Director of Optometric Student Success

Job Summary

The Director of Optometric Student Success provides strategic leadership for academic success, learning enhancement, student support, and educational effectiveness initiatives within the Pennsylvania College of Optometry. Reporting to the Dean or Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, the Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating comprehensive, evidence-based programs that promote student achievement, retention, progression, wellbeing, and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) success across the optometric curriculum.

About the Role

Grounded in data-informed decision-making, learning science, and best practices in health professions education, the Director leads proactive student success initiatives including academic coaching, early-alert intervention, remediation support, peer tutoring, faculty development, and outcomes assessment. This position serves as a key program leader in advancing a culture of student achievement, continuous improvement, and educational excellence aligned with Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, implementation, and continuous improvement of student success initiatives across the Pennsylvania College of Optometry
• Develop and oversee comprehensive academic support frameworks aligned with institutional priorities and ACOE accreditation standards
• Create policies, procedures, and best practices related to student support, progression, and academic success
• Represent the Pennsylvania College of Optometry on university committees and initiatives related to student success, educational effectiveness, and learner wellbeing
• Collaborate with program faculty and administrative leaders to identify emerging educational challenges within the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and implement proactive interventions
• Foster a collaborative, student-centered culture focused on academic achievement and learner development

Requirements

• Minimum of a Master's Degree in or the equivalent combination of education and work experience
• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in academic support, student success, educational assessment, learning services, or health professions education within higher education settings
• Demonstrated knowledge of learning theory, metacognition, and evidence-based instructional practices
• Experience applying data-driven approaches to optometry student learning, and academic intervention design
• Familiarity with optometric education and National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations preferred
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret academic performance data and translate findings into actionable strategies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse learners
• Promised ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, administrators, and support staff
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and holistic student development
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity when working with students in academic difficulty

Qualifications

• Master's Degree in or the equivalent combination of education and work experience
• 5+ years of progressively responsible experience in academic support, student success, educational assessment, learning services, or health professions education within higher education settings
• Knowledge of learning theory, metacognition, and evidence-based instructional practices
• Experience applying data-driven approaches to optometry student learning, and academic intervention design
• Familiarity with optometric education and NBEO style examinations
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret academic performance data and translate findings into actionable strategies
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport with diverse learners
• Promising ability to collaborate effectively with faculty, administrators, and support staff
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and holistic student development
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity when working with students in academic difficulty

Skills

• Data-informed decision-making
• Learning science
• Best practices in health professions education
• Academic coaching
• Early-alert intervention
• Remediation support
• Peer tutoring
• Faculty development
• Outcomes assessment
• Academic success programs
• Student support initiatives
• Individualized academic support and coaching
• Study strategies, metacognition, test-taking performance, resilience, and clinical reasoning
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans
• Academic performance data
• Academic intervention design
• Optometric education
• National Board of Examiners in Optometry (NBEO) style examinations
• Academic coaching sessions
• Self-regulated learning strategies
• Clinical reasoning approaches
• Academic remediation processes
• Academic progress committees
• Individualized remediation plans