Job description

St Paul, MN

Division: Academic Affairs
Department/Office: Student Affairs, Equity, and Belonging

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St. Catherine University invites applications for a full time Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. The Assistant Dean of Student Affairs is vital in advancing St. Catherine University’s commitment to equity, belonging, and holistic student development. Rooted in the University’s Catholic and social justice mission, the Assistant Dean fosters a campus environment where all students feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Works collaboratively with the Dean for Equity and Belonging.

Reporting to the Dean for Student Affairs, this position provides leadership for student well-being and success through compassionate case management, early intervention, and culturally responsive outreach. The Assistant Dean leads and coordinates the University’s Early Alert Systems Team (EAST), manages behavioral intervention strategies, and connects students to resources that address academic, personal, physical, and mental health challenges.
In close partnership with faculty, staff, and community agencies, this leader promotes trauma-informed practices, equitable access to care, and proactive approaches to student support across all three colleges. The Assistant Dean ensures that services for students in distress or crisis are delivered with compassion, cultural responsiveness, and a developmentally appropriate lens-contributing to a vibrant, just, and inclusive university community.

Responsibilities Include:

• Lead the University’s Early Alert Systems Team (EAST), coordinating case response and follow-up for students in distress.
• Provide case management services to students with complex mental and physical health problems, cognitive disorders, and safety concerns that are reported to the Office of Student Affairs/EAST Team.
• Provide direct intervention with students regarding issues of concern, including initial contact and meetings, appropriate referrals on- and off-campus, behavioral contracting, and necessary follow-up conversations
• Work closely with multiple internal University departments and other external support agencies to coordinate support services and communication for students dealing with complex behavioral, mental health, and physical health issues. Departments may include but are not limited to: the Student Affairs and Equity and Belonging Office, the Centers for Equity and Belonging, the Counseling Center, the Health and Wellness Center, Residence Life Office, the Student Life – Minneapolis Office, Academic Advising, Public Safety, Title IX Coordinator, faculty, the University’s forensic psychologist, local health care providers, and students’ families.
• Understand and develop working knowledge of resources outside the University community that will serve student’s mental health needs, financial, food and housing insecurity issues and understand referral processes
• Provide case management services for students who require hospitalization or otherwise unable to continue their academic work (either short- or long-term) prior to and after-care. Work closely with the student, their health care providers, and when appropriate, their family, to evaluate a student’s readiness to re-enter the academic and/or residential environment and, when appropriate, facilitate a smooth and successful re-entry
• Counsel and advise students who may have academic and/or person concerns, ensuring appropriate referrals, tracking and follow-up
• Maintain timely documentation of all case management activities to ensure all correspondence, notes, action items and rationale are accurately documented, uphold confidential student records, including referrals and outcomes
• Serve as a member of the Behavioral Intervention team
• Serve on Trauma Response Team, manage trauma response team in coordination with the Counseling Center staff and trained members of campus
• Provides oversight of the university student conduct process, including but not limited to implementation, administration and training related to conduct matters
• Serve as a member of the Bias Incident Report Team (BIRT)
• Facilitate well being checks and coordinate emergency contact information in conjunction with IT and Housing Operations
• Provide education and training about behavioral and mental health issues that students may face, and the resources and response systems available to them
• Work in collaboration with other programs and services (e.g. Health and Wellness, Counseling Center, etc.) to provide support/training that support students across campuses
• Develop and disseminate materials that promote awareness of campus support systems.
• Partner with other departments (e.g., Counseling, Health and Wellness, Centers for Equity and Belonging) to foster a community of care.
• Use assessment/evaluation tools to monitor progress on full implementation
• Exercise leadership over or assistance with program design, implementation, and/or support services related to an assigned program or focused community need.
• Support and collaborate in managing all student activities including student government, student organizations, and student activities.
• Assist with overall training and engagement efforts of students, faculty and staff.
• Develop and implement programs and activities that enhance student engagement and involvement in campus life.
• Lead and execute a “5th week check-in”, academic and social emotional check once a semester student-wide.
• Serve as a member of the University’s Office of Student Affairs staff and as an initial contact and intake person for students in crisis situations
• Assist other University personnel in responding to students who are victims/survivors of violence, sexual misconduct and violence, domestic abuse, or stalking
• Participate in Student Affairs and/or University-wide initiatives, committees, task force, or projects that support the division of Student Affairs; represent the Office of Student Affairs during events
• Adjudicate alleged violations of the student code of conduct
• Collaborate with annual review of Code of Conduct and Community Expectations publication and other policy and procedures reflective of scope of work

Employees at St. Kate’s feel a deep connection to the University’s Mission and Vision, and they live their values at work. Benefits available to full-time employees include:

• Fourteen (14) paid holidays and paid “gift” days when the University is closed.
• Free tuition for employees and reduced tuition for their families after one year of service
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 403b retirement plan access
• Accrued sick time
• Paid parental leave after one year of service

Specific information on all of our available benefits for full-time employees can be found HERE.
St. Catherine University in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a comprehensive Catholic university and home to one of the nation’s largest colleges for women, with associate and graduate programs for all genders. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1905, the University integrates liberal arts and professional education within the Catholic traditions of intellectual inquiry and social teaching. Committed to excellence and opportunity, St. Catherine enrolls students in certificate, associate, baccalaureate,

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in college student personnel, counseling, social work or other related field. At least 3 years of experience in higher education or a related setting working with college students, preferably in areas such as case management, crisis response, student support, or behavioral intervention.
• Current knowledge and experience applying best practices and appropriate legal/procedural regulations/due process related to addressing students of concern.
• Understanding of the University environment, ability to work collaboratively with on and off-campus partners, build and sustain relationships with a diverse population of students, faculty, staff, parents/families and community partners
• Experience with handling confidential and sensitive information and situations with diplomacy and exercise judgement, congruent with university, state and federal policies
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and best practices in behavioral intervention and student conduct.
• Proven ability to work across differences and foster inclusive, trauma-informed support for students from diverse racial, ethnic, gender, and socio-economic backgrounds.
• Strong working knowledge of FERPA, Title IX, Clery Act, and other relevant federal and state policies.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain appropriate confidentiality while ensuring student support needs are met.
• Experience using student support technologies, including early alert and case management systems (e.g.,Maxient).
• Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends as needed
• Superior critical thinking and organizational skills, multi-tasking, and attention to details
• Ability to work effectively in teams and individually
• Demonstrated understanding of issues of diversity and inclusion
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, skilled presenter to various audiences
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information and situations with diplomacy exercising excellent judgment congruent with federal, state, and university policy.
• Must have a willingness to work some evening and weekends
• Experience with serving on early alert systems team or crisis intervention response
• Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory
• Experience developing and administering program from inception to evaluation and assessment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience coordinating or leading a behavioral intervention or case management team.
• Familiarity with community-based mental health resources and referral protocols.
• Background in conflict engagement, restorative practices, or trauma-informed care.
• Fluency in a second language is a plus.

We seek creative, adaptable staff who enjoy working in a university climate that promotes cultural diversity, multicultural understanding, and cultural fluency. Consistent with the university’s commitment to women, diversity and social justice, preference will be given to candidates who manifest these themes in their experience and service.

Application instructions:

Posting Number: 20220722-STAFF
Posting Start Date: 05/30/2025
Application Deadline: 6/13/2025

How to apply

To apply, visit [email protected] or 651-690-6565.