Position Summary:
The Assistant Director supports the mission of the Office of Academic Advising by helping students explore academic opportunities, identify goals, and implement plans to reach those goals. This academic advising position is focused less on routine, transactional check-ins and more on meaningful, developmental advising. Advisors in this role will not manage a traditional student cohort requiring weekly touchpoints. Instead, they will engage in in-depth conversations with students about academic planning, exploring and preparing for post-baccalaureate pathways, and connecting students with relevant campus resources to support their goals. The Assistant Director advises across all disciplines and academic interests, including but not limited to students expressing interest in health professions, law school, graduate school, undecided students, transfer students, students seeking area majors, overloads, and readmissions.
The Assistant Director assists with engaging the advising community, including faculty advisors, collaborative offices, peer academic advisors, and all undergraduate students through training, seminars, programs, events, and related initiatives.
The Assistant Director contributes to the Peer Academic Advising Program and Academic Fellows and Mentors Societies. The Assistant Director will have responsibilities for health professions advising and may take a leadership role in other advising programming at the discretion of the director. The Assistant Director assists with the research and implementation of best practices, policies, procedures, organizational tasks, and advising assessment. The Assistant Director assists the director of Academic Advising in the administration of the Office of Academic Advising, including strategic planning, some budget responsibilities, representing the department on various committees and workgroups, and acting on behalf of the director or associate director(s) as requested.
Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.
Workplace Requirements:
This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.
Hiring Range: $58,000 - $62,000 annually, contingent upon qualifications and experience.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.
Minimum Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree
Experience may not be substituted for the education requirement
2+ years of experience in student services and/or academic affairs
Skills:
Excellent oral and written communication skills; excellent interpersonal and organizational skills; independence and initiative; proactive attitude
Must be able to interact and collaborate with staff and faculty leaders, gain their trust and confidence, and provide training to Rice’s advising community
Must have the diplomacy, patience, and tact necessary to successfully address a wide range of interactions with administrators, faculty, staff, students, parents, and community members
Must be able to handle routine interruptions
Preferences:
Experience in academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, and/or instructional experience at a university
Experience with early-alert intervention and program assessment
Experience utilizing educational technology platforms such as Navigate, Banner, Degree Works, Canvas, and Slate
Experience with Rice University faculty, staff, students, and collaborative offices, or an understanding of a residential liberal arts college
Essential Functions:
Provides training, information sessions, and engagement opportunities for faculty advisors, collaborative offices, peer academic advisors, and community members
Assists with assigned advising committees through letter writing, data collection, and assessment
Advises undergraduate students across a wide variety of interests and needs
Assists with the preparation and delivery of Orientation Week programming
Prepares and provides presentations for administrators, faculty advisors, collaborative offices, and students during Orientation Week and throughout the academic year
Researches and reports on current and emerging best and progressive practices for general and specialized areas of academic advising
Assists with creating and distributing academic advising resources, including information from peer institutions, national associations, Rice academic departments, and collaborative offices
Advises students through individual appointments and centralized and residential college information sessions
Performs all other duties as assigned
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Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at [email protected] for support.
If you have any additional questions, please email us at [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.
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