Assistant Director, Center for Academic Success and Advising

Colorado School of Mines•Colorado, CO

23h•$66,000 - $73,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Center for Academic Services & Advising (CASA) is responsible for academic advising and academic support services for all undergraduate students. CASA oversees university support services, which include but are not limited to tutoring services, supplemental instruction offerings, academic program planning, early intervention systems, and academic support services. In full, CASA serves approximately 4500+ students throughout the course of an academic year. Furthermore, CASA collaborates frequently with academic departments, orientation programs, and various student life departments as an academic and student resource and support office. The Assistant Director will lead CASA’s efforts to ensure students have equal access to academic advising, including directly advising individual students and cultivating the peer advisor program. The Assistant Director will administer various academic support services and retention efforts in collaboration with academic faculty and administration. Assistant Directors report to the Director of CASA and support the integration, facilitation, and coordination of outcomes-driven efforts that support student success (e.g., retention, persistence, and graduation). The Assistant Director works closely with the Registrar, the Office of Graduate Studies, Academic Affairs, and Student Life Departments to accomplish comprehensive student engagement and completion goals. The Assistant Director will support CASA through a collaborative structural redesign to create an office/center more heavily focused on academic support, retention, degree progression, and advanced student advising. The Assistant Director’s responsibilities, skills, experience, and priorities will remain, though the office deliverables will shift in priority as CASA evolves. The Assistant Director will be expected to help lead through this change with poise, quality deliverables, and uncompromised collegial rapport alongside the CASA leadership team. The Assistant Director positions are full-time, 12-month, exempt, administrative faculty position working within national standards for academic advising and support set out by NACADA, is expected to abide by FERPA and privacy regulations with all confidential student material. This work takes place primarily on campus in Golden, Colorado.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
Three or more years of progressive professional experience.
Three or more years of professional employment in a student-facing role.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in a relevant discipline, including Student Affairs, Counseling, College Student Personnel, Education Leadership, etc.
Three or more years of professional employment as a full-time academic advisor, coach, and/or academic support or student support administrator.
Experience working with STEM majors and students.
Professional supervisory experience (e.g., student workers, part-time staff, or full-time employees)
Proficiency with computer software, including but not limited to Microsoft Suite, Degree Works, Acuity, Banner, SLATE, etc.

Responsibilities

Serve as a generalist floating advisor with multidisciplinary proficiency to assist students in high demand majors.
Help develop and execute plans for advising coverage during periods of advisor turn-over, including serving as backfill to directly advise students when needed.
Provide individualized assistance to students, including those with complex transcripts, advising, and academic support needs (e.g., students with academic challenges, advising holds, AP/IB advanced credit, transfer students, non-traditional, study abroad, combined graduation program, and more).
Communicate to identified students, including routine outreach regarding campus policies and academic advising, as well as targeted outreach to special populations
Maintain confidential records and data including consistent and thorough record keeping of all student contact and advisement such as pre- and post-advising session notes.
Interpret, apply and enforce CASA and Mines curriculum, policies and procedures, as well as state and federal laws.
Support Academic Advising Coordinators (AACs) in accurately interpreting curriculum, policies, and procedures, requiring frequent collaboration with the Registrar and other campus partners to address questions.
Learn new technology and tools designed for student advising and success and integrate them into a balanced and holistic approach to advising.
Contribute to the continual improvement of advising infrastructure, approach, standards, meetings, and advising data.
Provide assistance and support to student families and prospective student/families with awareness of FERPA compliance.
Develop and maintain strong, professional interpersonal relationships with faculty and Student Life departments.
Provide proactive and thorough communication with academic faculty and departments in need of assistance and support for advising purposes.
Demonstrate ethical decision-making, cultural competency, responsible management, and leadership for students and staff through all actions and communications.
Demonstrate conflict management and conflict resolution decision-making skills when working with dissatisfied individuals.
Suggest resolutions to problems and issues affecting CASA and assist in directing measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the department.
Ensure the responsible planning and expenditure of fiscal resources in a manner consistent with all university policies and procedures and applicable local, state, and federal laws for AAC budget areas.
In conjunction with the CASA Director and leadership team, assist with: Hiring and training of AACs, Planning of weekly staff meetings, retreats, and professional development, Developing, maintaining, and implementing department policies and procedures, Assessment initiatives, Planning and execution of peak advising periods and events (e.g., incoming new students, first week of the semester, and the first week of registration), Providing CASA representation on various university ad hoc and standing committees and working groups, Serving as a consulting member of the Student Life Readmissions Committee when needed
The Assistant Directors may serve as a backup for the Director for processing university withdrawals, attending the Behavioral Intervention Team meetings, and/or stepping in as a proxy as requested by the Director.
Coordinate and sustainably grow a re-envisioned peer advisor program (e.g., ensure effective practices related to hiring and training, skill development, performance management, outcome assessment, daily operations, etc.)
Ensure opportunities for input and leadership from AACs and the CASA program assistant in peer advising initiatives
Contribute to plans and future programs developed in support of the forthcoming CASA redesign
Participate in NACADA regional conference and/or committees as able based on funding and stay up to date on NACADA journal publications and innovative advising efforts.
Participate and present on behalf of CASA as requested and needed by campus stakeholders.
Participate and volunteer as requested in day, evening, and weekend CASA and Mines-wide events to support Mines students, including signature events such as the M Climb, Career Day, Admissions events, E-days, etc.

Benefits

Flexible health and dental care options
Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
Free RTD Ecopass
Discount programs through the State of Colorado
Free tickets for Mines Athletics home games
Access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more)
Equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center
On campus daycare center