Director, Military Student Services

Position Summary:

Director of Military Student Services- The director oversees all operations related to military affiliated student support. This includes the primary mission of processing the GI Bill and providing support to all military affiliated students utilizing educational benefits. Duties also include developing and implementing student programming, educational and employment opportunities at VCU and within Richmond and the state of Virginia, as well as supporting the Student Veterans of America. Additional duties include review of VCU policies, adherence to compliance and MOU requirements, community engagement and representation, and support of VCU offices as required.

Core Responsibilities:

Educational benefits, internal controls and student success (50%):

• Manage and provide support to staff, identifies resources to support program activities
• Hire staff, provide guidance for all training and processing, develops and updates procedures
• Monitors and tracks data in support of student veteran’s success initiatives. Works with other SEMSS areas to improve recruitment and retention of student veterans
• Manage budget to allow for training and attendance of conferences to support GI Bill processing
• Verify benefit processing compliance requirements and other MOU’s for certifying benefits
• Provides support certifying educational benefits, when needed
• Develops and implements operational plans that are in alignment with the university’s recruitment and retention enrollment goals
• Facilitates resources to support transition to college for veteran and military students
• Ensures compliance with necessary Department of Veterans Affairs regulations, monitors internal controls and work of certifying educational benefits for accuracy to prevent audit concerns

Military affiliated student support and representation within the military community (30%):

• Attend VCU, state, and national conferences and events to remain current on and connected to all issues related to military student support
• Provide and promote VCU’s Green Zone and New Student Orientation programming to elevate an understanding of veterans in the higher education community
• Develop partnerships with military affiliated nonprofits and other military organizations to promote well-being and academic success of VCU student veterans
• Coordinate and submit documentation for “Best for Vets” (or equivalent) surveys

Support the Student Veterans of America through programming and information dissemination (15%):

• Advise and mentor SVA leadership
• Support SVA goals and provide guidance towards graduation and community engagement
• Build a network of support through VCU, Richmond and military affiliated nonprofits to assist VCU military students and foster continuity of the SVA.

Additional duties as assigned (5%):

• Duties as assigned by VCU reporting chain