Coordinator, Student Persistence and Accessibility (Fixed Term until August 8, 2025)

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Student Persistence and Accessibility Coordinator, reporting to the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Accessibility, Student Persistence, and Cultural Understanding.

The Student Persistence & Accessibility Coordinator will help with the implementation of primarily one-to-one and also group coaching resources designed to foster the personal, social, and intellectual development of students and to cultivate a sense of belonging and connection to NYUAD and the division of Student Affairs. The role will focus on the needs of NYUAD’s uniquely international student body but will maintain a focus on the specific needs of students who are UAE nationals and residents.

The Coordinator role will include administrative support, event management, and one on one advising specifically for UAE nationals and residents, working also with small groups as needed. The coordinator will support the Domestic Students Advisory Board and work actively with the student government and other student interest groups. This role will also collaborate with departments across the Student Affairs and Student Interest Groups to plan the Commuter Lounge program. Additionally, the coordinator will assist with Accessibility programming and key initiatives by providing administrative support and collaboration to maximize student experiences and inclusivity. This involves aiding the team with organizing the exam proctoring process, referring students to the relevant offices/department, and participating in Accessibility-related events.

The coordinator role will support the Student Affairs Deans in planning meaningful events for the students and participate in signature programs like new students’ orientation, resources fair, Student of Determination Social night, and Marhaba.

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a central part of NYU’s global network, marked by a uniquely international student population (100+ nationalities); a rigorous, liberal arts and science academic program; and a location at the crossroads of the Arab world. We are a highly diverse community that shapes and examines issues of common humanity through multicultural perspectives; recognizes that the breadth of an education here extends far beyond the classroom and the campus; sees students themselves as educators; and recognizes that true engagement with the breadth of our diversity requires curiosity, humility, and engagement with contrasting views and values. 

The mission of NYUAD’s Division of Student Affairs is to collaborate with students to find individual and collective meaning in their personal, intellectual, professional, and social lives. We cultivate belonging within a uniquely intercultural community; foster lifelong development for a complex world; and catalyze meaningful engagement with the United Arab Emirates.

 Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the calendar invites marketing events through Engage; and the student’s portal
• Process financial transactions and expenses - monitoring and ensuring follow-up correspondence
• Prepare documentation / reports / presentations in collaboration with Dean’s Office colleagues
• Lead meeting and event preparations (i.e. catering, space booking, AV support needs, etc); and coordinating schedules and logistical arrangements for AVC/DOS travel needs
• Provide administrative support to the Assistant Deans including processing LOA logistics and providing re-entry support to students returning from LOA. The coordinator will also manage the coordination of the Student Affairs Deans outreach events, build the outreach plan, book buses/ spaces, send calendar invites and liaise with other SA departments as needed
• Liaise with a variety of divisional functional areas designed to support the needs of UAE national and resident students
• Oversee the Domestic Student Advisory Board, recruiting members, attend meetings, address students' concerns and challenges, and coordinate with stakeholders to advocate for commuting students' needs
• Bring relevant cultural influences and practices from within the UAE and MENA region into the fold of culture and practice at NYUAD
• Manage events/programming and communications for active commuter student engagement with Commuter Lounge
• Collaborate with Student Affairs and University colleagues to support the planning and/or execution of programming, events, and activities. Participate in divisional functional teams to support cross-functional Student Affairs work in collaboration with other staff This includes weekend and evening commitments during the academic year, and includes representing the Division at various events
• Provide administrative support for the office’s Student Assistants and delegate work as necessary
• Help support accessibility initiatives around campus and more specifically to the Student Affairs division, and help with the Moses Center for Student Accessibility by overseeing the exam proctoring process. This might include improving the Testing Center environment, scheduling exams and reaching out to faculty members and instructors
• Help facilitate approved (housing, academic & study away) accommodation from the Moses Center. For example, helping with exam proctoring, and coordinating special housing and academic accommodation for students across the GNU at study away sites (such as library, academic technology, student government, finance, and residential support etc.)

Application deadline: March 27, 2023

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Special Needs/Disability Education, Counseling, Social Work, Psychology or related fields

Required Experience:

• Minimum of 2+ years working in higher education or related experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills, necessary for cultivating relationships and trust with students and colleagues
• Good judgment, discretion, independence and initiative. A capacity to work collegially and collaboratively in a university environment
• An ability to prioritize and handle multiple projects on tight deadlines, organized work habits, consistent accuracy, and attentiveness to detail
• Ability and willingness to work some evening/weekend hours
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable as changes arise
• Excellent presentation, written and oral communication skills in English
• Collaborative spirit and ability to build partnerships/relationships with many people to achieve their goals

Preferred Experience:

• Experience or exposure to the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region
• Previous experience in higher education
• Previous experience serving first-generation college students and/or marginalized groups
• Demonstrated awareness of and commitment to operating within the sensitivities of a diverse context and culture
• Experience with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging frameworks, and how they impact student development
• Self-sufficiency regarding technology and its uses
• Ability to make presentations in front of small – large groups
• Adobe/design 
• Advanced MS Excel
• Arabic language skills 

The University is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity and social inclusion

About Student Affairs: 

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a central part of NYU’s global network, marked by a uniquely international student population (100+ nationalities); a rigorous, liberal arts and science academic program; and a location at the crossroads of the Arab world. We are a highly diverse community that shapes and examines issues of common humanity through multicultural perspectives; recognizes that the breadth of an education here extends far beyond the classroom and the campus; sees students themselves as educators; and recognizes that true engagement with the breadth of our diversity requires curiosity, humility, and engagement with contrasting views and values. 

The mission of NYUAD’s Division of Student Affairs is to collaborate with students to find individual and collective meaning in their personal, intellectual, professional, and social lives. We cultivate belonging within a uniquely intercultural community; foster lifelong development for a complex world; and catalyze meaningful engagement with the United Arab Emirates.