Director of General Advising

University of Michigan; Ann Arbor (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Michigan is seeking a Director of General Advising for the Newnan Academic Advising Center within LSA. This on-campus role offers hybrid work (4 days in office, 1 day remote) and reports to the Senior Director.

Lead holistic advising, staff supervision, and strategic initiatives to advance undergraduate student success across 20,000+ majors. The position requires a Master’s in a liberal arts field or related area, plus at least five years in student success work, and strong

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a liberal arts field, higher education, student affairs, social work, or other relevant area of study.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop staff, including recruiting, mentoring, and performance management.
• Experience interpreting student data to inform program decisions and advising practices.
• Exemplary written and oral communication skills with the ability to respond to difficult situations.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and adapt to a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Oversee general advising in the Newnan Advising Center, including supervision of staff and day-to-day operations.
• Lead advising initiatives, strategic planning, and data-informed program development with the Senior Director.
• Develop and maintain web resources and advising policies to support student success.
• Represent Newnan Advising Center in recruitment and retention activities and events.
• Support, coach, and develop a large team of advisors and associate directors.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Data-informed decision-making

Communication

Project management

Change management

Collaboration

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Education

Master's degree (liberal arts / higher education / student affairs)

Job description

Mission Statement

Newnan LSA Advising Center Mission

Our vision is to leverage data-driven, systematic approaches to cultivate inclusive student success initiatives and establish collaborative spaces where students can achieve their academic goals. We partner with students from orientation to graduation to help them:

• Co-Create Their Academic Journey: Helping students navigate degree requirements, policies, and procedures while matching their growing interests with the vast offerings of a liberal arts education.
• Synthesize Experiences: Guiding students to connect their learning inside and outside the classroom, talk through critical decision-making processes, and utilize extensive campus resources.
• Access Specialized & Pre-Professional Pathways: Providing robust advising and experiential learning for students and alumni exploring high-stakes fields through Pre-Health and Pre-Law Advising.
• Transition and Thrive: Spearheading specialized, inclusive programming for specific populations, including the Transfer Student Program, post-orientation initiatives for First-Generation Students, and the coordination of the annual Major/Minor Expo.
• Explore Custom Degrees: Administering and advising for the Bachelor of General Studies (B.G.S.) degree, a unique and customizable academic pathway.

Job Summary

BASIC FUNCTION AND RESPONSIBILITY

The Director of General Advising in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) Newnan Academic Advising Center is responsible for leading LSA general academic advising within the Newnan Advising Center. This position will be responsible for developing holistic and proactive advising practices and strategic initiatives that leverage national best practices, with the incorporation of data, technology, and University resources. The Newnan Advising Center is situated in the Undergraduate Education Division and plays a critical role in the undergraduate educational mission of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) at the University of Michigan. As the largest college on the Ann Arbor campus, LSA serves over 20,000 undergraduate students in over 100 degree programs. This position is primarily on-campus with allowances for hybrid work (i.e. 4 days in office, 1 day remote during the academic year) and reports to the Senior Director for the Newnan Academic Advising Center and General Studies Program.

The Newnan Academic Advising Center is guided by our core mission to support undergraduate liberal arts students in achieving their success and growth by empowering them to make informed and purpose-driven decisions. Newnan is a forward-thinking organization of nearly 50 full-time professional staff members.

Responsibilities*

KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY (KARs)

The Director of General Advising is responsible for overseeing general advising in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) Newnan Academic Advising Center, including supervising professional staff, the day-to-day administration of general advising, leadership of advising initiatives, and strategic planning in partnership with the Senior Director within the Newnan Academic Advising Center.

The Director of General Advising is expected to be knowledgeable of the best practices in academic advising to ensure the delivery of high-quality general advising, assessment activities, and other strategic initiatives. The individual in this position will be expected to demonstrate excellent communication skills; build and maintain a positive staff work environment; facilitate effective relationships with key stakeholders within LSA; handle multiple projects and priorities; and be able to adapt rapidly to change.

The Director is expected to supervise general advising professional staff. As a contributing member of the Newnan leadership team, they will collaborate with other leadership team members and assist in providing functional leadership and administration of the daily operations not only for general advising, but for the overall Newnan Advising Center.

