At Unity, sustainability isn't a buzzword. It's the foundation of our entire approach and has been for more than 50 years.

We apply sustainability principles to everything we do, from our properties around the State of Maine, to our online degrees offered to students everywhere, to our enrichment experiences and entrepreneurial endeavors at locations from northern Maine to Arizona to Brazil.

Engage with Unity College and you'll start to ask tough questions, challenge the status quo, and envision new possibilities. If taking the lead in creating a more sustainable future sounds like the future you want, we can make it happen.

JOB OVERVIEW

The Distance Education Associate Dean of Advising assists the Dean of Retention & Completion in the oversight of the design, delivery, and quality of student support, as well as completion and graduation services for all Distance Education students. This position leads in the implementation of student experience initiatives to position the College as a forward-thinking leader in student services.

Within the framework of functional leadership, the Associate Dean of Advising works closely with the Advising team to achieve student retention and persistence goals. The Associate Dean of Advising is responsible for ensuring that services are accessible, consistent, innovative, and supportive of all Distance Education audiences. This position reports to the Distance Education Dean of Retention & Completion.

POSITION SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND EXPECTATIONS

• Provide leadership to the Advising Team in maintaining a culture of superior customer service through example, encouragement, and direction to staff and faculty.
• Ensure that standardized practices for student enrollment are implemented.
• Monitor the team and individual progress in meeting Distance Education retention and graduation goals.
• Act as Lead Advisor through the supervision and oversight of Distance Education Advisors. Coordinate the training of Advisors, while monitoring their student interactions for maximum student support, and ensures appropriate trainings and professional development for the advising staff.
• Serve as an Advisor for up to 75 students, in addition to any unassigned students or overflow as needed.
• Assist DE Leadership in providing student support services including academic advising activities, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance and support, registration, career services, billing and financial aid.
• Conduct performance evaluations on members of the team as assigned.
• Maintain student onboarding, orientation, student services and student support materials. Assist in creating structures for student academic support and design academic support systems including tutoring, counseling, and professional skills.
• Collect and communicate data on course rollout and curriculum needs.
• Gather course enrollment information to support course delivery assessment, graduation processes, and alumni connections.
• Direct advising, degree audit, and student academic planning processes.
• Oversee the use of administrative software systems for delivering student services; providing feedback in the application and implementation of software.
• Pro-actively communicate challenges, successes, and failures to DE Leadership.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION SPECIFIC EDUCATION, SKILLS AND COMPENTCIES:

Required:

• Master's degree
• Minimum of 5 years higher education administration experience, with experience in delivering student support services, including direct online student support.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Proven problem solving and time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with strong interpersonal skills.
• Positive attitude, flexibility, proven ability and willingness to work with students from diverse political/socioeconomic backgrounds and a wide range of physical and academic abilities.
• Good skills in word processing, spreadsheets and computerized database systems.
• Ability to function effectively within a matrix organizational structure, maintaining open lines of communication while being discreet, courteous and well poised.
• Passion for Unity College's mission.
• Valid Maine Driver's License with a good driving record.

Preferred:

• ADA training and experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting.
• Supervisory and staff development skills to effectively manage teams, inspire quality performance, and enhance morale.

This position will be located at 49 Farm View Rd. New Gloucester, ME.

Benefits

Unity College offers a generous benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, PTO, and a company match on our 403b retirement plan. Waiting periods will apply.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should click on the “Apply Now” button and submit a resume and cover letter.

At Unity College, we don't just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our students, and our community. Unity College is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer.

PI161827097