Title: Student Life Coordinator

VP Area: Student Affairs

Department: Campus Life

Published Salary Range: $45,000

Job Summary/Basic Function:

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Student Affairs, the Coordinator of Student Life supports student engagement, student organization development, leadership development, and campus programming at Lake Superior State University. This entry-level position serves as the primary professional staff member supporting day-to-day Student Life operations, with assistance from student employees who help with programs, events, office operations, and student engagement efforts.

The Coordinator helps create a welcoming and active campus environment where students can connect, participate, and grow. The position advises student clubs and organizations, coordinates student activities, supports campus traditions, supervises student employees, and works with campus partners to strengthen student involvement and belonging.

This role is designed for a developing student affairs professional who can take initiative, learn quickly, manage multiple priorities, and provide consistent support to students. The position requires strong organization, clear communication, sound judgment, and a student-centered approach.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Engagement and Campus Programming

• Plan, coordinate, and support student activities, campus programs, and campus-wide events that increase student engagement and strengthen campus community.
• Assist with campus traditions, student involvement programs, leadership events, and other co-curricular experiences.
• Create programs that support student connection, belonging, personal growth, leadership development, and retention.
• Manage program logistics, including room reservations, supplies, marketing, event setup, attendance tracking, and post-event follow-up.
• Provide support for evening and weekend programs as needed based on student programming and campus event needs.

Student Clubs and Organizations

• Advise and support student clubs and organizations on event planning, budgeting, recruitment, officer transition, risk awareness, and organization operations.
• Help student leaders understand university policies, procedures, deadlines, and expectations.
• Support student organization registration, recognition, training, and communication processes.
• Provide guidance to student leaders that helps them build confidence, solve problems, and develop leadership skills.

Leadership Development

• Assist with leadership workshops, student leader training, retreats, recognition programs, and other leadership development opportunities.
• Support programs that help students develop communication, teamwork, decision-making, planning, and conflict management skills.
• Encourage student leaders to create inclusive, responsible, and well-planned programs and services.

Student Employee Supervision

• Recruit, train, schedule, supervise, and evaluate student employees who support Student Life programs, office operations, events, and student engagement efforts.
• Provide student employees with clear expectations, coaching, feedback, and support.
• Use student employee support to help maintain consistent Student Life services, program coverage, event staffing, and student-facing office operations.
• Help student employees develop workplace, leadership, communication, and customer service skills.

Inclusion and Belonging

• Support programs and services that promote inclusion, respect, belonging, and student connection.
• Create opportunities for students from different backgrounds and experiences to participate in campus life.
• Work with campus partners to support programs that help students feel welcomed, represented, and connected to LSSU.

Campus Partnerships

• Collaborate with faculty, staff, academic departments, athletics, housing, dining, public safety, student government, and community partners to support student programs and engagement efforts.
• Serve as a visible and approachable resource for students, student organizations, and campus partners.
• Communicate with campus partners about upcoming programs, student needs, and engagement opportunities.

Assessment and Administrative Support

• Track participation, attendance, feedback, and basic program outcomes.
• Use surveys, evaluations, and student feedback to improve programs and services.
• Maintain accurate records related to student organizations, programs, student employees, budgets, and events.
• Assist with marketing, communication, forms, calendars, reports, and other administrative functions that support Student Life operations.

Professional Practice

• Stay informed about current practices in student engagement, leadership development, student organization advising, and campus programming.
• Follow university policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Demonstrate professionalism, sound judgment, ethical decision-making, and a commitment to student success.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SCHEDULE EXPECTATIONS

This position supports student programs, campus activities, and student organization engagement. The standard schedule is 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The schedule may vary based on programs, events, student organization needs, and department priorities. Some evening and weekend work will be required to support Student Life programs, campus-wide events, and student activities.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Basic understanding of student development, student engagement, leadership development, campus programming, or related student support practices.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and follow through on responsibilities.
• Ability to work with students, staff, faculty, and community partners.
• Commitment to supporting a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming campus environment.
• Ability to work independently while seeking guidance when needed.
• Ability to use technology to support communication, programming, recordkeeping, and student engagement.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes some evenings and weekends based on programming needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience working with student clubs, student organizations, campus programming, student employees, or leadership development.
• Experience planning events, programs, trainings, or student activities in a college, university, school, nonprofit, or community setting.
• Experience using student engagement platforms, event management systems, social media, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, or similar technology.

Professional Competencies

• Personal and Ethical Foundations: Articulate one’s personal code of ethics for student affairs practice, informed by the ethical statements of professional student affairs associations and their foundational ethical principles.
• Values, Philosophy, and History: Be able to model the principles of the profession and expect the same from colleagues and supervisees.
• Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: Select assessment, evaluation, and research methods, methodologies, designs, and tools that fit with research and evaluation questions and with assessment and review purposes.
• Law, Policy, and Governance: Demonstrate awareness of inequitable and oppressive ways that laws and policies are enacted on vulnerable student populations at national, state/provincial, local, and institutional levels.
• Organizational and Human Resources: Demonstrate effective stewardship/use of resources (i.e., financial, human, material).
• Leadership: Identify one’s strengths and challenges as a leader and seek opportunities to develop leadership skills.
• Social Justice and Inclusion: Identify systems of socialization that influence one’s multiple identities and sociopolitical perspectives and how they impact one’s lived experiences.
• Student Learning and Development: Identify the strengths and limitations in applying existing theories and models to varying student demographic groups.
• Technology: Remain current on student and educator adoption patterns of new technologies and familiarize oneself with the purpose and functionality of those technologies.
• Advising and Supporting: Establish rapport with students, groups, colleagues, and others that acknowledges differences in lived experiences.