D E A N O F S T U D E N T S
PROFILE CANDIDATE
Overview
To build on a strong foundation of achievement and contribute to the realization of its ambitious institutional goals, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) invites applications for the position of Dean of Students.
As a premier metropolitan university, SIUE is committed to advancing social and economic mobility while shaping the workforce of the future. Grounded in a comprehensive, broad-based education and enriched by hands-on research opportunities, SIUE equips its students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a global marketplace and positively impact their communities.
Why SIUE?
Employing more than 2,400 faculty and staff members, SIUE is one of the largest employers in the Metropolitan St. Louis area. A study by SIUE School of Business faculty shows the University has a $471 million annual economic impact on the region. Each year, the University's presence generates almost 9,000 additional jobs and more than $250 million in labor income for the area.
About the Division of Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville strives to engage SIUE students in services and programs that make lifelong learning possible. Our efforts are focused on providing a student experience in which every student feels supported by the campus environment, connected to the institution, and prepared for the challenges of today and tomorrow. Our mission is to support students as they learn from and navigate life’s opportunities and challenges.
In 2025, the Division of Student Affairs launched 4WARD Focus, a student success framework with four identified priorities to guide divisional efforts that enhance student retention, persistence, and graduation. These priorities include:
Student Basic Needs
Student Health and Well-being
Career-readiness Competency
Fostering a Vibrant Campus Life
This strategic approach addresses the interconnected elements essential for student success, inspiring divisional contributions to achievement of SIUE’s institutional goals.
The Role of the Dean of Students
Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, the The Dean of Students (DOS) is responsible for safeguarding the welfare, protecting the rights, upholding the community standards, and maintaining a supportive quality of life for the student body. This role plays a central part in cultivating a safe, inclusive, and supportive campus environment by leading student conduct efforts, coordinating crisis responses, and managing key student support operations. The Dean of Students acts as a vital bridge between students and university support services, upholding community standards while advocating for student success and well-being.
The Dean of Students has significant responsibility for and is expected to lead universitywide initiatives, decisions, and policy matters involving students and student accountability, care, basic needs security, and advocacy efforts.
Through proactive student advocacy, cross-campus collaboration, and data-informed decision-making, the Dean supports initiatives that directly impact student retention, engagement, and graduation rates. Within the Division of Student Affairs 4Ward Focus Framework, this role is integral to aligning student affairs practices with institutional strategic plan goals related to access and student achievement.
The Dean of Students will join a university community that is committed to making social mobility possible for all individuals and entire families through its high-quality educational experiences and commitment to inclusive excellence, as outlined in the University’s Strategic Plan. This includes the opportunity to help shape the future of SIUE by transforming the student experience for students and making SIUE a destination of choice for students who seek something greater. The Dean of Students will have significant responsibility for contributing to the institutional goals of reaching an enrollment of 14,500 while ensuring strategic growth that reflects SIUE’s commitment to inclusive excellence, our values and goals; reaching 90% first- to second-year retention, a four-year graduation rate of 45% and a six-year graduation rate of 75%, while ensuring that equity gaps are closed.
Key Priorities, Responsibilities and Expectations for Leadership
Several key priorities exist for this position. The DOS will provide innovative and forwardthinking vision that leverages institutional strengths, best practices, and current trends, in partnership with campus and community partners that prioritizes student basic needs, health, and well-being, belonging, and learning.
Community Standards and Student Rights
Serve as the chief student judicial/conduct administrator, responsible for the implementation of the student judicial/conduct system and maintenance of student conduct records.
Lead the review and adjudication of student conduct cases related to alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct, and other university, state, and federal policies.
Administer the student conduct process and ensure fair, equitable, and consistent application of the Student Code of Conduct.
Serve as the appeal level, when appropriate, meeting with students to discuss alleged violations and evaluate appropriate outcomes of appeals.
Coordinate conduct and appeal hearings in accordance with university and system policies when appropriate.
Maintain accurate and confidential records of conduct cases for internal and external reporting.
Provide educational efforts related to student conduct policies, rights, and responsibilities.
Student Basic Needs
Guide the university’s student basic needs security efforts, including strategic integration of initiatives for students experiencing basic needs insecurity and housing insecure/homeless students.
Support operation of the Cougar Cupboard food and hygiene pantry, mini cupboards, and other basic needs-focused initiatives.
Lead grant-seeking and fundraising opportunities to grow and support student basic needs security.
Ensure education and outreach to campus and community stakeholders and foster a greater understanding of student basic needs security support strategies.
Student Care
Guide the university’s student care efforts including non-clinical case management and student parent support.
Recommend student-centered policies and programs that align with institutional priorities and student success goals.
Provide leadership training and advisory support to campus colleagues, committees, and initiatives, fostering a campus culture of care and advocacy.
Guide the Medical Leave of Absence and Retroactive Medical Leave of Absence processes.
Serve as on-call response for all crisis and emergency situations.
Student Advocacy and Education
Serve as an advocate for student needs, influencing policies and practices that enhance the overall student experience.
