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Director, First Year Experience and Students in Transition

College of Charleston

College of Charleston

USD 57,700-80,800 / year
Posted on Mar 30, 2026

Director, First Year Experience and Students in Transition

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

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.

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 No
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

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 25
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 20
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 20
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 20
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 10
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 5

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • CofC - Alumni Career Services
    • College of Charleston Website
    • Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
    • Glassdoor
    • Handshake
    • HigherEdJobs
    • Indeed.com
    • Internal Job Posting
    • jbcjobs (Joint Base Charleston Military & Family Readiness)
    • Job Fair
    • LinkedIn
    • Monster.com
    • Personal Referral
    • Post and Courier
    • Public Job Posting
    • SC Works (SC Department of Employment and Workforce)
    • Twitter
    • Word of mouth
    • Other
    • National Labor Exchange
    • CareerBuilder

Applicant Documents

Required Documents
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter / Letter of Application
Optional Documents
  1. Curriculum Vitae
  2. Other Document
  3. Other Document 2
  4. Other Document 3
  5. Form DD 214
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