Position Summary: 

The Vice President for Student Life reports to the President and is responsible for leading and developing the co-curricular dimension of the college.  In providing leadership and supervision of the Student Life division the VP for Student Life develops and articulates the overall vision and direction of the Student Life division. In collaboration with the Provost, who is responsible for the Academic division, the VP for Student Life works in support of the mission of the college including leadership of the following key areas: Residence Life, Housing and Parking, Campus Pastor’s Office, Student Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services, the Center for Student Success, Intercultural Programs, and the Office of Campus Life (First Year Experience and Student Leadership Development).

Responsibilities:

Student Life Division:

• Actively engage with all aspects of the co-curricular experience for students living on and off campus.
• Lead and develop a competent, creative and cohesive staff that reflects the divisional priorities and mission of Student Life. To this end, lead staff to:    1) be actively aware of students’ college experiences and seize every opportunity to assist students in processing and reflecting upon those experiences; 2) design, facilitate, and inspire beyond-the-class learning experiences and environments; 3) demonstrate knowledge of issues relevant to student life including up-to-date awareness of trends, issues, and projections related to higher education; 4) provide excellent services that enrich and support students’ academic, social, spiritual, physical, and emotional needs and development in the context of God’s calling for their lives.
• Review the functions of personnel, programs and policies to ensure consistency with the College’s Mission Statement.
• Establish and execute a timeline for annually assessing departmental goals and keyStudent Life learning outcomes (e.g., well-being, spiritual formation).
• Provide leadership, direction and vision for the VP’s Council, which consists of direct reports as well as other key Student Life professionals.
• Utilize the VP’s Council to develop short and long-term goals and objectives for the Student Life Division as a whole, and work with directors and deans in the development of individual departmental goals and objectives.
• Develop and implement Student Life strategic planning priorities where resources are allocated on the basis of careful assessment of intended learning outcomes.
• Work actively with Student Life staff to resolve student issues and meet the needs of students in crises. Communicate with parents and work to de-escalate sensitive situations.

• Provide leadership to policies and procedures related to student conduct.  Serve as appeal officer in administrative and/or committee student conduct proceedings. Review dismissal and suspension decisions on student disciplinary issues as necessary.

• Provide opportunities for personal and professional development in order to encourage staff awareness of current issues, trends, and programs that can impact student development, faith commitments, and learning.
• Maintain an effective system of fiscal management, control and reporting.

• Track, evaluate and report data, analytics and metrics of the student experience as related to Student Life division’s overall goals and objectives, especially as it aligns with retention and student success efforts.
• Participate in the College’s Strategic Plan and lead those areas that are developed for and/or assigned to the Student Life division. Report annual progress and track outcomes.

Crisis Management and Student Advocacy:

• Serve on the College’s Situational Risk Team (SRT Crisis Team), representing the Student Life Division; keep all crisis-related records, reporting structures, crisis planning models and execution of plans relevant, updated and rehearsed with designated teams.
• Serve as a key member of the college’s crisis management team, providing leadership and guidance during critical student-related incidents.
• Advocate for students at the senior administrative level, ensuring their needs are addressed in institutional decision-making processes.
• Develop policies and strategies that address the diverse needs of students in crisis, including mental health emergencies, personal crises, and academic challenges.

Campus Colleagues/External Relationships:

• Develop, implement, and communicate a student development philosophy of education and service to all relevant constituencies.
• Partner with appropriate colleagues on a variety of issues and projects, including policy development, assessment, long range planning, and collaboration to address specific student needs/concerns. Serve as a resource/liaison to academic departments and other departments on issues related to students and their development.
• Develop strong collegial relationships with faculty and empower Student Life professionals to do the same.
• Work with the Provost and others as appropriate to develop academic and co-curricular partnerships.

• Work with the Admissions Office to represent the Student Life Division at key recruitment events and opportunities that engage prospective students and parents.

