Director, Academic Opportunities & Support

Job Summary

The Director of Academic Opportunities & Support in LSA Student Academic Affairs (SAA) is a non-instructional administrative position that plays a critical role in the undergraduate education mission of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan. As the largest college on the Ann Arbor campus, LSA serves over 17,000 undergraduate students in over 100 degree programs. This newly restructured position reports to the LSA Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education and Student Academic Affairs (SAA) and is part of the SAA Senior Leadership Team along with other directors and staff within SAA and the Office of the Assistant Dean.

LSA Student Academic Affairs (SAA) engages students, fosters their success, and upholds academic standards in support of the liberal arts and the University of Michigan community. As a community of over sixty full-time higher education professionals, and in collaboration with key partners across the college and beyond, SAA aspires to be a valued resource and leader in support of the academic and personal experience of undergraduate students at the university. Overall, SAA is responsible for helping LSA undergraduates achieve the expectations and rewards of the liberal arts and science education afforded by the college. To accomplish this responsibility, LSA SAA is organized into the following units: Office of the Assistant Dean, Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center, Academic Opportunities & Support, Academic Policy & Technology, and the Testing Accommodation Center.

Responsibilities

The Director of Academic Opportunities & Support in LSA Student Academic Affairs (SAA) is responsible for the development, enhancement, and assessment of innovative undergraduate programs and services for over 17,000 undergraduate students in the college that are grounded in best practices and research in student support and success. While overseeing the daily administration and leadership of a team, the Director will also have additional responsibility for programs and services for the college’s undergraduate education division, including work with departments and faculty.  

The successful candidate will play a key role in developing student success initiatives and programs while collaborating with other areas to support students in the college and university. They will be expected to build relationships across the college and university around student opportunities and support, and spearhead innovative and data-driven efforts to enhance the ever evolving undergraduate student experience in the tradition of the liberal arts at the university. 

The Director is a member of the SAA Senior Leadership team, expected to work collaboratively and as a key partner on overarching SAA strategic initiatives and daily operations of the unit. They are also expected to supervise a team of full-time professional staff, including Associate Directors that are a part of the larger SAA Leadership team. 

Student Academic Affairs (SAA) Leadership (30%)

In collaboration with the Assistant Dean and the other members of the SAA Senior Leadership team, assist in developing short- and long-range planning efforts and directing the day-to-day administration of SAA Lead college and university efforts related to undergraduate student opportunities and support, including the development of new initiatives and programs Create and implement a comprehensive strategic plan (including a vision and goals) for a team that supports and provides services to faculty, staff, and students Supervise and manage the daily work of a diverse team of administrative professionals - hiring, training, coaching, and development Along with the other SAA Directors and Deputy Assistant Dean, create and execute programming for SAA meetings, including all-staff meetings Represent SAA and the college as liaison to key university and community stakeholder groups, including responding to difficult stakeholder cases as needed and appropriate Provide assistance and/or represent SAA on various faculty, administrative, or student committees, task forces, or working groups internal and external to the college

Administration and Leadership of Academic Support (40%)

Develop, execute, and assess innovative programs and services that provide overall success strategies and learning support to a diverse undergraduate student population

In coordination with the Associate Director, lead the administration of testing accommodation strategies for students with disabilities as well as student and instructor support Collaborate with various stakeholders, including key academic resource partners in the college and across the university, as it relates to fostering student academic success Build relationships with non-academic support services across the university in order to holistically support students whose academics are impacted in various ways, including LSA Technology Services, the Office of Financial Aid, and CAPS  Resolve complex student concerns referred by key stakeholders Serve as a resource for instructional and support staff around student support concerns 

Administration and Leadership of Academic Opportunities (30%)

In collaboration with the Associate Director, lead the administration and assessment of pre-professional academic advising strategies and support Provide academic oversight of the BGS degree, including general administration, student engagement, scholarships, and long-range planning around student recruitment and retention within the degree program Coordinate with college and university partners such as the LSA Opportunity Hub, the University Career Center, CGIS, and departmental programs to provide undergraduate students with an array of co-curricular experiences in which to choose from in order to enhance their educational experience Oversee the administration of programs and events that connect students to opportunities, including the LSA Major/Minor Expo

Required Qualifications

PhD or EdD, or equivalent combination of education and experience required, with three to four  years of experience within student success or academic advising leadership Strong background in higher education academic advising and student success trends and issues, including extensive experience advising or supporting college students Track record of successful implementation of innovative practices, processes, and programs related to the undergraduate student experience, including their evaluation and assessment Ability to effectively articulate the value of a liberal arts education to a broad range of constituents Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culture, including direct experience working with staff and students from diverse backgrounds and identities Strong experiences creating and implementing a unit or program strategic plan Proven ability to supervise, train, and develop staff, including the demonstrated ability to recruit, retain, mentor, and support a diverse staff Demonstrated ability to promote a professional, cooperative, and inclusive team environment and to collaborate with colleagues across the college and university. Demonstrated ability to promote a professional, cooperative, and inclusive team environment Experience in managing various aspects of a complex area, with a proven ability to lead teams and manage change as part of an overarching unit-level strategic plan Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to establish positive and respectful working relationships with students, staff, and faculty Exemplary oral and written communication skills

Desired Qualifications 

PhD or EdD, with at least five years of progressively responsible experience leading a complex and collaborative team environment Evidence of significant national or regional involvement in an organization or efforts related to higher education academic advising and/or student success Extensive hands-on experience leading organizational learning, change management, and strategic planning Experience with large-scale evaluation and assessment

Salary is commensurate with direct student academic success and support leadership experience.