Director of Orientation

Aurora University (AU) is committed to the transformative power of learning by creating a student-centered environment and an equity of experience and opportunity, to ensure that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel welcome and included. Our culture of collaboration, generosity, and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty, and staff.

AU is grounded in the transformative opportunity it provides to a diverse student body. As a private university with a public mission and a commitment to making a difference in peoples’ lives, AU has a long history of resilience and of providing access to an education that values innovation, focuses on continuous improvement, and has a positive impact on the communities we serve. We are proud of our service to and economic impact on the state of Illinois, where over 80% of our students stay to live and work, where 90% of our students come from, and where we foster strong community partnerships to develop the workforce in areas such as nursing, education, business, technology, and social work.

We are looking for passionate and purposeful individuals who represent the full diversity of Aurora and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, identity, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at AU, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice requiring broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

At AU we believe that continuous learning is a fundamental part of working life, and our goal is for all colleagues on our campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support our community by providing all employees with opportunities to engage in professional development activities, as well as a range of tuition and employee benefits that can be found here.

Position Purpose:

The Director of Orientation will oversee the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of orientation programs for traditional on ground undergraduate students at Aurora University. This role is crucial in ensuring a smooth transition and integration for new students, fostering a welcoming environment, and promoting organizational values and culture. In addition, this position will work with key constituents in the development, implementation and evaluation of summer bridge programs for various identified groups of students.

Essential Job Functions:

  1. Program Development and Design:
    • Design and implement comprehensive orientation programs that meet the needs of new, incoming students as well as their families.
    • Collaborate with various departments to gather input and resources for orientation content.
    • Work with various offices across campus, including academic departments, deans and student success staff to assist with the planning, development, and execution of summer bridge/support programs for incoming and current students.
  2. Leadership and Management:
    • Lead and mentor the peer mentor student staff position, providing guidance and support in executing orientation activities and a yearlong New Student Experience.
    • Set clear goals and objectives for the orientation program and evaluate its effectiveness.
  3. Collaboration and Engagement:
    • Partner with key offices, including Academic Advising, Campus Life, faculty, and Enrollment to ensure alignment and integration of orientation activities across the organization.
    • Gather feedback from participants to continually improve the orientation experience.
  4. Training and Development:
    • Develop training materials and sessions for orientation facilitators and presenters.
    • Plan, execute, and evaluate workshops and training sessions to ensure student staff are equipped to effectively engage with new students.
  5. Communication:
    • Create and maintain orientation materials, including handbooks, presentations, and digital resources.
    • Partner with University Communications and Enrollment to promote orientation programs through various communication channels to ensure high participation rates.
  6. Assessment and Reporting:
    • Monitor and assess the impact of orientation programs on retention, satisfaction, and engagement.
    • Provide regular reports and updates to campus partners on program effectiveness and areas for improvement.

Core Competencies:

  1. Represents Aurora University in the most positive manner with prospective, former and current students, clients, suppliers, and the community we serve. Interacts effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students and other customers of our service, learns and uses operating practices of the department and Aurora University.
  2. Upholds the Mission Statement: Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. We empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
  3. Handles all information with tact and discretion and recognizes the confidential nature of university business.
  4. Supports learning through performance of essential job functions and performing other duties and functions as necessary or as assigned.

Essential Job Requirements:

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s preferred).

Experience:

  • 5 or more years of experience in Orientation, Student Affairs, or a related field.

Skills:

  • Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to motivate and inspire a team.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Experience in program evaluation and data analysis.
  • Proficiency in technology with a willingness to learn different data systems.

Benefit-eligible positions offer excellent benefits including health, dental, life, vision, long term disability, a 403(b) retirement plan through TIAA, and tuition remission.

To apply, please send resume, cover letter, and contact information for three references including name, telephone, and email address.

Aurora University
Human Resources
347 South Gladstone Ave
Aurora, IL 60506
jobs@aurora.edu - email

Aurora University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.