This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This competition will be used to fill 2 positions.

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits.

Location - North Campus, Edmonton.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department summary

The Dean of Students supports all students — undergraduate and graduate — in the pursuit of academic and personal success. The Dean of Students collaborates with faculties, offices, and services across all campuses to deliver effective programming and provides leadership on university policies and initiatives.

The Office of the Dean of Students coordinates many services that strive to create diverse and inclusive support in all stages of the student experience, including: academic resources, career and professional development, health & wellness services, and community resources.

Position summary

Reporting to the Manager, Orientation and Transition Programs, this position has an operational focus and is accountable for developing, coordinating, and assessing all aspects of centralized orientation and transition programming for undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Alberta.

The Coordinator, Orientation and Transition Programs (COTP) will engage with campus orientation program coordinators to support a holistic undergraduate orientation and transition curriculum, which prioritizes the principles of universal design, utilizes a student-centered approach, and aligns with the institution’s core values.

The COTP will implement, develop and support a variety of orientation and transition initiatives within the Orientation and Transition Programs office, which contribute to student success. These may include online orientation programming, extended orientation programming, orientation recruitment events, as well as programming for supporting the year over year transition of a student’s academic journey.

The COTP will work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to develop and coordinate undergraduate and graduate orientation programming which is reflective of the diverse student population and intersectional in nature. This will include working with campus and community experts to cultivate orientation programming rooted in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, and implementing intentional programming for traditionally underrepresented student communities in orientation.

The COTP will act as the central point of contact for the undergraduate and graduate student orientation and transition experience across campus, to support student transition at University of Alberta. This role is responsible for working with industry experts and engaging in ongoing research and assessment to align campus orientation and transition programming with current trends and best practices. The COTP will be a member of the Orientation Network who regularly meets with orientation program coordinators and campus stakeholders.

This position is crucial for supporting the transition experience of students, and in turn, the overall mission of the Dean of Students Office to support student success and well being.

There are two COTP positions, with one role focusing on graduate students and another on undergraduate students.

Duties

• Develop, implement and assess centralized in-person and virtual undergraduate and graduate orientation programming for all new incoming students during the winter and fall semesters.
• Manage the logistics of undergraduate and graduate orientation and transition programming, including risk management protocols, catering, and program accommodations
• Create online orientation content targeted towards all new students, working collaboratively with campus partners and external stakeholders to disseminate key information to incoming new undergraduate and graduate students.
• Develop, implement and assess centralized extended orientation programming for all new incoming students throughout the academic year.
• Liaise with key campus stakeholders including student associations, to develop orientation programming that is representative of the diverse student population, through targeted, intentional events and curriculums for non-traditional student orientation experiences or underrepresented student communities.
• Develop, implement and assess centralized in-person and virtual transition programming for all students throughout the academic year. This includes programs targeted towards upper undergraduate student experience, transfer students, students preparing to graduate, graduate students, and students transitioning to new programs within the university
• Support the coordination of transition programming across campus through helping facilitate campus-wide meetings bringing together stakeholders who implement transition-related programming and support.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a related field and at least two years of experience working in a student affairs environment, preferably in the field of orientation, transition and retention.
• Extensive knowledge of orientation and student transition theory and how these concepts translate to retention and student success.
• Experience with program planning, event management and program curriculum development, particularly in a post-secondary setting.
• Experience planning program and/or student success initiatives with diverse student populations.
• Knowledge of best practices for adult learning and education.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the student life cycle and student needs throughout a university program.
• Ability to effectively communicate across various stakeholder groups including faculty, community partners and students.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with team members from other areas coordinating orientation and transition initiatives
• High level of critical thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills to make sound judgements when leading student activities
• Ability to deal with diverse issues, multi-task and prioritize
• Knowledge of a wide variety of resources on campus and in the community.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency with computers, including the Google suite, and a web-based database.
• Ability to work independently and cohesively within a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Openness to receive on-going training in student learning and development, program planning, and evaluation.

How to Apply