Assistant Director of VSA, Residential Life and Student Experience

Working Title: Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience 

Home Department: Programs for Talented Youth

Vanderbilt Summer Academy (VSA) is an intentionally designed, accelerated summer experience for academically advanced and high achieving middle and high school students. The program is grounded in academic rigor and scholarly exploration, while also focused on fostering a strong sense of community and friendship. The Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience within Programs for Talented Youth (PTY) at Vanderbilt University, Peabody College of education and human development is responsible for overseeing and managing all components related to student life and experience within Vanderbilt Summer Academy, while also managing the year-round planning and preparation required for its success. Each year Vanderbilt Summer Academy serves over 1000 middle and high school students from across the country and world through residential summer experiences.

The Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience partners with the Director and works collaboratively with other PTY team members to establish the culture of the VSA program, ensuring that students and staff have a quality residential experience. In order to fulfill this mission, the Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience is specifically responsible for supporting areas of Vanderbilt Summer Academy that relate to residential seasonal staff recruitment and training, communication around program expectations to staff and students, policy development and management, university compliance, and residential activities for students. This role oversees the recruitment, training, and managing of a team of select residential and seasonal program staff; supervises the development and implementation of non-academic student activities and experiences that are a part of Vanderbilt Summer Academy;  manages the communication and enforcement of policies, procedures, and compliance through development of handbooks for staff and students, develops trainings for staff, oversees presentations related to policy and expectations for students, provides targeted verbal and written communication around expectations, and serves as the first point of contact when student, residential staff, and site-based issues or concerns arise within Vanderbilt Summer Academy. 

Reporting directly to the Director, the Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience is a full-time, 12-month position that will lead seasonal teams and work collaboratively with colleagues overseeing other components of Vanderbilt Summer Academy.

About the Work Unit:

Vanderbilt Programs for Talented Youth (PTY) works to develop talent in academically advanced and high-achieving students and those who work with them. PTY is part of Vanderbilt University's Peabody College of education and human development and is led by staff who are dedicated and experienced in providing evidence supported talent development opportunities for academically advanced and high achieving learners in a creative, supportive, and academically rigorous environment. PTY currently sees over 2000 students through day, residential and online programs and has plans to expand program opportunities to serve more students. Founded in 2000 under the vision and leadership of Dean Camilla Benbow, a protégé of Dr. Julian Stanley and founder of talent search programs, PTY is comprised of a small staff who are dedicated, hard-working, and passionate about the programs offered. 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

The Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience will conduct the following duties:

1. Residential Staff Recruitment, Training, Supervision, and Experience 

1a. Oversee the recruitment of a team of undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals who support select [SM1] [DS2] non-academic components of Vanderbilt Summer Academy. 

1b. Along with the Director, oversee the in-depth training of seasonal staff members related to compliance, policies, procedures and best practices in supporting minors participating in Vanderbilt Summer Academy.

1c. Directly supervise and manage a large team of seasonal staff members supporting Vanderbilt Summer Academy, including a residential summer staff; set expectations for performance, motivate the team around a common purpose, and address performance concerns promptly with support from the Director.

1d. Support seasonal staff in addressing minor student-related concerns and communicate to staff when student-related concerns will be addressed at the leadership level; communicate to impacted staff resolutions of student-related concerns that are addressed at the leadership level.

1e. Provide seasonal residential staff with first line support, providing coaching moments with a focus on growing staff skills and capacity.

1f. Create a positive staff culture based on appropriate training, clear expectations, and consistent support.

1. Student Experience 

2a. Demonstrate responsibility in providing active supervision of over 1000 minors participating in Vanderbilt Summer Academy and the staff supporting these students.

2b. Serve as the first line of support for resolving Vanderbilt Summer Academy participant concerns, issues, and crises that fall outside of social-emotional and academic needs, including but not limited to, concerns related to potential disciplinary action; with support from the Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy and Pre-College Programs and the Executive Director of Programs for Talented Youth.

2c. Manage communication with families concerning behavioral and participation concerns that could or do result in disciplinary action. 

2b. Manage in-program phone calls and/or emails from families related to student experience inquiries and/or concerns. 

2c. Oversee the planning of activities and the activities budget for residential programs, including managing a staff planning activities; ensure activities are appropriate, inclusive, and support belonging and safety; regularly attend and monitor residential Vanderbilt Summer Academy activities and experiences to ensure quality and the presence of a full-time staff member. 

2d. Maintain a presence within the residential program – living in the residential halls, attending program events, and providing supervision and support in the dining hall; be on call and available 24-hours a day to address concerns when students are on campus in June and July[SM3] .

2e. Oversee residential staff in creating a quality and memorable experience that promotes safety, equity, respect, and belonging for all. 

2h. Along with the Director, oversee components of the PTY website and social media accounts, as applicable, related to Vanderbilt Summer Academy.

2i. Oversee housing assignments for Vanderbilt Summer Academy.

2j. Complete additional duties as assigned and/or as necessary for implementation of quality, engaging, and safe Vanderbilt Summer Academy sessions. 

1. Compliance, Policies, Risk Management, and Student Safety

3a. Along with the program Director and other Vanderbilt Summer Academy team members, support systems for properly documenting student incidents, concerns, and disciplinary situations from response to resolution.

3b. Manage student and family expectations, along with the program Director, by overseeing post-admission, pre-program communication related to policies, procedures, and compliance; provide support in the development of the student handbook, student required forms, and staff handbook.

3c. Set student behavior expectations by providing program orientations and/or expectation meetings for students participating in Vanderbilt Summer Academy.

3d. Serve as the first line of support for resolving Vanderbilt Summer Academy participant concerns, issues, and crises that fall outside of social-emotional and academic needs, including but not limited to, concerns related to potential disciplinary action; with support from the Director and the Executive Director of Programs for Talented Youth.

3e. Manage communication with families concerning behavioral and participation concerns that could or do result in disciplinary action. 

Supervisory Relationships:

The Assistant Director of Vanderbilt Summer Academy, Student Life and Residential Experience supervises over 30 part-time seasonal residential staff during summer program implementation. The position also supervises middle and high school students participating in Vanderbilt Summer Academy. 

This position reports administratively and functionally to PTY's Director, Pre-College Programs.

Experience and Education:

• A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.

• Master's and/or doctoral degree (MA, MEd, PhD, EdD) is strongly preferred.

• At least three to five years of experience in secondary education, higher education administration, school leadership, or residential camp/program management is necessary.  

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience in an educational or program setting is necessary.

• Excellent written, organizational, and multitasking abilities are necessary. 

• Clear and strong communication skills are necessary.

• Ability to maintain vibrant interpersonal connections while maintaining professionalism is necessary.

• Experience working with academically advanced high school students is preferred.

• Record of accomplishment of successfully leading and managing a college workforce is preferred.

• Experience in establishing and implementing protocols for the safety and security of minors is preferred.

• Ability to work with joy in a constantly evolving and dynamic office is necessary. 

Other Requirements:

This position requires evening and weekend work when programs are in session. The role involves a variable schedule, including nights, weekends, and extended days when programs are in session, with the busiest periods being June and July summer programs. This position also requires living on campus when students are on campus for residential summer programs.

When summer programs are not in session, a hybrid schedule of remote and in office work is permitted.