Associate Director of First Generation Initiatives Program

DepartmentC2 HUB - SSR

The Associate Director of the First-Generation Initiatives Program plays a key role in supporting first-generation college students in their academic journey, sense of belonging, career preparation, and college completion.  The Associate Director of First-Generation Initiatives is a leader within the Classroom to Career Hub Student Success team. The Associate Director reports to the Assistant Vice President of Student Success and supports them in setting the strategic vision and implementation for First-generation student success

The Associate Director of the First-Generation Initiatives Program will lead the ongoing development and management of a comprehensive strategy to address the needs of students who are the first in their families to attend college. Close to sixty percent of the MSU Denver student population are first-generation college students. Given the unique college journey of first-generation students, the Associate Director will be responsible for collaborating with key internal and external constituents in implementing "First Generation Ready" policies, conducting needs assessments, developing programs, educating the campus community, and collaborating with the Classroom to Career Hub and other campus departments to support these students.

Recognizing that first-generation students come from various identity groups, the Associate Director will provide culturally competent services that honor, affirm, and explore students' intersecting identities—including, but not limited to, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income status, and documentation status. This role also involves building community and cultivating leadership among MSU Denver’s first-generation students. The Associate Director is expected to deliver culturally competent, accessible, and inclusive support to the MSU Denver first-generation student population.

The University is particularly interested in applicants with experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and a demonstrated commitment to improving access to higher education for under-represented groups.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver. Fifty-five percent of our undergraduate student body are students of color, and fifty-nine percent identify as first-generation students.

Within the Division of Student Affairs, we strive to create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. Rather, it requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a foundation for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer.

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Duties/Responsibilities

40% - Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Responsible for creating and implementing the comprehensive strategic vision for First Generation programming
• Engage in strategic partnership across the university that will enhance the visibility and the success of first-generation student
• Plan and lead MSU Denver’s First Generation working committee meetings
• Conduct regular needs assessments to ensure programs are effective and relevant
• Evaluate and assess the needs and experiences of MSU Denver first-generation students and provide support services including but not limited to assisting students in obtaining appropriate resources and academic support services and provide referrals to community and campus offices
• Maintain a strong understanding of first-generation needs, current trends, first-generation issues, and policies to inform the campus community.

30% - Program Implementation and Development

• The Associate Director will leverage best practices from the FirstGen Forward network, other related organizations, and institutional data to develop a first-generation undergraduate student experience that addresses their needs, builds community, fosters a sense of belonging, and supports students from historically underrepresented and marginalized communities.
• Responsible for planning and implementing programming that addresses the intersecting identities and needs of First-Generation students such as but not limited to the planning of the First-Generation graduation ceremonies, and National First Generation Week activities
• Oversee the management of first-generation program websites, promotional materials, forms, documents, and publications to accommodate the needs of the students and campus community.
• Develop and share publication materials for first-generation students via electronic newsletters, Met Media platforms, and/or social media outreach.

10% - Campus Education and Partnerships

• Assist the Office of Advancement in cultivating and stewarding donor gifts supporting First Generation students.
• Work with campus stakeholders to facilitate trainings, educational programs, and workshops, bringing visibility to first-generation student needs and experiences.
• Develop and implement first-generation curriculum and programs with faculty and academic affairs, focusing on academic success and leadership development.
• Cultivate partnerships with campus and community to highlight first-generation needs on and off-campus.
• Incorporate an intersectional approach to first-generation student identity, recognizing students’ multiple identities.
• Collaborate with Classroom to Career Hub colleagues and other campus offices on programs supporting the holistic development of all MSU Denver students.
• Plan and implement recruitment activities to ensure incoming first-year students are aware of first-generation initiatives.
• Collaborate with MSU Denver summer orientation sessions, serving as a recruitment tool for incoming first-year students with the support of first-generation staff.
• Work with high school counselors, teachers, and other youth organizations to inform students about MSU Denver’s first-generation program and initiatives.

10% - Program Assessment and Evaluation

• Regularly communicates (and reports) on first-generation student participation, retention, graduation, GPA, Satisfactory Academic Program (SAP), etc; does so with disaggregated information on relevant first-generation student demographic characteristics including race and ethnicity.
• Develop and disseminates evaluations on workshop effectiveness, program learning outcomes, and overall program outcomes.
• Conducts focus groups and capture student feedback.
• Research best practices of other first-generation offices, first-year, leadership, and mentoring programs.
• Assist with program improvement through utilizing student feedback to inform programmatic changes (potential areas of improvement: policy implementation, program expansion, etc.).

