Director of Academic Advising

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

3d • $85,000

About The Position

The Director of Academic Advising provides leadership in the development and implementation of advising standards and best practices, manages daily operations, and ensures effective communication between academic leadership and advising staff. This role involves strategic planning, supervising employees, promoting teamwork, handling budget preparation, and serving as a liaison for relevant college offices. The director also facilitates communication with university administrative units, serves on committees, analyzes program data, supports student success initiatives, and engages in professional development to stay current with advising best practices. The Director of Academic Advising is responsible for leading a unit or institution-wide academic advising program that is grounded in tenets of practice outlined by the National Association of Academic Advising (NACADA) and appropriate academic advising and student development theories for student success. Complies with all state, system, and university policies, regulations, rules, procedures, guidelines, and directives in a timely manner and adhere to confidentiality policies (FERPA). May advise in both group and individual settings with current and prospective students. In addition, the Office of Student Services includes recruitment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ten years of related academic advising experience.
• Three years of Supervisory Experience.
• Ability to work with people from various backgrounds and be helpful, respectful, approachable, and team oriented.
• Ability to cultivate strong working relationships, foster a positive work environment, multi-task efficiently, collaborate effectively with others, and promote teamwork among academic advisors.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to ensure understanding and facilitate cooperation among leadership, advising staff, academic departments, and administrative units.
• Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality, with a strong commitment to adhering to FERPA and other federal and state laws to ensure student privacy.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree in applicable field.
• Experience in higher education.
• Experience advising students in higher education, TAMU experience preferred.
• Knowledge of TAMU policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of academic achievement, progress towards degree, and probation requirements based on university student rules, college policies, and program specific requirements set by the leadership of the college/school.
• Knowledge of student development theories and how they apply to academic advising and student success initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Leadership & Management Responsible for leading a unit or institution-wide academic advising program that is grounded in tenets of practice outlined by the National Association of Academic Advising (NACADA) and appropriate academic advising and student development theories.
• Provides oversight and leadership in the development and implementation of professional academic advising standards and best practices for the college/school regarding the advisement, retention, and graduation of students.
• Directs the information flow between academic leadership and advising staff to ensure up-to-date information is communicated, as appropriate, including but not limited to Q drops, add/drop requests, course adjustments, waivers, withdrawals, emergency situations, absences, illness, grade changes, and other university policies.
• Develops, executes, and assesses office standards, procedures and technology related to advising.
• Allocates fiscal and personnel resources and advocates for additional resources.
• May develop and coordinate yearly advising unit budget preparation, transaction supervision and approval authority over various fiscal accounts.
• Supports the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in academic/recruiting efforts for the Office of Student Services.
• This includes exercising professional independent judgment and decision making in coordination with the College leadership regarding academic situations, grievances, and university rules, procedures, guidelines, and directives.
• Oversees the daily operations of assigned area(s).
• Responsible for strategic planning, managing, and directing academic advising, aligning with academic leadership's vision, and implementing professional development for advising staff.
• Leads and supports advising/recruitment team to grow as professional advisors/recruiters.
• Promotes and strengthens cooperation and teamwork between academic advisors in the advising unit.
• In support of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs recruitment efforts (including CAMP ARCH) Assists the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with the college’s enrollment management efforts In collaboration with the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs may develop and coordinate yearly advising unit budget preparation, transaction supervision and approval authority over various fiscal accounts.
• Assist the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with Student Success Initiatives and directives.
• Collaboration: Academic Department and University Support Coordinates with campus partners to develop strategies that ameliorate conditions that inhibit student success and that amplify conditions that foster student success.
• Collaborates and maintain professional relationships with campus-wide academic and student support partners in academic affairs, enrollment management, student affairs, recruitment.
• Serves on university committees and provides leadership to college committees, projects, and initiatives.
• Works collaboratively with deans, department heads and degree coordinators to ensure that academic advising services/recruitment meet distinct needs of programs and students.
• Proactively communicates to the campus and within the College regarding academic advising services, outcomes, and effectiveness.
• Builds relationships across campus resources.
• Promotes teamwork and collaboration.
• Assists leadership in providing oversight of the day to day operations of the recruitment support.
• Supports and participates in local, state, and national recruitment efforts.
• Oversees the planning and/or delivery of various college-wide related advising, student success, retention events, academic campaigns, and maintains curriculum and admissions resources.
• Data & Assessment Leads the design and implementation of the development of reporting and assessment strategies in support of continuous improvement especially in a higher education setting providing guidance to internal curriculum committees and University-wide leadership.
• Proactively adapts advising services/recruitment in response to students’ needs and assessment results.
• Collect and evaluate enrollment projections for academic programs effectiveness of the advising/recruiting programs and recommend student ratios to the college leadership.
• Use the assessment & data to design student academic success initiates that encourage student success.
• Leads strategic planning for student services and advising/recruiting unit(s) in line with the College of Architecture Strategic Plan.
• Academic Advising Serves as a point of contact for students with academic situations, grievances, etc.
• Works directly with students when appropriate and refers to academic leadership or university resources when necessary.
• Complies with all federal and state laws, system policies and regulations, and university rules, procedures, guidelines, and directives promptly and adheres to confidentiality policies (FERPA).
• Professional Development Establishes a program of advisor professional development based in theory, best practices, and recent research.
• Develops reference materials for advisors that reflect common practices, policies, and guidelines.
• Facilitates and researches/recommends individual and group professional development opportunities for student services office to achieve the goals of the office.
• Incorporates team building exercises and mentoring.
• Pursues and participates in professional development opportunities to enhance personal leadership skills and stay current with best practices in academic advising.
• Research, Technology, & Innovation Conducts research and publishes or presents on best practices and theory within the field of academic advising, students in transition, and related topics to foster professional growth and improve the student advising experience.
• Encourages the student services office and leads in collaboration with advisors for advising/recruitment appropriate research to foster professional growth and improve the student experience.
• Identifies emerging trends and develops strategies for initiatives that increase student retention and graduation.
• Actively seeks opportunities to serve on committees or in leadership positions for professional organizations that promote advising or student success.
• Identify and procure technology and applications that support advising and student success.
• Research, Identify, Develop strategies for Student Success.

Benefits

• Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.
• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director