Supervision of General Advising (50%)

• Ensure the development, coordination, and delivery of advising and support initiatives for general advising in the Newnan Advising Center.
• Oversee the daily operations and work of general advising, including the scheduling, organization, facilitation, and participation of staff in the work of the center
• Provide direct supervision to Associate Directors and indirect supervision to a general advising team of more than 25 advisors.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Training and Professional Development to set direction for the development and training of general academic advisors.
• Communicate unit and area goals to staff and lead their implementation
• Lead the year-round performance management process with all reports, including the planning, coaching, and review of each individual's performance.
• Actively engage direct reports in professional development and growth opportunities throughout the year
• Serve as a resource for advisors and support staff
• Meet regularly with direct reports both one-on-one and as a collective team

Strategic Leadership and Administration (35%)

• Support the strategic planning efforts of the Senior Director and implement and support the plan in relation to general advising.
• Work with the Senior Director and leadership team to use data-informed practices to identify and support students of academic concern and develop programs to support student success, retention, and persistence.
• Develop, execute, and assess innovative undergraduate advising programs and practices
• Oversee ongoing assessment of general advising
• Review and innovate advising appointment policies and systems related to general advising
• Keep guiding and procedural documents up-to-date and accessible to advisors and stakeholders regarding students of concern to support shared practices as they relate to general advising.
• Respond to difficult student and parent cases referred to the Director of Newnan, in addition to any inquiries from faculty members, advisors, and administrative staff
• Develop and update web resources for general advising
• Partner with the Senior Director on managing and projecting budget for general advising.
• Represent Newnan and/or the college at recruitment and retention activities and events

Advising Partnerships and Collaborations (10%)

• Partner with other Newnan Advising Center staff, including Director of New Student Orientation Advising and Engagement, Associate Director of Student Success, Associate Director of Pre-Professional Advising, Manager of Advisor Training and Professional Development, Coordinator for Student Communication and Engagement, and the Coordinator for Academic Programs and Collaborations, to ensure a collaborative and productive work environment.
• Serve on both internal and external committees as a representative of Newnan Advising
• Collaborate with LSA data and assessment staff to analyze student success data in order to identify and mitigate barriers for students
• Maintain relationships with LSA advising community and Advising Council of the University of Michigan (ACUM).
• Coordinate collaborative efforts with LSA student government and other student-led organizations

General and Student Success Advising (5%)

• Conduct general liberal arts advising for LSA students (including orientation support, general concerns, etc.)
• Serve as a resource to general advisors also working to support these students
• Maintain contact through email with advisees, including responding to progress reports, outreach to students in academic difficulty, and alerting students to options and new opportunities consistent with their growth and development
• Maintain timely and accurate records of interactions with students, referrals, exceptions to standard procedures, and decisions affecting degree progress
• Review, troubleshoot, and resolve student concerns - advising, degree exceptions, graduation requirements
• Communicate with faculty and other administrators as needed

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

General supervision is received from the Senior Director for the Newnan LSA Academic Advising Center and General Studies Program

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervision is exercised over full-time professional staff, including direct supervision of associate directors and indirect supervision of advisors.

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in a liberal arts field, higher education, student affairs, social work, or other relevant area of study
• Experience supervising and leading full-time staff members in a specific capacity for a minimum of 3 years (i.e. committee work, working groups, onboarding responsibilities, supervision, etc.)
• At least five years' experience with student success work, concepts, and best practices in a college or university setting
• Experience interpreting student data to make data-informed decisions and processes
• Demonstrated ability to manage a wide range of projects
• Exemplary interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with a demonstrated ability to respond to difficult situations
• Ability to learn quickly and provide attention to detail in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions
• Computer competency in software applications for word processing, spreadsheets, and databases
• Proven ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff, including the demonstrated ability to recruit, retain, mentor, and support staff
• Demonstrated ability to promote a professional, cooperative, and inclusive team environment and to collaborate with colleagues across the college and university.
• Experience in managing various aspects of a complex area, with a proven ability to lead teams and manage change as part of an overarching unit-level strategic plan
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to establish positive and respectful working relationships with students, staff, and faculty

Desired Qualifications*

• 8 or more years of leadership experience in a college or university setting
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Experience supervising large teams (i.e. 6 or more team members).
• Evidence of national or regional involvement in the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), or a similar organization or effort related to higher education advising
• Knowledge of the purposes and objectives of a liberal arts education
• Familiarity with higher education student information systems and their applications in academic advising
• Familiarity with operations management and assessment design

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment.

Additional Information

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.