Enhance academic education through the development of policies and programs which promote the personal growth and development of students.
Collaborate with institutional stakeholders to develop innovative support systems that ensure student success and retention.
Analyze data to identify emerging student needs or behavioral trends.
Utilize data and assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
Policy Development, Compliance, and Education
Assure compliance with laws and regulations and minimize institutional liability by systematically reviewing university compliance with federally-mandated reporting and disclosure requirements.
Monitor compliance with all federal and state executive orders, mandates, and laws, including those related to ADA, Title IX, VAWA Campus SaVE, FERPA, and Stop Campus Hazing Act.
Produce and disseminate the annual Dean of Students campus notifications of federally- and state-mandated laws and policies.
Remain knowledgeable of federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting areas of responsibility, creating and modifying policies, procedures, and practices to become/remain compliant, and advising others in the interpretation and application of laws and regulations.
Lead the implementation and execution of operations and processes for the Office of the Dean of Students, including management of the Maxient software.
Policy Development, Compliance, and Education (continued)
Implement and maintain the operation of Maxient for student conduct, Persons of Concern, EOA reporting, Student Care, Basic Needs, etc. Ensure campus stakeholders utilize Maxient to its fullest abilities.
Ensure documentation of accommodations, sanctions, support plans, and outcomes is thorough and compliant.
Emergency, Crisis, Intervention, and Campus Impact Support
Serve as a key campus leader during student-related incidents or crises.
Serve as co-chair of university-wide behavioral intervention team and threat assessment team, ensuring appropriate training of members, compliance with related university policies, and campus outreach and education efforts.
Partner with legal counsel, Title IX, and other university offices on student-related matters.
Collaborate with University Police and emergency management during campus incidents.
Attend and provide leadership at major campus events, including student demonstrations, vigils, or high-visibility activities.
Serve as the administrator responding to after-hours student emergencies, including hospitalizations or deaths.
Engage directly with students and their families during critical incidents with empathy and transparency.
Provide consistent communication with university leadership during crises.
Executive Leadership
Strategically administer and allocate unit budgets in alignment with university and divisional priorities and policies.
Lead cross-functional initiatives to support student rights and responsibilities, care, advocacy, basic needs security, and accountability.
Lead and manage a team of professional staff, student staff and leaders; fostering a culture of professional growth, accountability, and innovation. Make critical hiring decisions, provide coaching and mentoring, and administer performance management processes to ensure team excellence.
Investigate and obtain grants to support the needs of SIUE students.
Executive Leadership (continued)
Serve as a member of assigned campus committees that foster student care, welfare, and success. These include the University Policy Council, Campus Violence Prevention Committee, Admissions Criminal Disclosure Committee, C3RT, and Tuition and Fee Appeals Committee.
Collaborate closely with the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and other members of the Student Affairs senior staff to share information, engage in issue-spotting, and creatively solve problems to benefit the university community.
Perform other related duties as needed, with the flexibility to adapt to evolving institutional priorities. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.
This role provides a unique opportunity for a transformational leader to advance the mission of the university by enhancing the student experience, fostering innovation, and shaping a supportive and inclusive campus environment.
Professional Qualifications and Qualities
Required Qualifications
Educational Background: Master’s degree from an accredited institution. Professional Experience: 7 years of relevant and progressive experience in higher education.
Student Development, Community Standards, Advocacy, Care, and Basic Needs Experience: 4 years of cumulative experience in mediation, conflict resolution, student conduct, campus free expression, non-clinical case management, or support of basic needs security.
Leadership aptitude: 4 years cumulative experience managing staff, including hiring, mentoring, and retaining talent.
Preferred Qualifications
Educational Background: An earned doctorate or equivalent terminal degree. Professional Experience: 10 or more years of relevant and progressive leadership experience.
Policy and Legal Knowledge: Familiarity with Title IX, VAWA, Campus SaVE, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Stop Campus Hazing Act, immigration policy, and related federal and state laws. Experience developing, interpreting, and applying university policies.
Innovative thinking: Experience utilizing a strategic plan to serve as a catalyst for organizational change, cultivate a shared vision with others, and motivate others to transfer vision into action.
Leadership aptitude: Ability to shape a culture based upon the pillars of the institutional strategic plan with student success at the core. Commitment to the professional development of staff. Supervision experience in a union-represented environment.
Collaborative Approach: Previous experience collaborating with key partners, including but not limited to faculty, staff, senior administrators, students, alumni, civic leaders, corporations, and foundations.
About Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Emphasizing teaching, research, and public service programs, SIUE is a premier metropolitan university with more than 12,000 students enrolled. Founded in 1957, SIUE is a fully accredited public institution beautifully situated in Edwardsville, Illinois, on 2,660 acres just 25 miles from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE provides students with a high quality, affordable education that prepares them for successful careers and lives of purpose. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace. SIUE is committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. In June of 2020, SIUE established an Anti-Racism Task Force to make substantive and transformative changes necessary to realize the University’s values through principled and intentional actions. SIUE is classified as a doctoral/professional institution in the Carnegie Classifications of Institutions of Higher Education system.
