Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Advising
- Employer
- Simmons University
- Location
- Massachusetts, United States
- Salary
- Salary Not specified
- Date posted
- Jun 11, 2021
View more
- Position Type
- Faculty Positions, Business & Management, Management
- Employment Level
- Administrative
- Employment Type
- Full Time
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Associate Director, Office of Undergraduate Advising
Main Campus - Boston, MA
R07606
Job Summary:
Simmons University is looking for an Associate Director to join the Office of Undergraduate Advising. In collaboration with the Director, the main functions of the Associate Director is to manage the PLAN Advisor Program for first-year advising and first-year faculty advisors, oversee Assessment which includes management of Starfish the customer relations management (CRM) tool, and supervise professional academic advisors. Additionally, the Associate Director will have a caseload of first-years, and supervise the advisors who manage the Simmons Academic Mentor (SAMs) program as well as run the intervention program designed to help at-risk students. As a member of the department's leadership team, the Associate Director will create innovative ideas to promote the office, prepare students for life's work, represent the department on University committees, and cross boundaries to create opportunities.
The ideal candidate will possess strong time management, customer service, problem solving, interpersonal skills, technology savvy, experience with assessment, familiarity with general education, experience with managing staff, and have experience supporting at-risk student populations. As a University committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, we seek candidates with a demonstrated ability to work with individuals across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives. This person will report directly to the Director of Undergraduate Advising.
Job Responsibilities:
General Advising
- Primary advisor for a caseload of first-year students as a PLAN
Advisor and advise a caseload of transfer students;
- Assist students with course selection, curricular planning,
goal setting and problem solving;
- Meet with students often and as needed throughout the year,
through scheduled appointments and/or open office hours, drop-in
advising, group advising, virtually via Zoom, or over the phone
;
- Utilize Strengths when advising students ;
- Develop and facilitate workshops focusing on time management,
improving organizational skills, study skill development,
de-stressing before midterms/finals, note taking, etc.
Manage PLAN Advisor Program
- Manage the PLAN Advisor program for first-year advising which
includes hiring and supporting first-year faculty advisors (PLAN
Advisors);
- Oversee the application development, recruitment and selection
of all PLAN Advisors each Spring in collaboration with the
Director;
- Become a Clifton Strengths Champion and support PLAN Advisors
with utilizing Strengths in their advising sessions;
- Coordinate the weekly PLAN Advisor Communities of Practice
(COP) to debrief and discuss advising trends and challenges
presently on campus with fellow PLAN Advisors;
- Opportunity to teach a PLAN course (SIM 101 Explore), highly
encouraged ;
- Create and execute PLAN Advisor Training in mid-May for new and
returning PLAN Advisors to prepare for June Advising Month and new
student orientation;
- Assign all new first-years and transfer students to PLAN
Advisors or faculty advisors;
- Collaborate with Student Life and other departments to plan and
implement Orientation;
- Teach a section of SIM 101 Explore to first-year students which
is required as part of the PLAN core curriculum for all
undergraduate students;
- Collaborate with the Interim Dean of the Undergraduate Program
on projects related to the Simmons PLAN (Purpose Leadership ActioN)
core curriculum;
- Represent the Office of Undergraduate Advising on the General
Education Advisory Group (GEAG) overseen by the Interim Dean of the
Undergraduate Program.
Supervision
- Supervise professional academic advisors and support them in
managing the Simmons Academic Mentors (SAMs) as well as the
intervention program designed to help at-risk students on academic
warning, probation, or removed from degree candidacy get back on
good academic standing;
- Co-supervise student office assistance in collaboration with
the Director and provide them with projects;
- Provide supervision and management of the Office of
Undergraduate Advising in the absence of the Director.
Assessment & Starfish
- Develop and implement an advising assessment plan for the
department in collaboration with the Director;
- Be familiar with the advising assessment cycle as outlined by
NACADA;
- Create data reports for the Director and Assistant
Provost;
- Serve as point person/manager for all aspects of EAB's Starfish
Management (early alert retention tool) for the undergraduate
programs related to queries, training, reports, and
services;
- Connect with EAB (formerly Hobsons) representatives for
Starfish software updates on a monthly basis or as
needed.
- Implement three flag and six flag functionality of the early
alert system to allow consistent tracking/ schedule follow up
advising meetings for students receiving three or more alert
flags.
- Updating and sending out Starfish progress surveys to faculty
twice a semester (in line with course add/drop periods) or as
needed.
- Utilize new tools to measure the effectiveness and use of
Starfish.
- Develop and implement a strategic communications plan to
improve Starfish knowledge and utilization for both students and
faculty/staff.
- Provide trainings to faculty and staff on Starfish
- Participate in regional Starfish community meetings with other
Universities
Leadership
- Expert on PLAN, major, minor and graduation requirements,
serving as a resource for students, faculty, and staff
- Collaborate with the Director to communicate with each
department administering a placement exam to ensure the exam is
updated, and the grading process is clear. If needed, will assist
in updating an exam with the department.
- Represent the Office of Undergraduate Advising when participate
in departmental and University wide committees such as the
University Transfer Student Committee, Orientation Committee, CARE,
and General Education Advisory Group (GEAG)
- In the absence of the Director, the Associate Director will
provide supervision, leadership and guidance to the Office of
Undergraduate Advising
Other
- Report directly to the Director of Undergraduate
Advising;
- Other duties as assigned by the Director and Assistant
Provost
Qualifications:
- Master's degree required with at least 3-5 years of previous
professional experience involving academic advising or career
advising college students;
- Prior experience collaborating with faculty and academic
leadership;
- Experience with assessment in advising or related
areas;
- Experience utilizing Starfish or similar early alert tools is
required;
- At least 3 years of prior experience supervising an advising
staff;
- Prior experience utilizing Clifton Strengths is a
plus;
- Experience in connecting and building rapport with
students;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills;
- Ability to successfully resolve student issues from request
through resolution;
- Experience with Google mail a plus;
- Ability to work as as a member of a team;
- Professional membership with NACADA or NASPA a plus;
- Ability to work independently and manage projects;
- Experience and confidence in working with diverse student
populations;
- Understanding and experience embedding diversity, equity and
inclusion in advising; in particular working with students of color
and first-generation students a plus.
Required Application Materials:
- Resume
- Cover Letter
Salary Grade
S08
Instructions to Applicants: Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the "Resume/CV" box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Associate-Director--Office-of-Undergraduate-Advising_R07606
Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.
We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.
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