Director of Academic Services for Athletics

Appalachian State University•Boone, NC

About The Position

The Primary Purpose of Academic Services for Athletes (ASA) is to connect with the University’s mission by providing holistic advising from orientation to graduation for Appalachian State University’s Division I student-athletes. The services provided allow and encourage students to develop necessary academic/life skills in areas such as time management, personal accountability, collaboration, and goal setting. The program assists students in balancing the demands of academics and athletics in a college environment. Academic Services for Athletes is committed to assisting students develop as leaders in the classroom, in their sport, on campus, and in the community. Academic Services for Athletes is committed to providing accuracy in the information regarding curricula and degree requirements, university policies, and compliance to NCAA required eligibility standards and by-laws. The Director of Academic Services for Student Athletes (ASA) reports to the Vice Provost for Academic Programming and Planning and supervises all ASA staff members.

Requirements

Master’s Degree
5 years of experience in Higher Education advising, Student Development or Student Affairs

Nice To Haves

Supervisory experience
Experience working with student-athletes
Experience managing departmental budget
Experience leading teams or collaborative efforts

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for comprehensive academic support services for student athletes.
Oversee the supervision, hiring, and training of Academic Services for Student Athletes staff.
Develop long-range plans in collaboration with the Vice Provost for Academic Programming and Planning, the Athletic Department, and other appropriate University programs, offices, and services.
Provide leadership in promoting academic integrity throughout all areas of the program.
Coordinate projects and perform other duties as assigned by the Vice Provost for Academic Programming and Planning to support the goals and objectives of the Provost’s Office.
Develop and oversee the program budget.
Participate in NCAA, Sun Belt Conference, and University staff development sessions, as well as appropriate committees and councils, as requested.
Attend professional meetings, seminars, and conferences to enhance professional skills and expertise, strengthen program leadership, support student success, and contribute to the overall effectiveness of Academic Services for Student Athletes.
Demonstrate commitment to, and compliance with, University and Department of Athletics policies and procedures, as well as Sun Belt Conference and NCAA constitutions, bylaws, legislation, and regulations.
Maintain up-to-date communication regarding University and NCAA policies and procedures for Academic Services for Student Athletes staff, athletics staff, and student athletes.
Coordinate with the Senior Director for Athletics Compliance and Athletics Compliance staff on NCAA reporting requirements, including Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR) reports.
Submit semester reports on student progress and program accomplishments, including retention and accountability measures, to the Vice Provost for Academic Programming and Planning, Athletic Department administration, and head coaches.
Review and analyze eligibility reports and conduct staff training regarding eligibility concerns, as needed.
Monitor student athletes’ academic progress to identify problem areas and high-risk characteristics, intervene when necessary, and develop programming and policies to address identified needs.
Serve as a referral source for information regarding counseling, career planning, financial aid, student activities, and other student support services.
Utilize retention tools to help students evaluate academic behaviors, improve academic success, and make appropriate referrals when needed.
Evaluate team travel schedules to monitor missed class time and advocate for appropriate travel and class attendance policies.
Serve as an advocate for student athletes by publicizing their successes and communicating the unit’s mission and needs to the Appalachian community and other institutions that look to Appalachian as a model for academic support services.
Work effectively with the Registrar, Admissions, Transfer Office, department chairs, faculty, Orientation, University College, major academic advisors, and related administrative offices to meet the needs of student athletes.
Serve as liaison to the Department of Athletics and as an ex officio member of the Athletics Council.
Assist all sport coaches in providing academic information to prospective student athletes and their parents and support on-campus recruiting efforts when appropriate.
Assign advisors to varsity teams for academic advising, recruiting support, and communication with athletic coaches and personnel.
Supervise staff to ensure timely and effective academic advising services.
Coordinate advising meetings and assist with schedule planning to promote student academic success.
Coordinate the distribution, follow-up, and evaluation of academic progress reports for student athletes.
Provide academic and career advising to student athletes within an assigned caseload and monitor NCAA eligibility requirements for those students.
Assist students with registration, including appropriate course selection and resolving conflicts with practice schedules and other commitments.
Assist students in exploring, selecting, and declaring majors that align with their goals and help them establish connections with their academic departments as early as possible.
Build course schedules for new freshmen and transfer students using preliminary registration information.