Coordinator, Community Belonging

The Community Belonging Coordinator reports to the Director for Community Belonging and plays a vital role in advancing Austin Peay State University’s commitment to fostering a campus environment where every student feels connected, supported, and positioned for success. This role contributes to a comprehensive, student-centered strategy that strengthens students’ sense of belonging, engagement, and academic achievement

Characteristics of a successful candidate:

• Demonstrates kindness, integrity, empathy, and sound judgment.

• Brings creativity and initiative to program development

• Motivation to create a caring and safe student experience.

• Ability to serve with agility; important to lead, listen, and serve with empathy.

• A commitment to practicing open communication and inspiring trust.

• Desire to collaborate with colleagues.

• Demonstrated sincere enjoyment from working with students.

Key Focus Areas of the Role

• Strengthening student sense of belonging and connection.

• Enhancing academic belonging through collaboration and partnership with preexisting services.

• Creating integrated co-curricular experiences that support creating a campus that celebrates its uniqueness and student populations.

• Building campus partnerships that support student belonging to the APSU campus community.

Responsibilities include:

*Community Building and Engagement*

• Develop and coordinate programs and initiatives that strengthen students’ sense of

belonging and connection to the university.

• Plan and implement campus events that foster engagement, community, and shared experiences.

• Create opportunities for peer connection, student involvement, and meaningful participation in campus life.

• Advise and support student organizations that contribute to campus engagement and belonging.

• Partner with campus departments to deliver collaborative programs that enhance student experience.

*Academic Belonging and Student Success*

• Design and implement initiatives that support students’ academic engagement,

persistence, and success.

• Collaborate with academic affairs, advising, and student support services to connect students with resources that promote achievement.

• Support programs that reinforce the connection between student engagement and academic outcomes.

• Utilize data and assessment to identify trends, inform strategies, and improve student success initiatives.

*Department and Division*

• Maintain open communications with the Director for Community Belonging to share information and engage in issue-spotting and creative problem-solving to benefit the University community.

• Work with the Director to coordinate the management of resources of the Center.

• Under the direction of the Director, assist in the coordination and stewardship of departmental resources and budgets in alignment with university policies.

• Collaborate with campus and community partners to expand opportunities and support for students.

• Prepare reports and contribute to assessment efforts that demonstrate program effectiveness and student impact.

• Stay informed and educate the University community and stakeholders as needed regarding issues, trends, and regulations impacting student belongingness.

• Engage in ongoing professional development and remain informed of emerging trends in student engagement and success.

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree and related experience.

• Knowledge of best practices to support students in the university setting

• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement student programs and initiatives.

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.

• Experience using data to inform decision-making and program improvement.

Preferred Skills and Qualifications:

Complementing the required skills and qualifications:

• Master's degree, and at least 2 years of related experience as a full-time professional or graduate assistant.

• Experience supporting student engagement, retention, or success initiatives.

• Demonstrated ability to lead collaborative efforts across departments.

• Excellent presentation skills.

• Excellent writing skills.

• Experience with leading special initiatives, programs, and strategic planning.

Physical Requirements:

-Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.