10% - Supervision and Operations

• Provide excellent supervision for the First-Generation undergraduate student staff who support first-generation program operations and create conditions that empower historically underrepresented student populations at MSU Denver (i.e., Black, African/African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Latinx, Native American, and Indigenous students).
• Recruit, hire, train, evaluate, and hold student employees accountable to performance expectations.
• Monitor allocated budget and expenses. Responsible for advocating for equity and justice in development and deployment of fiscal strategies impacting multicultural engagement and inclusion.
• Actively participates in committees and working groups related to equity and student engagement and supports the development and implementation of equity and diversity education and training on campus
• Participate in training and relevant professional development activities to support professional and/or departmental growth. Works to operationalize and/or integrate learning from these trainings into the work unit and work processes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Two years of previous experience in higher education, student affairs, or a related field, with a demonstrated commitment to first-generation student success
• Experience with planning and implementing programs aimed at the retention and graduation of historically underrepresented students, low-income, first-generation, and racially/ethnically diverse.
• Strong leadership, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Event planning and management experience
• Experience collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Experience with policy implementation and needs assessment around first-generation and racially/ethnically diverse student populations.
• Proven experience working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders

​​Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least two years’ experience specifically leading first-generation initiatives within a higher education setting or related field
• Experience leading and planning strategic planning committees
• Earned Master’s Degree in higher education administration, student affairs, education leadership, counseling, social work, or a related field.
• Knowledge of student development theory and practice.
• Experience conducting program evaluations to assess for improvement or goal completion on student learning outcomes.
• Budget Management experience
• Experience planning and facilitating trainings, workshops, and/or teaching.

Work Hours

• Days of the Week:  Mon – Fri: 8am-5pm
• Full Time, 40 hours per week, Exempt
• Occasional Evenings and weekends required
• Travel: Rarely
• Alternative Work Arrangements available*
  *Hybrid schedule available. Must be on campus minimum 3 days per week. Hybrid schedule will need to be adjusted for required University, Divisional and or Unit events/programming

Salary for Announcement

Under Colorado law, MSU Denver is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account a variety of factors including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. 

The salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $57,600-$76,900

This position is paid monthly and is eligible for MSU Denver benefits.

Instructions to Apply

For full consideration, please submit the following documents by February 26th at 11:59pm MT. The posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. Applications submitted after 2/26 may not be reviewed.

• Resume
• Cover letter describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

Official transcripts will be required of the candidate selected for hire. 3 professional references will be required of the finalist. One reference must be a prior supervisor.

If you are an Internal applicant, please apply via the Career tab within the WorkDay Menu

​​Important Note: Successful applicants will ensure their resumes clearly demonstrate that their work experience describes how they meet ALL required qualifications.

Closing Date

Open Until Filled

Posting RepresentativeCarlos Alcala

Posting Representative Email[email protected]Benefits

The University’s benefits package is comprehensive and offers medical, vision and dental, free RTD pass, tuition reimbursement, as well as a life and supplemental insurance plans, retirement plans and other programs, such as access to a long-term disability (LTD) plan. Visit MSU Denver’s benefits website to learn more.   

For a brief overview, please see: https://www.msudenver.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MSU-Benefit-Summary.pdf. 

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at [email protected].

Background Checks

Metropolitan State University of Denver is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students, and visitors.  To Assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background checks on all finalists for positions at the University prior to employment.

Diversity Statement

Metropolitan State University of Denver is a unique, access-oriented campus community that values diversity, equity, and inclusion in all its forms. Our student population consists of nearly 58% first generation students and over 50% students of color. We are a designated Hispanic Serving Institution located in downtown Denver.

We create an equitable learning and working environment in concert with individuals who consistently demonstrate commitment to equity and inclusion. We greatly value the diverse identities and perspectives of our students, faculty, and staff and recognize that in order to achieve a just and equitable society, diversity must go beyond simple representation. It requires critical inquiry and dialogue and a commitment to action. We strive to provide a culture of belonging for all community members to achieve personal and professional success.