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Senior Assistant Dean -- College of Arts & Sciences

It is an exciting time to join the College of Arts & Sciences’ new Student Academic Affairs Division. Student Academic Affairs, housed within the College Office, comprises four central functional areas: four-year advising and the first-year experience; student progress and academic success; academic policies and administration; and post-graduate and pre-professional planning. This Senior Assistant Dean position will oversee the functional area of Student Progress and Academic Success, lead a team of FTEs, provide comprehensive academic advising to undergraduate students and contribute to the vision for programs and events that enhance the academic mission of the College of Arts & Sciences and guide students from first year through graduation. The largest undergraduate program at Washington University, the College of Arts & Sciences contains approximately 4,600 degree seeking undergraduate students and more than 600 non-A&S second majors and minors.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

  • Leads the Student Progress and Academic Success functional area with formal supervision duties of four to six Academic Advisors and Assistant Deans.
  • Assumes responsibility for individual programs within the functional area, including the development, coordination, execution, maintenance, and assessment of assigned program(s). Programs include but are not limited to academic actions; retention programming; satisfactory academic progress; leaves of absences and medical leaves of absence; and the coordination of retention efforts and outreach with faculty, staff, campus partner, and students.
  • Makes decisions regarding annual implementation processes of assigned program(s).
  • Oversees all programs within that functional area ensuring alignment with the strategic vision for Student Academic Affairs.
  • Collaborates with senior leadership in the College and direct reports to set the direction and goals for programs within the functional area.
  • Brings a vision for the functional area and serve as a critical thought partner for direct reports in shaping program development.
  • Manages, builds, and leads strong teams to support the mission and vision of functional area.
  • Assists direct reports with program implementation and assessment.
  • Evaluates the impact of the programs within the functional area and communicate with the Director of Student Academic Affairs on outcomes and areas for strategic development.
  • Works closely with colleagues in the College Office on overlapping projects to ensure a holistic student academic experience.
  • Works with the Director of Student Academic Affairs and other colleagues to ensure the priorities for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College are embedded in all functional area activities, programs, and events.
  • In consultation with the Director of Student Academic Affairs, provides training, development, motivation, and supervision of direct reports, including employee performance review and maintenance of staffing plans.
  • Serves as a four-year academic advisor for undergraduate students in each class.
  • Provides academic advising to a caseload of approximately 80 students to support student retention and graduation initiatives.
  • Interprets and explains university policies, procedures, and curriculum to students, faculty, staff, and administration.
  • Identifies and helps resolve obstacles impeding the academic success of students.
  • Analyzes students’ academic and personal issues or concerns and provide referral or intervention services.
  • Supports students in developing a required academic plan to meet graduation requirements.
  • Coordinates mentoring or specific programming for students within various academic programs.
  • Guides students through college and university level administrative processes.
  • Liaises with Arts & Sciences departments and programs to ensure a holistic student academic experience.
  • Works with campus partners to ensure holistic support and tracking of student progress.
  • Maintains appropriate student records and documents student interactions.
  • Supports the College Office with additional programming and mission critical priorities.
  • May serve as an academic advisor across areas of the College Office, for example as a progress counselor, pre-professional (pre-health, pre-grad, pre-law) advisor, fellowship advisor, skills coach, and post-baccalaureate premedical advisor.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Applicant Special Instructions

Please include a cover letter and resume.

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Doctoral degree.
  • Previous experience advising students in a higher education or academic setting.
  • Experience with retention and student success programming and support.
  • Experience working with diverse students and helping drive academic success.
  • Experience evaluating and developing programs to proactively engage with students with academic or personal challenges.
  • Experience with retention and student success programming and support is highly preferred.
  • Sound judgment, decision making ability, and high-level maturity in sensitive and confidential situations involving students, staff, and parents.
  • Proven interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal with students, faculty, staff, and other campus stakeholders.
  • Strong commitment to cultivating relationships with students in the context of a learning environment and to designing and delivering excellent academic and student affairs.
  • Ability to build relationships, credibility, and consensus among diverse populations of students, staff, and faculty.
  • Ability to lead, manage, and build strong teams to accomplish the vision and mission of unit.
  • Ability to successfully manage complex operations and supervise staff at various levels, including organizing and coaching diverse individuals.
  • Ability to step in as a strong individual contributor and team member on various projects as needed.
  • Ability to anticipate issues, properly assess pertinent data, and develop and implement practical solutions to complex issues.
  • High degree of self-motivation and productivity with an ability to manage time, set and meet deadlines, and follow-through on projects independently and in a timely manner with varying degrees of pressure.
  • Ability to be highly organized, accurate, detail-oriented, and possess a strong attention to detail.
  • Ability to project genuineness and warmth as a service-oriented communicator.
  • Ability to anticipate student needs and act to address them.

Required Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree and seven years of relevant experience in higher education setting or a master’s degree and five years of relevant experience in higher education setting.
  • Significant knowledge of student academic affairs programs and events, student success and retention trends and best practices, a broad understanding of liberal arts curricula and of concepts, practices, and procedures related to undergraduate education, and the ability to interact with various campus partners.

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