Job Description

Brief Summary of Work for this Position
The Assistant Director of Academic Advising is part of a leadership team in the CHSSA Dean’s Office Academic Resource Center (ARC). The ARC is a team of primary-role advisors who collaborate with the academic departments to provide holistic advising support for undergraduate students in our college. The ARC focuses on the recruitment and retention of CHSSA students, orientation advising for incoming students, and registration advising each semester.

Reporting to the CHSSA Director of Academic Advising, the Assistant Director serves as the primary leader and liaison for implementing effective advising strategies for multiple CHSSA academic departments and is responsible for the initial onboarding and continuous training of academic advisors within the ARC. This work involves a comprehensive, solution-oriented approach to managing curriculum, policy, and process changes impacting CHSSA academic departments and ARC primary role advisors by conveying pertinent information and applying creative problem-solving. The Assistant Director provides oversight and leadership to up to six Academic Advisors and provides direct academic advising services for a caseload of approximately 100-150 new and returning students in support of the College’s strategic goals regarding orientation, transitional support, enrollment, retention, persistence, progression, and major declaration. This role serves as a key member of the ARC leadership team, assisting the Director with overall unit management, strategic planning, and policy implementation. This position requires effective communication, collaboration, and coordination with internal and external stakeholders, including CHSSA Academic Departments and campus partners, to ensure consistent, high-quality advising services.

The Assistant Director provides oversight and leadership to up to five Academic Advisors and provides direct academic advising services for a caseload of approximately 100-150 new and returning students in support of the College’s strategic goals regarding orientation, transitional support, enrollment, retention, persistence, progression, and major declaration. The ARC team helps students understand academic policies and procedures, their degree plans, and campus resources and services available to them. These positions advise on course selections appropriate to the student’s academic goals, monitor academic performance, assist in timely declaration of a major or pre-major, maintain advising files, and support students during academic and personal difficulty and make appropriate referrals as needed. The ARC team identifies problems requiring intervention and assist with strategies for academic recovery as needed.

The ARC team helps students understand academic policies and procedures, their degree plans, and campus resources and services available to them. Working with other faculty and staff, the Assistant Director provides support to help position students for success during and after their time at UNCW. Advisors work with students from diverse populations with different strengths and needs. The Assistant Director will develop a detailed understanding of student-related policies and advising best practices in order to provide individualized support for students.

The Assistant Director will use a holistic approach to address student needs by establishing strong relationships with students to guide them in exploring areas of study and resources necessary to be successful. The ARC team participates in orientation sessions and provide accurate academic information to support students as they make enrollment and curricular decisions. This position will report to the Director of Academic Advising. This position relies heavily on effective communication via phone, video conference, email, and in-person; therefore, the Assistant Director needs to be an excellent communicator, self-starter, quick learner, and able to work in a collaborative environment.
Minimum Education and Experience Requirements
Master’s degree in related field plus 3 years of related experience working with college students in a higher education setting.
Demonstrated ability to attend to details with a high degree of accuracy.
Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
Ability to utilize and learn various advising and software applications, learning platforms, and technology-based delivery systems, including Microsoft Office Suite as well as enterprise platforms (Banner, Starfish, Degree Works, Web Now, etc.).
Demonstrated professionalism in effective judgment and professional integrity.
Demonstrated commitment to and execution of customer service.
Ability to work irregular work hours, including occasional evenings and weekends.
Ability to manage time effectively in a busy environment.
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Possess a proven track record for effective advising, coaching, and communication skills within a diverse student population as part of a team.
Experience providing supervision and leadership to team members.
Experience with assessment of programs and/or services.
Knowledgeable of best practices and theoretical foundations in the fields of adult learning, student development, counseling, supplemental instruction, advising, and student services.
Knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local laws, university regulations, and programs/policies required for compliance.
Experience with and commitment to working with students from diverse backgrounds (e.g. first-year, continuing, and transfer students; pre-professional students; military students; adult learners, on-campus and on-line students; students from historically underrepresented populations) and knowledge of issues of these student populations.
Experience in an academic advising setting in a university environment, preferably at a four-year institution.
Work experience related to administering services and programs related to supporting varied student populations, program assessment and evaluation, and retention initiatives.
Experience offering a high-level of customer service in a fast-paced environment.
Required Certifications or Licensures
N/A
Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit
The Academic Resource Center (ARC) is housed within the College of Humanities, Social Sciences, and the Arts which houses approximately 240 faculty and 53 staff.

The college is comprised of 14 departments and 1 program:
Department of Anthropology
Department of Art and Art History
Department of Communication Studies
Department of Creative Writing
Department of English
Department of Film Studies
Department of History
Department of International Studies
Department of Music
Department of Philosophy and Religion
Department of Public and International Affairs
Department of Sociology and Criminology
Department of Theatre
Department of World Languages and Cultures
and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs