Director of Academic Support and Advocacy

University of Rochester•Rochester, NY

67d

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive. The College Center for Advising Services (CCAS) is a centralized academic advising office staffed by a team of dedicated professional advisors whose work is designed to support the academic success of undergraduates in the College. This position provides leadership within CCAS and plays a key role in developing and maintaining policies, goals, strategies, and procedures necessary to administer a comprehensive advising program. The position supervises the equivalent of at least 3.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees and leads one or more major operations of CCAS, including but not limited to developing and leading the Time Away program and serving as the CCAS representative to the College CARE Team. The incumbent oversees staff that interacts with parents, faculty, staff, and other members of the University community in order to collect and share information, make referrals, handle challenging situations, and organize program activities. As a member of the CCAS leadership team, this person regularly manages highly sensitive matters with the University Community.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
Minimum of 7 years of experience in effective leadership and management in student success and support initiatives and services in higher education required.
or equivalent combination of education and experience required
Excellent organization, time management, writing ability and interpersonal skills required. Ability to relate to and work well with faculty, staff, students, and colleagues. Commitment to student-centered advisement; demonstrated ability to be sensitive to and understand the needs of students from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds. Desire to proactively and energetically support students' academic success and persistence toward their education and career goals. A working knowledge of databases and data analysis is required.

Responsibilities

Exercises supervisory authority, including hiring, training, conducting performance appraisals, developing and overseeing staff performance plans, and/or approving hours worked by employees.
Leads one or more major operations of CCAS and plans and directs staff implementation of related programs and other events.
Serves as a member of the CCAS Core leadership team.
Participates in the development of CCAS strategic initiatives to ensure appropriate use of administrative and staffing resources and alignment with CCAS mission and vision.
Partners with the Associate Dean/Senior Director and other leadership team members to build, deliver, and analyze the effectiveness of College Advising services.
Participates in planning, implementation, and evaluation of the academic advisement program's goals and objectives.
Represents CCAS on College, School or University level committees as appropriate
Stays current with processes, technology, and computer skills relevant to advising and engage in relevant professional development activities, which may include: workshops, attendance at conferences, membership in professional organizations, etc.
Lead and coordinate the activities of the Time Away team for undergraduate students who take voluntary or involuntary time away from The College
Develop specialized programming designed to support the unique needs of students during their time away and facilitate their successful return to the University
Facilitate the development of individualized Student Success Plans for students during their time away, monitors progress, and assists students during the transition back to The College
Coordinate communications with students during their time away to ensure students are proactively addressing the difficulties they experienced while they were enrolled
Manages the returning process of undergraduate students in The College
Serve as a member of the campus-wide Change of Status network; works collaboratively with offices across the college to best assist students taking and returning from time away
Serves as a member of the campus-wide Change of Status network which provides the infrastructure for the process and identifies opportunities and improvements.
Works collaboratively with offices across the College to best assist students taking and returning from time away, supporting students from initial request through their to the University.
Leads the CCAS No-Show process for incoming first-year and transfer students each term, working in partnership with key university offices to identify No-Show students.
Re-establishes the CCAS Returning Student Task Force, which focuses on assessing, analyzing, and improving processes for students returning from time away.
Facilitates student referrals to Financial Aid, Bursar, University Health Services, University Counseling Center, Academic Departments, and other relevant offices.
Monitors and reports trends to share with leadership as appropriate.
Manages Academic CARE referral process, creating guidelines and protocols for referral, escalation, and training related academic concerns.
Acts as triage coordinator for academic CARE referrals. Provides information and support for students, faculty, and families related to academic concerns.
Conducts outreach to College Advisors and faculty on behalf of the CARE Team
Attends weekly CARE Network meetings.
Participates in case management meetings as appropriate.
Serves as point of contact for College Advisors and faculty.
Assists students and families who need support navigating campus resources.
The primary advising caseload for this position will focus on students in the Time Away cohorts.
Develops and manages the programs and support for students impacted by voluntary or involuntary time away.
Manages a temporary caseload of advisees during periods of staff transition due to vacancies or leaves.
Connects students with faculty to explore academic interests and opportunities.
Guides students on the development of four-year academic plans and connects students to academic and career development experiences and opportunities such as study abroad, undergraduate research, internships, and co-curricular activities
Effectively communicates and explains policies and procedures to students, parents, colleagues, and other stakeholders.
Meets with students through individual appointments, walk-in advising, and group advising, both in-person and on a remote basis.