity, and inclusion efforts
• Supervisory experience

• PhD or other terminal degree
• Experience with student services administration within an academic college
• 10+ years of supervisory experience
• Evidence of excellent communication skills
• Ability to speak to a wide audience including faculty, staff, students, and the public
• Experience with managing a complex organization
• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration
• Experience managing large and complex budgets

Starting salary range: $130,000–170,000

Work arrangements: In office with some flexibility

Benefits: As a Professional and Administrative (P&A) employee, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive benefits package. This includes low-cost health coverage, professional development opportunities, and retirement plan with 10% employer contribution. (See our benefits page for more information.) 

Relocation assistance is available for this position.

To be considered for this position, please submit both a cover letter and a resume (or CV). Applications without both documents will not be reviewed.

Apply here

Priority consideration date: April 25, 2025

The position will remain open until filled. For questions or nominations, please contact Jennifer Erickson (jrostami@umn.edu).