"Director of Academic Advising and Support"

About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts:

At MCLA, we're here for all - and focused on each - of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.

Job Description:

The Director, reporting to the Executive Director of Student Persistence, is responsible for oversight and representation of the Office of Academic Advising & Support (AA&S), and contributes to collaborative campus-wide student persistence and engagement initiatives. The Director's oversight includes, but is not limited to, the Trailblazer Tutor Program, the Undeclared Advising Model, Success Coaching, intervention and course registration strategies, First Year Student Onboarding projects, FTFY and Transfer advising, transition and persistence models, learning platforms, communications, and various academic and holistic supports for students. The Director serves as a direct student advisor and success coach who liaises with faculty across academic disciplines, committees and other administrative offices for the advancement and promotion of coordinated student success, support, and equity. The Director supervises staff, student employees, and the office.

• Supervise and manage all administrative, programmatic, academic calendar procedures, and operational functions of The Office of Academic Advising and Support (AA&S). Collaboratively contribute to the design, implementation, and assessment of academic advising and support models. Oversee and inform on program models, policies and compliance. Collaboratively lead and contribute to the strategic development, implementation and assessment of academic advising and support models that align with institutional priorities.
• Supervise and coach employees. Promote an accountable, inclusive, engaging, and collaborative team. Facilitate professional development and provide guidance. Structure, discuss, and monitor the progress of each team member's portfolios of assigned commitments. Conduct performance evaluations. Engage team members in strategic planning, implementation and assessment of advising practices, models, and programing including cross campus collaborations, such as and not limited to, the First Year Experience, summer registration, persistence models, and upper-level Student Success coaching.
• Represent AA&S on the College Care Team with the Executive Director for Student Persistence. Lead an internal AA&S intervention advising work group and enrollment management support responses. Provide direct coordinated academic focused care/case management to students. Assign outreach and intervention strategies to members of the AA&S team. Monitor progress, outcomes and resources on behalf of students at risk. Structure proactive and coordinated communications and notes.
• Prepare, manage and report on the AA&S budget. Accountable for an operating budget, the stewardship of resources, and signature grant-funded allocations.
• Serve as a direct academic advisor and success coach. Create, partner and apply holistic and wellness approaches to student development and academic advising. Foster a welcoming and supportive transition for first year, transfer students, as well as students transitioning between academic years, e.g., first year, sophomore, junior, senior, re-entry, & graduate. Foster engagement, persistence and completion by maintaining a robust advising & coaching caseload within the commitments of the Office of Academic Advising & Support.
• Enhance retention, success, persistence and belonging of all students through universal programs. Through customized practices and initiatives, intentionally serve students where gaps and opportunities exist. Partner with colleagues to integrate support for all students, and particularly for students of color, First Gen students, students with disabilities, neuro-divergent students, veterans, athletes, international students, honor's program affiliated students, transfer students, over 25 yr. age student population, and various identity affiliations.
• Conduct ongoing advising, coaching and intervention sessions with students in person and within online platforms. In a timely and accurate manner, document information and sessions on student success platforms, EAB Navigate360 and other advising dashboards. Utilize student information systems, shared advising platforms, and learning management systems, to support holistic advising sessions.
• Provide vision and oversight for the Trailblazer Tutor Program. Recruit, hire, train, observe and supervise students and advising fellows providing course-specific peer tutoring in various academic support programs.
• Oversee, and ensure tutoring spaces provide an atmosphere conducive to learning and work to effectively integrate the use of technology in tutoring wherever possible. Collaborate with other campus partners to connect initiatives that promote culture, learning, and community via the use and design of space, direct advising tutoring models, technology, and engagement.
• Set shared priorities and collaborate with campus partners, such as TRiO SSS and Disability Resources, Early College, Center for Teaching and Learning, First Generation Committee, and Multicultural Education Resource Center to identify and provide pedagogical enhancements, events, workshops, and digital materials.
• Gather and compile data and assessment reports related to use, student success and retention rates, and student satisfaction with services to inform continuous improvement and reporting. Work with the Executive Director for Student Persistence and staff of Institutional Research to analyze and interpret student success, equity gaps, and academic intervention trends.
• Supervise marketing "campaign" strategies and communications to promote the availability of academic advising and support services. Develop strategy for content in the student success management system tailored towards specific student populations. Maintains the student-facing app that is consistent with language and alignment with institutional policies with an emphasis on the student voice.
• Co-lead and contribute to the implementation and maintenance of student success management system (EAB Navigate) for faculty, staff, and students, including training and early adopter launches.
• Craft Success Coaching initiatives for specific populations of students providing direction and programming for academic success across campus.
• Participate in strategies to reduce late course registration, or to improve retention and re-entry, or other enrollment, engagement and persistence intervention strategies.
• Guide students to design and implement formal (required) and informal (self-initiated) academic success plans that include goals, objectives and resources that address need areas, their goals and policy requirements (e.g., academic standing). Apply principals of appreciative advising, build rapport and trust with students to support successful navigation of their paths, goal completion, policy compliance and student progress toward goals. Monitor and collaborate on student progress, interventions, recognition of progress, and calibration.
• Empower students as scholars, in self-efficacy and in holistic wellbeing utilizing appreciative inquiry, evolving standards in higher education, wellness and high impact educational practices.
• Consult with supervisor and designated colleagues on tiered advising matters pertaining to students. Serve as a mandated reporter per the MA State EO Plan and Federal Title IX guidelines. Follow FERPA regulations, institutional policy and ethical guidelines for student confidentiality notes and records.
• Develop and implement resources and outreach strategies to increase help-seeking, course attendance, engagement and well-being behaviors of students. Remove obstacles to student access to universal and customized support.
• Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed within the scope of related work duties and the priorities of the role and the office. At times, a flexible schedule may be required beyond specific business hours. This is a predominantly in person, on campus, direct student-facing role.

Requirements:

• Minimum earned Master's degree in Education, Psychology, Sociology or related field.
• 3+ years of professional experience in an academic setting, preferably with college students. Evidence of working effectively with students from different backgrounds.
• Experience with academic advising and support services or related services in higher education.
• Knowledge of academic advising practices, student development theory, holistic approaches to advising, and wellness models.
• 2+ years of supervisory, program and assessment leadership, and team oversight. Ability to work independently, and collaboratively, as well as in consultation on departmental priorities.
• Evidence of successful collaboration with institutional and community partners to advance institutional priorities and promote equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Proven strong decision making, intercultural communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong focus on proactive student support, innovative problem-solving skills, flexibility, attention to detail and organization, and ability to excel in an evolving environment.
• Knowledge and practice with some of the following educational technology platforms, such as, but not limited to, SIS-Banner, LMS-Canvas, advising dashboards and reporting tools, e.g., EAB Navigate, Degree Works, Maxient, and Argos. Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft products. Knowledge of FERPA regulations and ethical guidelines for student confidentiality notes and records.

Additional Information:

This is a full-time, benefited position in the APA bargaining unit. The salary range for this position is $74,100 - $79,000 per year. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both. Lucas Morrill Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 Telephone: (413) 662-5103 Titleix@mcla.edu U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights 33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424 Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172 OCR.Boston@ed.gov

Application Instructions:

Applicants should electronically submit an application by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below.