Assistant Director, Summer Bridge Coordinator - 170469
Inside Higher Ed, Cullowhee, NC, United States
Assistant Director, Summer Bridge Coordinator
Department:
Student Support Services
About WCU Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.
Position Summary The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA). The Assistant Director, Summer Bridge Coordinator provides strategic leadership and comprehensive oversight of summer bridge programs designed to ease students’ transition into college. These intensive five-week initiatives serve first-year and conditionally admitted students through immersive academic experiences that introduce college-level rigor while providing built-in academic support. The position directs all aspects of program planning, implementation, and assessment, guiding students from admission through their first year while coordinating cross-campus partnerships to ensure a seamless transition to the university. The Assistant Director delivers holistic student support through developmental advising, academic coaching, and case management while supervising peer mentors and facilitating high-impact academic enrichment initiatives. This role advances institutional retention and student-success goals by supporting at-risk student populations and applying student development theory and data-informed practices to improve persistence, timely progression, and degree completion.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of counseling and mentoring techniques
Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in student success programming
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to provide holistic, developmental academic advising and coaching
Ability to support broad student populations and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
Ability to analyze data and apply data-informed strategies to improve student outcomes
Ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously
Ability to supervise, train, and develop student staff
Ability to design and facilitate academic enrichment and college-transition programming
Minimum Qualifications
Interested candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship or any other immigration-related assistance.
A master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field
Previous experience in higher education, advising, coaching, or related student services
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in designing, coordinating, and implementing student support initiatives, especially summer programs or programs for conditionally admitted students
Experience promoting academic success with conditionally admitted or academically at-risk students
Position Type Permanent Full-Time
Special Instructions to Applicants To be considered, you must apply online. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of professional references to complete the application process.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Contact For questions or additional information, please contact Thom Newkirk at tnewkirk@email.wcu.edu.
Equal Opportunity Employer Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.
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Student Support Services
About WCU Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes ‘Best Employers’ lists each year. Including:
2025 – Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
2024 – Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
2023 – Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes ‘America’s Best Midsize Employers’ list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
2022 – Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers by State’ list.
Western Carolina University is the UNC system’s westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.
Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans – eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan. Optional disability plans are also available.
Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year. Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.
WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences – many of which are offered free of charge.
Position Summary The primary location of this position is on-site in Cullowhee, NC. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA). The Assistant Director, Summer Bridge Coordinator provides strategic leadership and comprehensive oversight of summer bridge programs designed to ease students’ transition into college. These intensive five-week initiatives serve first-year and conditionally admitted students through immersive academic experiences that introduce college-level rigor while providing built-in academic support. The position directs all aspects of program planning, implementation, and assessment, guiding students from admission through their first year while coordinating cross-campus partnerships to ensure a seamless transition to the university. The Assistant Director delivers holistic student support through developmental advising, academic coaching, and case management while supervising peer mentors and facilitating high-impact academic enrichment initiatives. This role advances institutional retention and student-success goals by supporting at-risk student populations and applying student development theory and data-informed practices to improve persistence, timely progression, and degree completion.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of counseling and mentoring techniques
Knowledge of student development theory and best practices in student success programming
Strong written and oral communication skills
Ability to provide holistic, developmental academic advising and coaching
Ability to support broad student populations and collaborate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
Ability to analyze data and apply data-informed strategies to improve student outcomes
Ability to manage multiple programs, timelines, and stakeholder relationships simultaneously
Ability to supervise, train, and develop student staff
Ability to design and facilitate academic enrichment and college-transition programming
Minimum Qualifications
Interested candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment sponsorship or any other immigration-related assistance.
A master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field
Previous experience in higher education, advising, coaching, or related student services
Preferred Qualifications
Experience in designing, coordinating, and implementing student support initiatives, especially summer programs or programs for conditionally admitted students
Experience promoting academic success with conditionally admitted or academically at-risk students
Position Type Permanent Full-Time
Special Instructions to Applicants To be considered, you must apply online. Please include a cover letter, resume, and a list of professional references to complete the application process.
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until a candidate has been selected for hire.
Contact For questions or additional information, please contact Thom Newkirk at tnewkirk@email.wcu.edu.
Equal Opportunity Employer Western Carolina University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race; color; ethnicity; religion; sex; pregnancy; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; national origin; age; disability; genetic information; political affiliation; National Guard or veteran status, consistent with applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations, and policies, and the policies of The University of North Carolina. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations in the application and interview process please call (828) 227-7218 or email at jobs@email.wcu.edu.
#J-18808-Ljbffr