Academic Advising Dean

The College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Virginia is seeking to fill two Academic Advising Dean positions as they embark upon a major investment in undergraduate advising. Academic Advising Deans are senior-level academic advisors with a demonstrated commitment to the liberal arts through their advising, administrative, and teaching experience, who oversee the academic progress of undergraduate students in the College. While students have a primary pre-major or major advisor, Academic Advising Deans handle complex matters such as mentoring students on academic warning or suspension, coordinating with and advising faculty on student academic matters, processing student appeals of academic decisions, working with students in crisis and coordinating university resources for them, and interpreting College academic policy for students and faculty alike. Each semester Advising Deans oversee the academic audit to identify students in potential academic jeopardy and help them develop a plan for working toward graduation. Advising Deans also teach within the College’s General Education curriculum, the highlight of which are the Engagements, a sequence of courses that celebrate learning while introducing first-year students to the liberal arts and sciences through cross-disciplinary seminar topics.

Academic Advising Deans model a culture of student-centered approaches to advising. While most Academic Advising Deans work with a general population of students, some are assigned to a specialized portfolio of students, such as athletes, veterans, transfers or Echols scholars. Academic Advising Deans are expected to participate in professional development activities, mentor early-career advisors, and act as a resource to faculty and/or departments seeking guidance on various issues. 

Advising Deans in the College of Arts & Sciences have a demonstrated commitment to the Liberal Arts and Sciences, an ability to understand the College curriculum and an ability to help students navigate academic policies. Critically, advising deans demonstrate an empathetic and student-centered approach to support students' intellectual and emotional development and academic success. 

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Serve as advising dean for a designated caseload of students through proactive outreach, support, and education. Develop a rapport of trust and accessibility with assigned students. Ensure accurate advice and quality support, contributing to persistence and a positive student experience.
• Interpret College and University policies relevant to academic progress and degree requirements.
• Use a variety of technical platforms to document student interactions, assess academic requirements and progress to degree, and make referrals to partner groups across Grounds
• Develop a plan for academic progress for students flagged by the academic audit and at academic risk.
• Monitor student progress and develop graduation plans in partnership with individual students. Provide information regarding curriculum, policies, procedures, opportunities, and guidelines for academic programs.
• Evaluate student needs and provide appropriate resource referral to career, academic, counseling, and student life resources and opportunities.
• Support students through educational transition processes (ex. orientation, exploration, transfer, transition, and graduation.)
• Recommend actions related to academic warning, suspension, and dismissal of students. Identify opportunities for high-performing student engagement and goal attainment.
• Support student needs with sound equity and inclusion practices for student success.
• Engage ongoing professional development and training to maintain up-to-date knowledge about advising concepts, practices, policies, technologies, and student success needs at the university and in higher education.
• Function as a member of the College advising team to ensure the proper workflow and outcomes of the unit.
• Liaise between the College and University offices focusing on student affairs to ensure student service functions are performed consistently.
• Provide academic advising to facilitate students' successful and timely educational planning and degree completion in alignment with their educational and career goals.
• Advocate for the College’s liberal arts mission to various stakeholders across the University.
• Teach in the College’s First-Year Engagement Program.

Qualified candidates must have a master's degree and five years of relevant experience. Experience in higher education from academic advising, administration, and/or teaching is prefer A PhD in the liberal arts is preferred.

For additional information about the position, please contact Karlin Luedtke at kl5k@virginia.edu.

This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally requires traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

This position is located in Charlottesville, VA.

This is an exempt level, benefited position. For more information on the benefits at UVA, visit hr.virginia.edu/benefits.

Review of applications will begin October 14, 2024 and continue until all positions are filled. This position will not sponsor applicants for work visas. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
 

To Apply: 

Apply here.  Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile by searching ‘Find Jobs" and then R0060872. Complete an application online with the following documents: 

• Cover Letter 
• CV 
• Statement of advising philosophy addressing support of first year students, teaching, and advising (no more than two pages) 

Upload all materials into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Alternatively, merge all documents into one PDF for submission. Applications that do not contain all required documents will not receive full consideration. 

References will be completed via UVA’s standardized process Skill Survey. A total of five references will be requested via SkillSurvey during the final phase of the interview process. 

For questions about the application process, please contact Melanie Sponaugle at unw5dq@virginia.edu. 

For more information about UVA and the Charlottesville community please see http://www.virginia.edu/life/charlottesville and https://embarkcva.com/. 

The University of Virginia, including the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff. We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences. We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, veteran or military status, and family medical or genetic information.