Senior Associate Dean for Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies

What You'll Do: The Senior Associate Dean for Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies serves as a key academic administrator, providing strategic leadership for undergraduate advising, academic policy administration, student success initiatives, and faculty partnerships across the School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Special Studies. The Senior Associate Dean leads a growing advising organization and collaborates across the university to enhance student success, strengthen advising practices, and support the undergraduate experience from matriculation through graduation.

Responsibilities include: Lead, mentor, and develop a team of academic advising professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement while overseeing organizational growth, staff development, change management, and operational effectiveness. Provide strategic direction for undergraduate advising, academic policies, and student success initiatives, ensuring effective service delivery, clear processes, and consistent application of university policies across the School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Special Studies. Oversee departmental budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning to support institutional priorities, student success goals, and the continued growth of advising and academic support services. Oversee core academic functions, including academic standing, degree auditing and certification, orientation, matriculation, and student academic petitions and appeals. Serve as Senior Associate Dean for undergraduate students, adjudicating complex academic cases, appeals, and disciplinary matters, and acting as the final appellate authority when appropriate. Uphold and interpret undergraduate academic policies in alignment with faculty governance, applying policies thoughtfully and consistently to complex or exceptional student situations. Serve as a key partner to faculty governance bodies and academic committees, contributing to curriculum discussions, educational policy development, and initiatives that strengthen the undergraduate academic experience. Partner with faculty and academic leaders to strengthen advising systems, recruit and train advisors, and promote best practices in advising, mentoring, and student support. Advance student success and retention through the development, implementation, and assessment of programs that support diverse student populations, improve persistence and time-to-degree outcomes, and enhance academic achievement. Expand high-impact opportunities for students, including undergraduate research, fellowships, and experiential learning initiatives (e.g., Undergraduate Research Fund, SPIRIT Fund).Chair scholarship and fellowship efforts, guiding faculty and students through nationally competitive application and selection processes. Represent undergraduate academic affairs at major university events, including Matriculation, Commencement, Orientation, and Academic Awards ceremonies. Collaborate across the university to improve academic policies, streamline processes, leverage data and technology, and enhance both the student and faculty experience.

Application Instructions: In addition to submitting a resume, please include a cover letter (two pages maximum) that addresses the following: Describe your approach to advancing undergraduate student success, including advising systems, policies, or initiatives you have led. Share your experience partnering with faculty and academic leadership to shape advising practices and academic policy. Provide an example of a program or initiative you led that enhanced the undergraduate experience and its impact.