Position Summary

Adams State University (ASU), a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) in rural southern Colorado, is seeking an experienced and enthusiastic educator with prior leadership experience to serve as the Director of Operations within the Prison Education Programs (PEP). This program is grounded in the belief that access to higher education has the power to change the lives of incarcerated students. Equity, diversity, and inclusion are integral to the work of the PEP unit and to Adams State University. We seek qualified candidates who can lead our efforts to advance equity, diversity, and educational access to an incarcerated population. Adams State University encourages applications from diverse candidates with a passion to serve and advocate for incarcerated students.This is an at-will, full-time position reporting to the Executive Director of Extended Studies. The Director of Operations will work collaboratively with ASU staff, academic departments and faculty to oversee all operational functions of the Prison Education Program. This individual will work closely with the PEP Director to develop the strategic direction of the Prison Education Program. This role includes hiring and supervision of staff and faculty, oversight of course scheduling, registration, budgeting, and general operations. This individual will support the delivery of high-quality print-based courses, and ensure high levels of customer care to traditional, non-traditional, veterans, and other incarcerated students.

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Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities):

Provide leadership and supervision of the Prison Education Program (PEP), including:

Implementation of:

• Pell for incarcerated students - interpretation of U.S. Department of Education financial aid regulations
• Procedures to award aid to incarcerated students in conjunction with the Financial Aid Office

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Oversight of:

• Budgets, revenue, and expenses related to program delivery
• Registration procedures, ensuring efficiency and customer service to all student populations
• Responses to student and advocate concerns
• Investigations into allegations of academic dishonesty
• Other tasks related to general program operations

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Development of:

• Policies and procedures that support student success in print-based programs, especially those for incarcerated students
• Effective and efficient processes that streamline the admission, registration, and course completion process
• Process to ensure and promote academic integrity of all courses

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Assessment of:

• Students needs for delivery of services and external agency referral as needed
• Degree-seeking student retention and graduation/completion rates
• Retention and graduation/completion rates for degree seeking students in Prison Education Program
• Program policies and procedures within the context of state and federal regulations for Pell-eligible students and for face-to-face and correspondence course delivery methods
• Academic learning of students in print-based programs within the context of the ASU Assessment of Student Learning Plan, and aligned with relevant academic program goals and Student Learning Outcomes

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Collaboration with:

• Academic departments to recruit and hire qualified faculty with a strong interest and commitment to serving incarcerated students
• Academic departments to develop, approve, and offer high-quality courses and programs, including:
  • Assessment of courses
  • Evaluation of instruction
• University staff to ensure effective processes that align with campus policies and practices
• Bookstore to coordinate delivery of materials

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Supervision and evaluation of:

• Classified staff (Administrative Assistants II) with responsibility for front desk operations, registration, and exam coordination
• Exempt Staff: Senior Advisor, Production Coordinator, and Quality Assurance Specialist
• Faculty teaching print-based correspondence programs

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Qualifications:

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience in relevant higher education environment
• Demonstrated excellence in communication
• Passion to serve and educate underserved students, including incarcerated students
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and evaluate staff
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, develop policies/ procedures, and engage in planning
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of diversity and inclusion
• Ability to treat others with respect, civility, and courtesy and to work honestly, effectively, and collegiality with employees, students, and the community. This includes the ability to use appropriate conflict management skills to effectively manage any disagreement that might arise or to bring the disagreement to management for assistance in productive resolution when the situation requires.

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Preferred:

• Master’s degree
• Experience in at least one of the following: prison education programs, college-level teaching, and/or advising
• Experience working with incarcerated students
• Experience with program assessment
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Salary and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $61,860-$70,368, commensurate with experience and education. In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit https://www.adams.edu/hr/benefits/

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Required Application Materials

Completed applications must include the following:

• A detailed letter of application addressing interests/experience in relation to the job duties. We encourage applicants to discuss how their commitment to providing educational access for diverse, incarcerated students is informed by their professional and personal experiences
• A Resume
• Transcripts of all college-level work (copies accepted). Official transcripts required upon hire.
• Names, addresses (including e-mail), and telephone numbers of four references.

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Application Review:

Review of complete applications will begin as applications are received until the position is filled. Applications received prior to August 1, 2024, will be given priority.

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Questions about the position may be directed to Nick Saenz at cnsaenz@adams.edu.

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About Adams State University – Alamosa, Colorado

Adams State University is a state-supported, regional comprehensive university located in the San Luis Valley of Southern Colorado in the city of Alamosa. As the state’s premier Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), over 50 percent of its undergraduate students represent racially diverse backgrounds. A high percentage of undergraduate students are first-generation and Pell eligible. The university offers undergraduate programs in the arts and humanities, physical and natural sciences, mechanical engineering, social sciences, kinesiology, fine arts, business, and nursing, and specializes in educator preparation in several disciplines. Adams State also offers graduate degrees in cultural resource management, public administration, music education, kinesiology, higher education administration and leadership, history, business (MBA), and educator programs, including counselor education; the university also has a doctoral (PhD) program in counselor education. The university has an active athletic program. The Adams State Grizzles athletic teams compete in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

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The institution is committed to increasing the diversity of its professional staff and is actively seeking qualified applicants who have experiences, skills, and/or personal attributes that augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff. We are working to diversify our faculty and staff and especially encourage applications from women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ community members, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other historically-underrepresented populations. We will give particular consideration to qualified applicants with experience in ethnically diverse settings; persons who possess varied language skills, a record of successful experience in engaging diverse communities/student populations; and job seekers who can contribute to equity, diversity, and inclusion. The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State’s purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well-being of the surrounding community.

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About Us – Diversity & Inclusive Excellence

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Disclosure:

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, Director Ana Guevara, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's  sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed  procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at  https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/.  These  procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.  

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.

Adams State University is dedicated to fostering Inclusive Excellence and especially encourages applications from women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other historically underrepresented populations. Given the university’s mission and student body composition, the institution is committed to increasing the diversity of its professional staff and is actively seeking qualified applicants who have experiences, skills, and/or personal attributes that augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff; we will give particular consideration to qualified applicants with experience in ethnically diverse settings or who possess varied language skills and have a record of successful experience in engaging diverse communities and student populations. Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/

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