Director of Access

Position Number: 998863

Unit/Department: Academic Excellence and Student Success

Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate

Department Summary:

The Office of Access & Success provides the tools and support Drake University students need to be the best they can be academically. This includes academic coaching, disability services, tutoring, and other forms of support.

Job Summary:

The Director of Access & Success provides strategic leadership for academic support, disability services, and student wellness initiatives that promote equity, persistence, and holistic success. The Director oversees programs including academic coaching, tutoring, and accommodations, while coordinating university-wide efforts to create a culture of belonging, balance, and proactive student support.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, psychology, rehabilitation, education, or a related field.

• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in student success, academic support, disability/access services, or related areas.

• Experience supervising professional staff and managing programs or services that directly support student learning and persistence.

• Knowledge of best practices in tutoring, academic coaching, and learning support for diverse learners.

• Understanding of data-informed decision-making and ability to interpret and apply data for program improvement.

• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to engage effectively across departments and functional areas.

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in student support services.

• Organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple initiatives and competing priorities.

• Ability to use and support student success technology platforms (e.g., Starfish, Navigate, or similar case management tools).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate in higher education administration, leadership, or related field.

• Experience leading or developing an integrated student success center that combines tutoring, coaching, and disability/access services.

• Experience using predictive analytics or early alert systems to identify and support at-risk students.

• Experience designing or assessing holistic wellness initiatives in a university setting.

• Demonstrated experience working with disability law and compliance (e.g., ADA, Section 504) and implementing academic accommodations.

• Knowledge of universal design for learning (UDL), inclusive pedagogy, and strategies for accessible campus environments.

• Experience developing and delivering faculty and staff training on accessibility, inclusive teaching, or student support.

• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives that enhance student retention, belonging, and academic achievement.

Job Duties:

• 40% - Student Success System and Data-Informed Practice
  • Manage and advance the university's student success platform (Starfish) to enhance early alert, case management, and coordinated care efforts.
  • Collaborate with academic and administrative units to embed proactive student support processes across the institution.
  • Use data to evaluate outcomes related to persistence, completion, and course success; generate recommendations for continuous improvement.
  • Oversee development of training, communications, and business practices to optimize the system's impact on student experience.
• 20% - Strategic Leadership and Supervision
  • Provide vision and leadership for the Office of Access & Success, including academic tutoring programs, academic coaching, and disability services.
  • Supervise Access & Success professional staff and promote ongoing professional development and high-quality service delivery.
  • Support supervision, training, and ongoing professional development of student staff.
  • Participate in the Academic Excellence & Student Success leadership team and other university committees to align unit initiatives with institutional student success goals.
  • Represent student wellness and success initiatives through cross-campus collaborations, including leadership of wellness-focused committees.
  • Manage budgets and resources for the Office of Access and Success and wellness-related initiatives.
• 20% - Student Support and Advocacy
  • Champion equitable access to learning by ensuring policies, processes, and practices meet the diverse needs of all students.
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify and remove barriers to student success and ensure effective coordination of accommodation processes and promotion of inclusive teaching practices across departments.
  • Provide one-on-one student support and mentorship, offering guidance related to accommodations, academic challenges, and connecting to appropriate campus resources.
  • Develop and promote proactive support strategies related to academic or personal challenges, well-being, and self-advocacy through outreach, workshops, presentations, campus partnerships, and student resources (e.g., time management, study skills, test preparation, etc.).
  • Develop handouts, timelines, and tutorials to streamline complex processes for students and colleagues.
• 15% - Student Engagement and Wellbeing
  • Lead efforts grounded in NIH's Six Dimensions of Wellness to guide programming and assess institutional impact.
  • Support the design and implementation of initiatives that foster community and promote balance (e.g., Second Saturday Social, Bulldog Balanced, Wellness Conference, Rest & Relax).
  • Partner with student organizations and campus departments to co-sponsor events that encourage connection, help-seeking, and holistic well-being.
  • Advocate for sustainable practices that promote well-being and resilience among student, faculty, and staff. - (Essential)
• 5% - Other duties as assigned.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.

If you have any questions about this job positing or the application process, please email .

Salary and Benefits:

At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts.

Review of Applications Begins:

A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.

For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant's references, education, and, if applicable, experience.

ABOUT DRAKE

Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.

All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University's core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.

STRONG COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY

At Drake University, we don't just accept differences—we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our students, our employees, and our community. As reflected in our Core Values, we embrace a diverse and inclusive community.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Drake University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (p: ; e: ) and let us know how we can assist you.