Are you passionate about supporting and advocatingfor students' academic and social needs and leading programs to help enhance student experience? Becoming a student services director at a school or college may be the career for you! A Spongebob character holds up a flag and foam cheering hand. The text reads:

A student service director works with students at a school or college to support student success.

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Responsibilities

As a student services director, you'll find yourself having many responsibilities, but your main focus will be on:

Leadership

  • Support and collaborate with staff such as counselors, advisors, and program coordinators

  • Create, promote, and evaluate the success of student programs such as clubs, events, and other organizations

Student Support

  • Coordinate student programs and counseling services

  • Help coordinate accommodations and modifications needed for students with disabilities, and responses to student crises or traumas

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Equity and Compliance

Ensuring equity means all students have what they need to be successful, which may look different for each student.

Compliance includes rules, laws, and guidelines that programs must adhere to avoid penalties.

You'll need to:

  • Maintain and control the budget for student programs

  • Ensure that programs meet the needs of diverse student populations

  • Ensure that programs meet government policies (IDEA or 504 Compliance in the US, or similar policies in other countries and regions)

Quiz

What are some responsibilities of a student service director?

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Focus on student success

  • Every day looks different

  • Build relationships with students and staff

Cons

  • You may have to work weekends or evenings

  • Managing students and staff can be challenging when dealing with conflicts and students or staff in crisis

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Education Requirements

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In order to work as a student service director in a K-12 school, university, or college a bachelor's degree is required at minimum. A bachelor's degree includes:

  • Graduating from a 4 year program

  • Earning a degree in counseling, psychology, education, social work, or a related field

A master's degree may also be required, especially in a student service director position at a university or college.

To gain experience along the way:

  • Become a peer mentor

  • Seek leadership opportunities (ex. student government)

  • Find an internship in counseling or at a university student affairs office

  • Become a resident assistant (RA) at a university

Skills to acquire:

  • Empathy

  • Compassion

  • Leadership

  • Organizational skills

  • Communication

Quiz

A first-year student has stopped attending classes for two weeks. The student's RA and professors are concerned. What might you plan in order to help this student feel success? Select all that apply:

Best Fit Profile

Use these questions to help you identify the key qualities, skills, and attributes that align most closely with becoming a student services director.

Are you looking to:

  • Be a strong advocate for others?

  • Collaborate well with others?

  • Build and maintain relationships?

  • Communicate promptly and effectively?

  • Create and evaluate success? An animated checkmark ticking off a box.

Take Action

A student wearing a graduate's cap and gown blows confetti from her hands. Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

If you're passionate about student success, then becoming a student service director is the right career for you!

Check out these links to learn more:

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