The University recently launched a new strategic plan and enhanced its brand position. SIUE welcomed Dr. James T. Minor as its new chancellor on March 1, 2022 and is poised to go forward with a bold vision, ambitious goals and a strong value proposition.
University Mission
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is a student-centered educational community dedicated to communicating, expanding and integrating knowledge. In a spirit of collaboration enriched by diverse ideas, our comprehensive and unique array of undergraduate and graduate programs develop professionals, scholars and leaders who shape a changing world.
University Vision
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will achieve greater national and global recognition and academic prominence through innovative and interdisciplinary programs that empower individuals to achieve their full potential.
UniversityValues
CivicEngagement
Social,civic,andpoliticalresponsibility–globally,nationally,locally,andwithinthe University
Activepartnershipsandaclimateof collaborationandcooperationamong students,faculty,staff,alumni,andthelarger community
Sustainablepracticesinenvironmental, financial,andsocialendeavors
Excellence
High-qualitylearningwithinandbeyondthe classroom
Continuousimprovementandinnovation
Outstandingscholarshipandpublicservice
Inclusion
Awelcomingandsupportiveenvironment
Opennesstotherichdiversityofhumankind inallaspectsofuniversitylife
Respectforindividuals,differences,and cultures
Intellectualfreedomanddiversityofthought
Integrity
Accountabilitytothoseweserveandfrom whomwereceivesupport
Honestyinourcommunicationsandinour actions
Wisdom
Creation,preservationandsharingof knowledge
Applicationofknowledgeinamannerthat promotesthecommongood
Lifelonglearning
AboutChancellorMinor
Dr. James T. Minor, Ph.D., became the 10th chancellor inSouthernIllinoisUniversityEdwardsville’shistoryon March1,2022
“IamextraordinarilyhonoredtoserveSIUEandtheSIU System,” Minor said “We will go boldly forward as an institution that realizes human potential; amplifies accessforallindividualswithacriticalfocusonequity; and defines the region by our intellectual, social and economicimpact”
Minor previously served as assistant vice chancellor and senior strategist in the office of the chancellor at California State University, which recently posted the highest graduation rates in its history He has successfully advocated for hundreds of millions of dollars in support of graduation initiatives and served as principal investigator for $75 million in funded programsandresearch
Prior to his post at California State University, Minor served as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Education where he administered more than $7 billion in federal higher education programming
A recognized thought leader in the field of higher education, Minor has a noted resume of teaching and scholarship in educational policy, administration in higher education, academic governance and more. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he holds a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as a bachelor’s in sociology from Jackson State University andamaster’sinsociology from theUniversity of Nebraska.
Chancellor James T. Minor, Ph.D.
AboutViceChancellorRoccia
Miriam Roccia serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she leads a comprehensive division of more than 300 professional staff and 700 student employees dedicated tofosteringstudentsuccess,belonging,andengagement. With over 25 years of progressive leadership experience inpublichighereducation,Rocciahasdevotedhercareer to designing and implementing innovative programs and servicesthatcenterstudents'voicesandcreatepathways topersistence,retention,andsuccess
Roccia's leadership philosophy is grounded in her commitment to structural belonging the intentional design of physical, organizational, and cultural environments that ensure every student feels supported, connected, and prepared for the challenges of today and tomorrow
Under her leadership, SIUE has significantly expanded student basic needs support, increasing campus food pantry usage by 475% in one year; enhanced mental health access through innovative virtual platforms and in-person service transformation; and reimagined the co-curricular experience to integrate career-readiness competencies throughout the student journey
Throughout her career at institutions including the University of Missouri-St. Louis, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and Drake University, Roccia has orchestrated complex organizational initiatives, maintained relentless focus on meaningful outcomes, continuously adapted to emerging trends in higher education, solved problems with creativity and courage, and envisioned multiple pathways forward in dynamic situations Roccia's ability to arrange people, resources, and opportunities for maximum impact has been instrumental in transforming SIUE's student experience.
A passionate advocate for public higher education's role in creating social and economic mobility, Roccia believes deeply in the power of student affairs to transform lives and strengthen communities She holds a Master of Public Administration from Drake University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Truman State University.
Vice Chancellor Miriam Roccia, MPA
Applications
The Search Advisory Committee invites applicants to submit a complete application for full consideration by March 1, 2026. A complete application includes:
A fully completed online application
An uploaded curriculum vitae or resume
A letter of interest
Three professional references
While applications will be accepted until the position is filled, interested parties are strongly encouraged to submit their materials as soon as possible to assure consideration. Initial review of applications will begin March 1, 2026; however, the University reserves the right to end or extend the application and nomination process following this date.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville nurtures an open, respectful, and welcoming climate that facilitates learning and work. As an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce, we will not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, national origin, religion, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
For more information and to apply visit https://www.schooljobs.com/careers/siue.