• Lead the entire Student Life Division in the development of program initiatives that advance the college’s priority of “whole person development.”
• Represent the college as appropriate at regional and national conferences as well as local and regional committees.

• Represent the Student Life Division in various college committees, including those focused on enrollment, retention, and institutional planning.

• Initiate programs to constructively utilize parents' desire for involvement.
• Participate in the spiritual growth, development, care and support of other Student Life staff.
• Collaborate with the Director of Global Programs to ensure fulfillment of the Student Life components of their global program.
• The VP for Student Life is responsible for helping fulfill the global plank.

Executive Team:

• Meet regularly with the President to ensure that he is informed and aware of campus climate, student concerns, potential or existing crises, critical/sensitive issues, and successful programs.
• Identify and facilitate the best opportunities for the President to be involved with students.
• As a member of the Executive Team, provide regular updates and perspectives on student needs and priorities and initiate ideas to enhance the education of students. 
• Collaborate on institutional priorities and fiscal considerations.
• Serve as the Student Life SRT executive team representative.

Additional Responsibilities:

Serve as Executive Team liaison to the Student Life Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Student Life Committee of the Faculty; member of the Diversity Committee and Strategic Planning Committee; other responsibilities as assigned.

Expectations for workplace demeanor (include but are not limited to): working collaboratively and harmoniously with co-workers, college constituents and others by sharing ideas and resources willingly, constructively and positively; listening to and objectively and respectfully considering the ideas and perspectives of others; readily admitting and correcting personal mistakes; meeting commitments; keeping your supervisor and others who may be affected informed about work progress; addressing problems willingly and constructively to discover practical and lasting solutions acceptable to all parties; working promptly toward reconciliation and forgiveness during conflict; respecting the diversity of our community in words and deeds.

Reports to:  President and serves as a member of the Executive Team.

Start Date: TBD, but preferably by August 1, 2025. 

Qualifications:

• Minimum of ten years experience in higher education, including broad, successful, and progressively responsible experiences in mid-level and senior-level student development positions. 
• Earned master’s degree in a relevant field required, earned doctorate preferred. 
• Demonstrated personal support for, and ability to articulate, the distinctives of a Christian liberal arts college.  
• Proven ability to develop and implement innovative co-curricular programming to meet the diverse and changing needs of college students. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, administrators, trustees, parents, alumni and all other related constituencies. 
• Proven administrative abilities related to personnel and fiscal management. 
• Winsome personality and active, vibrant Christian faith.
• Ability to facilitate change, manage conflict, and sustain institutional priorities and mission.
• Ability to work well across differences (e.g., racial, gender, age, socioeconomic, cultural, etc.).

About Westmont College

Westmont College, located in Santa Barbara, Calif., is the premier Christian liberal arts college in the Western U.S., No. 1 in California and one of the top two in the country. Westmont is known for academic excellence, holistic education, cohesive community, and leadership development. Classic liberal arts education Westmont offers the best of the timeless liberal arts with students exploring the breadth of academic disciplines, from the arts to the sciences, while delving deep in their major. Highly qualified professors share their research with students and teach essential skills such as critical thinking and effective communication. All majors, including nursing, engineering and data analytics, expose students to a variety of viewpoints and encourage deeper thinking that leads to finding a meaningful purpose in life. Classic integration of faith and learning At Westmont, Christ holds first place (Christus Primatum Tenens), and we embrace both rigorous academics and deep love of God. Outstanding relationships and experiences push our faith, expand our knowledge, challenge our beliefs and help us use our talents well in serving Christ. Learning to lead a life of signific...ance begins with a deep love of God tempered by rigorous, excellent training in every area of human knowledge. Classic relationships between professors and students Professors share their knowledge and their faith in class and take time to mentor students, helping them become the people God created them to be. These essential relationships may include conducting research together, providing valuable experiences that can lead to internships, jobs and rewarding careers.

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