Director of Academic Advising

Nebraska Wesleyan University seeks to hire an inaugural Director of Academic Advising. This full-time 12-month position reports to the Dean of Undergraduate Programs. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the future Academic Success Hub, while working collaboratively with constituents across campus to facilitate services for students.

NWU's current advising structure relies primarily on the faculty to support undergraduate students, while graduate student advising is provided by professional staff. The hiring of the new Director of Academic Advising signals a shift toward an advising center that directs, supports, and supplements faculty advising.

NWU offers a competitive wage and comprehensive benefits plan including Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Disability benefits, Retirement, seven weeks of paid time off per year as an exempt employee through vacation and holidays, and 100% tuition discount for dependents after one year of service.

Responsibilities

• Development and implementation of a strategic plan for academic advising in alignment with NWU's mission and goals.
• Responsibility for the integrity of advising policies and procedures, and implementation of changes as necessary.
• Academic advising curriculum development, coordination, and implementation.
• Support of faculty advisors, including the delivery of training and professional development.
• Establishment of clear and equitable advising expectations for the unique needs of different types of advisees (e.g., first year, transfer, international, academic major).
• Oversight of advisor assignments (in collaboration with Department Chairs).
• Coordination and communication of advising services and activities.
• Creation, management, and curation of an Advising Portal that serves as a resource for both advisors and advisees.
• Staying abreast of best practices and developments in the field of academic advising.
• Management of the New Student Registration (NSR) process in collaboration with the admissions office, registrar's office, faculty advisors, academic affairs, and incoming students (both first-year and transfer students).
• Providing academic advising in special situations- e.g., during New Student Registration, campus visits, during transitional periods for students, for students on academic probation, etc.
• Supporting the university with orientation activities, prospective student events, graduation activities, and other special projects.
• Providing individualized outreach and referrals as part of a proactive student success network that includes the Care Team, Cooper Center (academic support services), accessibility services, career services, counseling services, and other resources.
• Serving as a champion of initiatives that contribute to student success, persistence, and completion through effective academic advising.
• Collecting and providing reports in support of NWU's retention and completion efforts.
• Responsibilities may include limited teaching of courses focused on student success.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a relevant field is required.
• Five years of relevant experience with academic advising is required; priority will be given to candidates with experience in academic advising administration.

• Knowledge of advising, student development theory, and/or career development theory; training through NACADA is highly desirable.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task and establish priorities, and successful conflict-resolution skills.
• Familiarity with technologies to monitor academic progress of student toward degree completion.

Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is a core value of Nebraska Wesleyan University's mission and we embrace it as a source of strength. Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate how they are able to enhance and embrace this University core value in a diversity statement submitted as part of their application materials.

Nebraska Wesleyan University provides equal educational and employment opportunities to qualified persons in all areas of university operation without regard to religion or creed, age, genetic information, gender identity and expression, sexual identity and orientation, veteran status, disability, marital status, race, or national or ethnic origin, in compliance with state and federal laws, including but not limited to Title XII, Title IX, and the ADA. E-Verify, EOE.

How to Apply

To apply, please upload a letter of application addressing qualifications, resume, a diversity statement, and the names of three professional references at the following URL: https://nebrwesleyan.applicantpro.com/jobs/ Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.