Description
Salary Range: 

Mid 60's

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) at SMU understands the unique academic challenges faced by student-athletes. ADSA provides academic counseling to help student-athletes make informed decisions about their degree, major selection, plan their semester courses, and maintain their NCAA eligibility.

The tutorial program offers supplemental support for SMU graduate and undergraduate courses, with peer tutors available to assist with content comprehension, study skills, and time management. Reading and Writing Interventionists work with student-athletes to improve their reading and writing skills and identify potential barriers to learning, empowering them to succeed both on and off the field.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position holds a leadership position within the unit responsible for training, oversight and guidance of Senior Academic Counselors, Academic Counselors and others. Working closely with the Senior Director and Director of ADSA, this position will provide interact heavily with athletic staff, campus faculty, and other members of SAES for the purpose of facilitating the academic success of prospective, undergraduate and graduate student-athletes. 

Essential Functions:

Serve as the lead athletic academic counselor for football student-athletes while supporting, guiding,reviewing and training the subsequent football athletic academic counselors. Work closely with other advising units and departments to create personalized academic plans for student-athletes. Coordinate major exploration & selection, the registration process, and graduation planning. 

Oversight of academic interventions for all football student-athletes including frequent individual and group academic support sessions focused on the development of executive functioning skills, study hall, course specific support, and the incorporation of best practices for learning as outlined by ADSA interventionists, SMU faculty, and other applicable education related communities. 

Oversee communication with coaching staff, sport administrators, and appropriate individuals within athletics (approximately 25+ individuals) Design and create academic reporting information to be distributed. Oversee frequent academic updates to coaches and administrators regarding, grade reports, attendance reports, tutoring and general information as its relates to academic performance. 

Participate in the recruiting process for perspective football student-athletes. Conduct presentations, individual meetings, and facilitate/ coordinate with individuals throughout athletics, academic affairs, and the greater SMU campus community. Mostly nights, weekends, holidays and outside of traditional hours of operation for the SMU campus. Occasionally off campus.

Collaborate eligibility monitoring, training and education for football and sports assigned to direct reports. Includes student-athletes at the undergraduate and graduate level. Conduct educational training for ADSA staff members regularly for program specific oversight as assigned by Senior Director. Coordinate with certification officers, Sr. Director , other academic counselors including education, calculators and enrollment confirmations for assignment population.

Collaborate frequently with faculty members throughout the SMU community to ensure a unified and supportive learning environment for Student- Athletes. This includes but is not limited to, faculty feedback, travel letters, regular reporting, and other forms of communication. 

Internal and External Programming- Internal programing and planning to include, ADSA policy and procedure review and Intrusive Advising training for Athletic Academic Counselors. External programing to include Faculty Guest Coach Programming and other internal and external duties as assigned by the Sr. Director. 

Work closely with the campus advising community and other departments to create personalized academic plans for student-athletes. Interact with assigned professional development entities to represent ADSA. Facilitate holistic individual student development. Provide policy & practice input. Represent ADSA on various committees.

Travel with assigned programs as needed to conduct necessary academic related study hall, proctoring, or other needs as determined by the ADSA/ team.
Supervisory Oversight- Oversee 1 Senior Academic Counselor and 2 full-time Athletic Academic Counselors.
Position requires occasional weekend and evening work for recruiting and some study hall supervision. May also require working during University holidays.
Position requires frequent travel with respective team.

Qualifications
Education and Experience:

Master's is required, preferably in counseling, sport administration, educational leadership, psychology, teaching, sociology, or other related field.

A minimum of two years of work experience providing academic advising to student athletes is required. Supervisory/management experience is also required. 

Experience working independently and as a member of a team toward shared goals preferred. Experience monitoring and education on continuing eligibility and institutional rules and regulations desired. Conflict management and career coaching experience is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills. A strong customer service orientation is essential. 

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning, and time management skills. Strong project management skills and a strong focus on attention to detail are essential.

Candidate must have a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs. Must also be a quick learner who is comfortable leveraging various technology in a work setting. Experience with and/or knowledge of Teamworks, Canvas, and/or PeopleSoft preferred. 

Candidate must have knowledge of continuing athletic academic Division I NCAA eligibility rules and regulations. Must also have an in depth understanding of progress toward degree requirements for Division I student-athletes. Division I NCAA initial and continuing rules training and education preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

The position is open until filled.

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by June 16, 2023.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas
Job: Student Services
Organization: Provost - Other
Schedule: Full-time
Shift: Day Job
Employee Status: Regular
Job Type: Staff
Job Level: Manager with Direct Reports
Travel: No
Job Posting: Jun 5, 2023, 10:47:31 AM