Director of Student Advocacy & IvyCares

Position Summary

The Student Advocate at Ivy Tech Community College – Lake County serves as a neutral, confidential, and informal resource for students seeking assistance in navigating college policies, resolving concerns, and addressing barriers to their academic and personal success. This role promotes fairness, student rights, and risk mitigation while fostering a culture of trust and accountability.

The Director also provides leadership and oversight for IvyCares, coordinating wraparound support and resources that help students address personal and basic-needs barriers affecting enrollment, persistence, and completion.

Key Responsibilities

• ●     Student Support & Navigation
• ○     Serve as the primary point of contact to assist students in determining the next steps for resolving academic and non-academic issues.
• ○     Explain and interpret college policies, procedures, and student rights.
• ○     Provide high-level customer service by offering a safe and neutral space for students to share concerns.
• ○     Mimic a case management approach without enforcing policy violations.
• ●     Conflict Resolution & Crisis Prevention
• ○     Provide informal resolution strategies and act as a confidential intermediary.
• ○     Deliver QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) and suicide prevention training.
• ○     Address concerns before they escalate into formal complaints or disciplinary actions.
• ○     Consult on issues of student discomfort (e.g., interpersonal conflicts with faculty or peers).
• ●     Risk Identification & Reporting
• ○     Review and assess incident reports and student complaints.
• ○     Maintain a secure, de-identified database of cases using a color-coded stoplight system to track the resolution methods of each case.
• ○     Identify patterns, such as discrimination or policy gaps, and use the findings to make recommendations to leadership.
• ○     Submit an End-of-Year Report summarizing themes, risks mitigated, and student retention impact.
• ●     Policy and Procedure Expertise
• ○     Use the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook, college website, Lafayette-specific policies, and ASOM guidelines to advise students.
• ○     Partner with mental health and conduct-related staff (e.g., Stephanie) to ensure a cohesive approach to student care.
• ○     Advocate for equity and address systemic gaps caused by unwritten or poorly documented policies.
• ●     Training, Outreach, and Engagement
• ○     Facilitate training sessions, such as "What is the Role of an Ombudsperson?" for staff, faculty, and student groups.
• ○     Actively promote services through orientations, flyers, and campus partnerships.
• ○     Conduct 5–10 student appointments per week and devote the remaining time to outreach and reporting.
• IvyCares Responsibilities: Provide overall leadership and day-to-day oversight of IvyCares services, ensuring students receive timely, caring, and coordinated assistance.
• Assess student needs and service gaps related to transportation, emergency financial assistance, food insecurity, housing, childcare, mental health, technology, and other barriers that may affect enrollment, persistence, and completion.
• Develop individualized student support plans and connect students with appropriate campus departments, community agencies, and external resources through effective referrals and warm handoffs.
• Oversee IvyCares intake, case coordination, follow-up, and confidential recordkeeping in accordance with FERPA, College policies, and applicable requirements.
• Manage IvyCares resources and processes, including emergency aid requests, food pantry access, and the distribution and retrieval of other student-support resources.
• Maintain and review IvyCares data to monitor student needs, services provided, outcomes, resource utilization, and the program’s impact on student retention and completion.
• Manage the IvyCares budget and related requisitions, ensuring resources are allocated effectively, equitably, and in alignment with College guidelines.
• Build and maintain partnerships with campus leaders, faculty, staff, community organizations, and service providers to strengthen the network of support available to students.
• Promote awareness of IvyCares services across Lake County through outreach, presentations, workshops, and coordinated campus communications.
• Identify trends and recurring barriers, recommend service improvements, and provide reports to leadership on student needs, program activity, resource gaps, and outcomes.

Qualifications

• ●     Bachelor's degree required; Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Conflict Resolution, or related field preferred.
• ●     Strong understanding of college policies and student services in higher education.
• ●     Experience in mediation, counseling, student advocacy, or a related field.
• ●     Exceptional communication, listening, and interpersonal skills.
• ●     Ability to maintain confidentiality, neutrality, and objectivity.
• ●     Skilled in identifying trends and making policy or procedural recommendations.
• Working Conditions & Schedule
• ●     Full-time, on-campus position
• ●     Some evening or weekend availability may be required for student events or trainings
• ●     Regular collaboration with campus departments including Academic Affairs, Student Services, and Mental Health Support.
• Official Academic Transcript required upon hire, sent directly from the academic institution to the Office of Human Resources.
• Ivy Tech is committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and financial security of our full-time faculty and staff. Our comprehensive benefits package includes:
• Health & Wellness
• Multiple medical plan options paired with a Health Savings Account with a generous employer contribution
• Dental plan with no-cost preventive services and coverage for orthodontia
• Vision plan with low-cost exams and allowances for glasses or contact lenses
• Employee Assistance Program offering no-cost confidential counseling sessions, legal consultations, financial planning consultations, and other resources
• Wellness program with opportunities to earn $250 in Wellness Rewards
• Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare (limited purpose) and dependent care
• Retirement & Financial Security
• 10% employer retirement contribution, fully vested after two years
• Basic life insurance equal to annual salary paid by the College, with optional supplemental coverage
• Short-term and long-term disability benefits
• Educational Benefits
• Fee remission for employees, spouses, and dependent children
• Tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs
• Paid professional development opportunities
• Work‑Life Balance
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, holidays, and winter recess
• Flexible work arrangements where available
• Paid childbirth recovery leave (8 weeks)
• Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
• Additional Perks
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
• Additional discounts on gym memberships, transportation, and various retail services
• Ivy Tech is proud to offer benefits that support your health, your family, and your future—because when our employees thrive, our students and communities thrive too. For more information on Ivy Tech Benefits, visit https://careers.ivytech.edu/benefits .
• Note: Employees who re-hire with the College within 180 days of leaving a full-time position with the College may be eligible for additional benefits depending on their bridged seniority date.
• Ivy Tech Community College is an accredited, equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, marital status, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age or veteran status. As required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Ivy Tech Community College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment in its educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions. Questions specific to Title IX may be referred to the College’s Title IX Coordinator or to the US Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.