Director of CNS Upper Level Advising (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

About the College of Natural Sciences (CNS)

The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) houses 14 departments and offers more than 20 undergraduate majors for approximately 7000 students. CNS is the largest of the university's colleges and offers a comprehensive range of student services and advising. To better serve the wide range of students and equally diverse range of majors, the college is transitioning to a model of professional advising where all CNS students will be assigned to a team of advisors specializing in their major with a goal of increasing retention, equity of access, completion and belonging in the sciences.

Job Summary

The Director of CNS Upper Level Advising will be responsible for the development, functioning, and supervision of the CNS Upper Level Advising Program that supports all CNS majors in their sophomore through senior year and completion. The Director assists students, faculty, advisors, and parents with issues such as transfer orientation, academic programming, and advising relating to progress within a degree program. In consultation with the CNS student success team, the Director develops, implements, promotes and assesses the college-wide strategic plan for academic advising and student success.

Essential Functions

• Supervises Upper Level Advising Team
  
  
  
  • Serves as direct supervisor of all Associate Directors of Upper Level Advising.
  • Collaborates with CNS and University leadership in the development and execution of the college advising services for CNS students and orientation of new transfer students to CNS.
  • Manages new transfer student advising activities for the college, using data analytics to design effective systems.
  • Supervises all Upper Level Advising staff.
    
    
    
    • Develops and leads recruitment, onboarding, training, and ongoing support and professional development for Upper Level Advisors and peer advisors.
    • Dissemination of relevant policy information, initiatives, or directives to Upper Level advisors.
    • Works in conjunction with the Associate and Assistant Deans to prepare and conduct Upper Level Advisor meetings.
    • Manages communications and campaigns for the Upper Level Advising Program. Coordinates the schedule of campaigns for specific Upper Level cohorts with Upper Level advisors. Collects data and assess the effectiveness of campaign efforts.
    • Preparation and oversight of CNS Upper Level Advising budget.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  
• Contributes to the CNS Student Success Mission
  
  
  
  • Assists in development and execution of specialized advising programs to support and mentor students on academic alert, warning, and probation.
  • Responds to and manages high-stress and sensitive inquiries from parents in accordance with FERPA.
  • Assists higher risk students and students with specialized needs with the support of the academic deans.
  • Represents CNS on committees and councils; participates in evening and weekend activities (e.g., Fall Visit Days, Destination Days, CNS Senior Celebration), and other activities and events that may be developed.
  • Collaborates with the New Students Orientation and Transition (NSOT) leadership team in preparing for the arrival of new CNS transfer students.
  • Collaborates with CNS departments and to ensure that the advising practices and outcomes align with their curricular goals.
  • Partners with CNS departments to train and support departmental goals for their Faculty Mentors.
  • Strategic planning, development, and assessment of advising, retention, and graduation initiatives.
  • Partners with the CNS Career and Professional Development Center to enhance students' pursuit of their career goals, including graduate school applications, and internship and research opportunities.
  • Assesses student success metrics including student retention, completion and satisfaction data and works with CNS leadership to develop strategies for improvement.
  • Promotes a culture of inclusivity for CNS students including monitoring policies and practices that impede student success.
  
  
  
  

Other Functions

• Program analysis and strategic planning and reporting.
• Serves as Academic Dean as needed including but not limited to meeting with students in academic jeopardy, withdrawing from the university, or petitioning for exceptions to academic regulations.
• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equity, inclusiveness, and belonging.
• Works in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the strategic priorities of departments and CNS.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience Certifications, Licensure).

• Master's degree.
• Five (5) years of experience in college level programs focused on academic advising, student success and progress.
• Management and supervisory experience.
• Previous experience serving or working with a culturally diverse population.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge Skills Abilities Education Experience Certifications Licensure)

• Ph.D. or Ed.D.
• Higher Education degrees (bachelors, masters, Ph.D) in a science, education, or related field.
• Understanding and appreciation of science and science education including the synergy between research and the undergraduate experience at the university.
• Demonstrated experience in academic advising and understanding of the best practices and current methods of academic advising and student success
• Training in leadership or supervision.
• Demonstrated commitment to continued learning or professional development on diversity, equity, and justice issues.
• Able to fulfill responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

Work Schedule

• Monday - Friday, 8: 30am - 5: 00pm.
• Some nights and weekends.
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  This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee's work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.
  
  

Salary Information

Level 29

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Along with an application, please submit a resume, cover letter, a statement of your advising philosophy and experience in student success, and a statement of your contributions to inclusive excellence (see below). References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a continuous basis until the position is filled. Early submission are encouraged.

At UMass Amherst and in CNS, we strive to be a community where every individual feels a sense of belonging, where every individual is included, and where every individual is valued. You can find these values and goals here: https://www.umass.edu/strategicplan/strategic-plan. For this reason, we request that all applicants submit a Contributions to Inclusive Excellence Statement that addresses how you see yourself contributing to our community and campus climate and/or our shared goals of building a more inclusive, equitable, and diverse community.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.