Executive Director, Advisement And Student Success

The Executive Director, Advisement and Student Success is a leadership role dedicated to advancing the institution's mission by aligning and integrating the advising services across campuses and developing a transformational Academic Advising model that reflects best practices and optimal support for students. Development of a holistic and unified approach to academic advisement and student support will be the priority for the Executive Director. The Executive Director will be responsible for collaborating and sharing information with Academic and Student Services departments to provide accurate information to departmental staff and the student's they serve. Evidence-based advisement strategies in collaboration with academic and student services departments will be implemented and maintained to deliver optimal student service in the areas such as academic advisement, course registration, and retention, with a focus on improving student success metrics and degree or certificate program completion rates. As an integral part of a student success model, the Executive Director will have oversight of the Academic Support Services department as well as the Academic Advisement and Retention department.

Travel will be required, as this position will work on both the Gloucester and Cumberland Campuses.

• Serves as the chief administrator for all academic advising and academic support policies and procedures across the institution.

• Oversees the development and implementation of a strategic plan for academic advising, program planning, and student success that aligns with the college's mission and goals to create a unified, holistic advising system for the College.

• Responsible for ensuring the consistent identification, collection, and reporting of data related to the assessment of advising practices, student success metrics advisor performance.

• Serves as a point of contact for students with academic advisement issues and works with appropriate college personnel to investigate, refer, and resolve issues efficiently with a student-centered approach.

• Works collaboratively with institutional "stakeholders" and external partners to ensure success of continuity and delivery of the college's advising program.

• Coordinates and ensures the use of unified information platforms to share student information, monitor progress and analyze student data as appropriate for example, identify at-risk students and develop targeted plans to support the work of the academic advisors with strategies to improve student success, retention rates, and program completion and ensures the work of the academic advisors and academic support staff are trained in using these systems to their fullest capabilities.

• Utilizes student success data and student development research to inform decisions regarding student learning and advising program outcomes, including the assessment of the advising program towards continuous improvement.

• Works with all those involved in academic advisement and academic support to ensure there are appropriate diverse periodic training and retaining opportunities, including regular information updates among and between academic and student affairs departments. This includes developing a comprehensive manual and training criteria using best practices.

• Coordinates communications between advisement and other college departments through regular meetings to ensure regular and consistent communication, thereby keeping academic advisors and academic support staff up to date on program changes, new offerings, and adjustments to requirements.

• Recommend, reviews, and revises policies, requirements, and procedures to provide the holistic advising experience of academic program guidance along with supporting students' overall success and wellbeing to promote persistence and retention.

• Collaborates with Rowan University staff to enhance advisement experience for students enrolled in our partnership programs, including 3+1 and Rowan Choice in addition to supporting a University College model for higher education.

• Supports the onboarding of new students through Student Orientation programs for new, returning, transfer and visiting students.

• Provides regular reports on the effectiveness of academic advising and related departmental programs, including data on retention rates, graduation rates and related student outcomes.

• Evaluates staff performance to facilitate the achievement of department, division, and institution objectives.

• Manages departmental budget, allocates resources, and seeks fiscally responsible opportunities to support and enhance advising and student success initiatives.

• Participates in a variety of institutional committee activities in support of department objectives and maintains active involvement in professional organizations and related affinity groups.

• Ensures regular and consistent assessment of advising practices and keeps up to date with best practices in academic advising, student retention, and higher education by attending conferences, workshops, and maintaining relevant certifications.

• Ensures compliance with FERPA and related federal and state regulations as they relate to academic advising and record keeping.

• Ensures representation of advising and academic support department at campus-wide events including open houses, graduation ceremonies and related programs.

• Performs other duties, as assigned.

SUPERVISION

• Directors of Academic Advisement

• Director of Academic Support Centers

• Master's Degree in a related area of study required, Ph.D./Ed.D. preferred.

• Five years of direct advising experience in a community college or 4-year institution setting, with at least three years of direct leadership and supervisory experience

• Minimum three years' demonstrated experience with project and personnel management.

• Experience with the Higher Education ERP systems, Ellucian Colleague and Banner preferred.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access required.

• Proficiency in oral and written communications and interpersonal relations as it relates to students, staff, faculty, administration, community partners, including the ability to present to small and large groups.

• Ability to work a flexible schedule with varied hours to meet department and College needs.

• Ability to travel frequently between multiple campus locations, utilizing personal vehicle.

• Possess the ability to work well and communicate effectively with prospective and current students, staff, faculty, administration, and colleagues and community partners in large and small settings.

• Demonstrated cultural competency, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff and a commitment to a student-centered environment.

If certain conditions exist, this position requires you to have access to personal technological equipment and capabilities to perform your duties. COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at Rowan College of South Jersey. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the College. For more information about RCSJ's vaccine requirements, visit the RCSJ Coronavirus Updates website for the latest information. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical activity of the position:

• Standing

• Walking

• Talking

• Hearing

• Repetitive motion of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers such as picking, pinching, typing

Physical requirements of the position:

• Light work- exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or 10 pounds of force frequently

Visual acuity requirements of the position:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity

Workplace conditions of the position:

• The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Women and Minorities Encouraged to Apply

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

As a New Jersey First Act Employer, new employees must establish a primary residence in New Jersey within one year unless an exemption applies.