DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS LIFE
Oklahoma Wildcats Academy
Cultivating Purpose-Driven Community and Transformative Student Experiences
POSITION OVERVIEW
Oklahoma Wildcats Academy (OWA) seeks a visionary Director of Campus Life to revolutionize the student experience through purpose-aligned community development, holistic programming, and innovative residential life systems. This pivotal leadership role will collaborate directly with OWA's Chief Operating Officer and Executive Leadership Team to create a transformative campus environment where every aspect of student life from residential experiences to community traditions serves as a pathway to purpose discovery and holistic development.
As Director of Campus Life, you will pioneer an approach to student experience that transcends traditional campus life models focusing not merely on activities and entertainment, but on creating intentional environments where daily living becomes a laboratory for purpose exploration, entrepreneurial mindset development, and leadership formation. You'll establish OWA as a model for how residential post-graduate programs can foster life-changing community while preparing students for their next educational chapter and lifelong success.
THE OWA DIFFERENCE
Oklahoma Wildcats Academy provides a transformative post-graduate program for college freshmen, offering athletic development, entrepreneurship education, and academic advancement without starting the NCAA eligibility clock. Through our partnership with Voice Up, we've created an environment where every aspect of campus life serves as a catalyst for purpose discovery.
As we advance toward becoming a fully accredited Division I independent university, we're establishing new paradigms for collegiate student experience where community design, programming, and daily campus rhythms all align to support holistic development and purpose clarity. The Director of Campus Life plays a crucial role in this vision, ensuring that life outside the classroom and athletic facilities reinforces and enhances our core mission.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Purpose-Driven Community Development
- Design comprehensive campus life philosophy that aligns with OWA's purpose-centered approach
- Create residential communities that facilitate purpose exploration and values clarification
- Implement community-building strategies that connect diverse student groups around shared purpose
- Develop traditions and rituals that reinforce purpose-aligned community identity
- Establish physical environments that encourage meaningful connection and reflection
- Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team to ensure campus life initiatives support institutional mission
Holistic Student Experience Leadership
- Oversee all aspects of residential life including housing assignments, facilities management, and resident support
- Develop comprehensive student leadership programs that cultivate purpose-driven leadership
- Create campus-wide programming calendar that balances entertainment with meaningful development
- Implement innovative approaches to student discipline that focus on growth and purpose alignment
- Design support systems for students navigating personal and academic challenges
- Ensure seamless coordination between campus life initiatives and athletic/academic schedules
Mental and Behavioral Wellness Integration
- Collaborate with mental health professionals to develop proactive wellness initiatives
- Implement programming that reduces stigma and promotes help-seeking behaviors
- Create residential environments that support healthy sleep, nutrition, and stress management
- Design crisis response protocols that provide comprehensive student support
- Establish peer support networks to enhance community mental wellness
- Develop data-driven approaches to identify and address campus wellness trends
Entrepreneurial Campus Life Innovation
- Create opportunities for students to develop and implement campus improvement initiatives
- Design student leadership structures that model entrepreneurial problem-solving
- Implement resource-efficient approaches to campus programming and community building
- Develop assessment systems that measure purpose-related outcomes of campus life initiatives
- Create sustainable funding models for enhanced student experiences
- Establish platforms for students to practice entrepreneurial skills through campus engagement
Residential Education Implementation
- Design comprehensive residential curriculum that extends learning beyond classroom settings
- Develop training systems for residential staff that emphasize purpose-driven student development
- Create living-learning communities aligned with academic and entrepreneurial focuses
- Implement innovative approaches to conflict resolution and community standard enforcement
- Establish programming models that address diverse student developmental needs
- Design physical spaces that enhance informal learning and purpose exploration
Executive Collaboration and Institutional Advancement
- Partner directly with the COO on strategic planning for campus experience enhancement
- Provide regular reporting to Executive Leadership Team on campus life initiatives and outcomes
- Collaborate across departments to create integrated student experience
- Represent campus life perspectives in institutional decision-making processes
- Develop assessment data that demonstrates impact of campus life on institutional goals
- Create innovative models that can influence the broader higher education landscape
LEADERSHIP APPROACH
The ideal candidate will embody and advance Voice Up's core principles:
Collaboration
- Foster genuine teamwork among campus life staff and across departments
- Build partnerships with athletics, academics, and entrepreneurship programs
- Integrate student voice into decision-making and program development
- Create opportunities for faculty and staff engagement in campus community
- Develop relationships with external partners to enhance student opportunities
Humility
- Model continuous learning and growth mindset in leadership approach
- Seek feedback from multiple sources to enhance student experience
- Share credit generously with campus life team and accept responsibility promptly
- Acknowledge limitations and leverage complementary strengths of others
- Prioritize student needs over personal preferences or convenience
Precision
- Implement detail-oriented systems in all campus life operations
- Design purposeful programming where every element aligns with developmental goals
- Utilize data-driven approaches to optimize resource allocation and impact
- Maintain clear, consistent communication with all stakeholders
- Establish transparent expectations and quality standards
Patience
- Commit to gradual community development and culture formation
- Understand the journey of young adults exploring purpose and identity
- Balance immediate engagement with long-term developmental outcomes
- Celebrate incremental progress in building campus traditions and culture
- Maintain perspective during high-stress periods of the academic calendar
Empathy
- Seek to understand diverse student perspectives and needs
- Create inclusive community structures that respect varied backgrounds and identities
- Recognize emotional challenges of the post-secondary transition
- Demonstrate genuine care for student holistic wellbeing
- Balance community standards with compassionate individual support
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Master's degree in Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, or related field
- 5+ years progressive experience in collegiate student life or residential programs
- 3+ years in management or leadership roles within student affairs
- Demonstrated success in developing innovative student experience initiatives
- Strong understanding of student development theory and best practices
- Evidence of purpose-driven or values-based approaches to community building
- Excellence in staff development and team leadership
- Commitment to student mental health and holistic wellbeing
Preferred
- Experience specifically with post-graduate or transitional educational programs
- Background in athletics or experience with student-athlete populations
- Understanding of entrepreneurial education or business development
- Familiarity with purpose development methodologies
- Experience with residential curriculum models
- Background in crisis management and student support
- Experience mentoring student leaders and developing leadership programs
APPOINTMENT DETAILS
- Status: Full-time, 12-month appointment
- Location: On-campus at OWA with on-campus residence requirement
- Housing: On-campus housing provided as part of compensation package
- Compensation:
- $42,000-$50,000 annual base salary
- Housing and meals included (valued at $15,000-$20,000)
- Performance bonuses based on student experience measures
- Professional development allowance ($3,000 annually)
- Family tuition benefits
- Benefits Package (50% employer/50% employee cost-sharing):
- Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
- Short-term and long-term disability coverage
- Life insurance (1x annual salary)
- Retirement plan with 5% employer matching after six-month probationary period
- Mental health and wellness services
- Prescription drug coverage
- Flexible spending account options
- Paid parental leave (4 weeks)
- Supplemental insurance options (accident, critical illness, etc.)
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