Director of Veterans Services Office

Bulletin number: 2013-021SM

Opened: 3/29/2013

Review of Applications begins: 4/22/2013
This posting may close at any time after review of applications begins. The hiring authority reserves the right and may exercise the option to make a hiring decision at any time after the review date.

The Evergreen State College is committed to prohibiting discrimination and to building a diverse faculty and staff. We strongly encourage qualified persons of all races, ethnicities, and sexual orientations, people with disabilities, persons over forty, women, Vietnam Era and disabled veterans to apply.

SPECIAL NOTE
There is currently one full-time overtime-exempt Director of Veterans Services Office position available on the Olympia Campus of The Evergreen State College. This position is an “at-will” appointment, exempt from Washington State Civil Service rules and the Fair Labor Standards Act overtime requirements.

COLLEGE PROFILE
The Evergreen State College is a progressive, public liberal arts and sciences college located in Olympia, Washington, in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Since opening its doors in 1971, Evergreen has established a national reputation for leadership in developing innovative interdisciplinary, collaborative and team-taught academic programs. The college has a vibrant undergraduate program, graduate programs, and public service centers that constitute a unique academic setting. The college values a student-centered learning environment, a link between theory and practice, and a multicultural community of diverse faculty, students and staff working together. Current enrollment is approximately 4,500. For more information about Evergreen, please visit our college catalog or our website:  http://www.evergreen.edu   

COMPENSATION

• Salary is $3,216 to $3,698 per month of full time work.
• Experience and training may be considered in salary placement.
• A full state benefits package which includes: paid sick and vacation leave; paid campus holidays; a generous medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.  For more information about Evergreen's excellent employee benefits, please view http://www.evergreen.edu/payroll/employeebenefits.htm.
• Exempt employees that work more than 0.5 FTE will become eligible for the tuition waiver program.

POSITION PURPOSE
The Veterans Center Director is responsible for: the administration and management of the daily operations; providing leadership and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies in relation to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits; activities and programs related to student veterans, dependents, and active duty military; creating a vision for an inclusive campus environment that addresses the unique needs of these students; working closely with college offices that provide student support services; serving as a consultant to student services and faculty across the college to develop training programs and activities that will enhance communication and direction regarding veterans-related issues. This position reports to the Registrar.

NATURE AND SCOPE
The Veterans Center is designed to provide services to all student veterans, dependents, and active military.  To promote a support system and resources for a successful college experience as well as to recruit veteran students in coordination with College Admissions and provide prospective student veterans with an easily identified first stop on campus. The Veterans Center is part of Registration and Records in the Enrollment Services Area under the division of Student Affairs.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two years of experience working with Veterans education benefits or equivalent.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree.
• Two years of experience working with Veterans education benefits or equivalent in a higher education setting.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Manage and monitor the daily operations of the Veterans Center including the daily flow of direct services to veterans.
• Advise and counsel veteran, dependent and active military students regarding eligibility for state and federal educational benefits.
• Interpret, apply and disseminate qualifications for state and federal veteran’s education benefit programs.
• Assess, monitor, and track the needs of the current military and veteran student population; implement new initiatives according to the identified needs.
• Monitor and ensure institutional compliance with federal and state regulations and prepare for appropriate federal and state audits by the Department of Veterans Affairs on an annual basis.
• Maintain all records and certify student in compliance with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs using the Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS).
• Award and monitor tuition waivers for qualified veterans and their dependents using approved legislation and college policy.
• Manage and track the Center’s budget.
• Develop and facilitate new and ongoing center programs and activities that cultivate a sense of community and enhance retention and matriculation of student veterans, dependents and active duty military.
• Responsible for policy development and revision in consultation with the Registrar.
• Maintain communication with the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) to insure college policies meet State Approving Agency requirements. 
• Oversee the processing of all certifications for enrollment and changes of enrollment for each academic quarter for student veterans, dependents and active duty military.
• Participate in NASPA Veterans Knowledge Community meetings and communications.
• Actively engage with counterparts in Washington and across the country through email and other means to stay current regarding changes to regulations, benefits, and best practices in recruitment and retention of veterans
• Serve as College liaison to veteran-related office and committees of federal and state government and higher education.
• Develop veteran student outreach strategies for recruitment in coordination with College Admissions.
• Chair the college’s cross-divisional Veterans of Evergreen Transition and Success (VETS) Team which is charged with: 
  • Monitoring and addressing issues affecting veterans at Evergreen.
  • Assisting with veteran commemorations and welcoming events.
  • Identifying and supporting professional development of faculty and staff to enhance educational programs and services for veteran students.
  • Coordinating the college’s Veterans Day and Memorial Day Observances.
• Serve as a professional resource to the college community regarding strategies for working with military and veteran students to support their learning and academic progress.
• Hire, train, supervise, and assign duties for up to six student veteran Peer Counselors.
• Coordinate services for Vocational Rehabilitation veterans with Bookstore, Student Accounts and VA Rehabilitation Services Counselor.
• Review academic records for veteran students not meeting the college’s academic standing policy and notify the Veteran Administration when required.
• Review proposed legislation upon request by the Registrar.
• Remain current with developing knowledge about the needs and best practices for serving student veterans, dependents and active duty military.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Register students during quarterly registration periods knowing college policies and office practices as needed.
• Develop and maintain an understanding of the work of other college units including Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, and other Student and Academic Support Services.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of student affairs, and skill and ability to apply appropriate models of military and veteran student recruitment, transition, and support services.
• Extensive knowledge of and ability to interpret, apply, and stay current on rules and regulations  in compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies in relation to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs educational benefits.
• Skill and ability in developing and facilitating relevant programs and activities.
• Skill and ability in supervising the work of others.
• Expertise and competence in understanding and articulating issues of military and veteran student transition to civilian and academic life.
• Knowledge of and ability to administer high quality military and veteran student support services to undergraduate and graduate students.
• Proficient in the use of the Banner Student Information System or comparable system as it relates to registration and academic records.
• Ability to manage a budget.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills to maintain accuracy in a variety of work responsibilities.
• Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks with a high degree of accuracy.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team setting.
• Ability to foster and maintain outstandingly working relationships with a wide variety of groups and individuals both internally and externally.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of student records.
• Sensitive to social and cultural differences.
• Skill in policy and procedure development.
• Ability to work with computers and use a variety of software applications.
• Ability to work evenings and weekend hours during quarterly registration and advising periods.
• Ability to travel and provide representation at veteran events.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Must provide proof of identity and employment eligibility within three days of beginning work.
• May be required to submit to a preemployment background check.
• Must have the ability to work evenings and weekends and travel as needed.