United Spinal Association Jobs

The Assistant Dean position in the Office of the Hobart and William Smith Deans is responsible for providing academic advice and guidance to HWS students and works in close collaboration with faculty, academic resource staff, campus life staff, and administrators. The Office of the HWS Deans includes four administrative, academic deans and 1.5 support staff. This position reports directly to Provost/Dean of Faculty and serves as a member of the Academic Affairs team. The Assistant Dean serves as a central member of a team of positive academic supports for undergraduate students from their first semester through graduation, and thus the position requires an in-depth knowledge of academic curricula, policies, and paths to degree. This position requires flexibility along with an ability and willingness to occasionally work nights and weekends as part of events in celebration of the student academic experiences as well as those sponsored by other offices on campus including Admissions, Institutional Advancement, Campus Life, and others.

The Assistant Dean, in addition to the responsibilities above, coordinates all contact and outreach with specific cohorts of students, including but not limited to: representative student leaders (e.g.., class presidents, student trustees, etc.), academic achievers, students in honor societies and student government roles, international students, first generation students, as well as students in opportunity and cohort programs (e.g., HEOP, POSSE, etc.). In addition, the Assistant Dean serves as a contact for students in their class and first-year seminar cohorts with the International Student Success Manager, the Director of Opportunity Programs, the Posse Liaison, athletic coaches, and multiple academic governance and other institutional committees and working groups.

Essential Responsibilities:

Student Academic Progress

· Serve as Office of the Deans academic advisor for approximately 500 currently enrolled students.

· Provide holistic support in each student’s academic journey during their time at HWS until graduation.

· Provide guidance, in coordination with academic advisors and the Registrar’s Office, with course selection and registration pertaining to majors/minors.

· Help students connect with other academic and resource offices on campus, such as the Center for Teaching & Learning and Global Education, among others.

· Help students understand majors' connections to graduate studies and/or career paths.

· Communicate with students regularly to apprise them of semester events (registration, etc.) and end-of-semester status relating to such things as Dean's List, academic review, and other important elements of their academic progress towards degree.

· Work closely with students on academic warning and academic probation to ensure future success.

· Verify prolonged absences from classes due to illness and/or other emergency reasons.

· Perform basic degree requirement audits and advise students on how and when to complete these requirements in coordination with colleagues in the Registrar’s Office and other academic advisors.

Student Wellbeing

· Provide integrated support to students as they experience college life and varied aspects of their own development.

· Help students to connect with various co-curricular offerings on and off campus.

· Work with students to identify and build a sense of academic community on campus.

· Field questions from students, parents, and faculty/staff and other HWS community members related to all aspects of students' HWS experiences.

· Meet with students who are experiencing concerns with their academic experience at the Colleges.

· When appropriate, change students’ academic status and readmit students, often in collaboration with Campus Life staff and the Committee on Standards. When appropriate, work with Campus Life to help place students on and off medical leave of absence.

· Assist students in need of planning personal and medical leaves of absence.

· Work with students and campus colleagues to assist students in coping with emergencies or crises, including serious illnesses, deaths, or other life-threatening circumstances.

· Help students connect with other resource offices on campus, including the Counseling Center, Spiritual Engagement, etc.

Administrative

· Serve on assigned faculty committees ex-officio to provide student perspectives and advocacy of student interests, when appropriate.

· Process Change of Student Status Notices for students taking leaves, going part-time, and changing projected graduation dates.

· Verify enrollment status, provide behavior certifications and recommendations for current students and alumni/ae, and meet with and assist investigators performing background investigations.

· Maintain students’ general education files under FERPA regulations.

· Respond to questions and concerns from students, students' parents, faculty, and staff.

· Provide certifications and recommendations for students upon request.

· Serve on ad hoc committees and Taskforces (Retention, Honors, etc.) and perform other related duties as assigned.

Other Information:

· This is a full-time 12-month, benefits-eligible position. This position description is not all-inclusive as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned. Work hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the academic year, with a possible shortened workweek during the scheduled summer hours’ time period. Salary range is $70,000 - $75,000.

Minimum Qualifications:

· Master’s degree required; doctorate or terminal degree preferred; minimum 5 years’ experience as a full-time professional or the equivalent required, including providing student services at a college/university or another educational setting that involves academic advising and administering academic policies.

· Demonstrable ability to work collegially with a diverse group of faculty, staff, and students.

· Strong communication skills and willingness to take initiative.

· Commitment to student success and experience helping students manage conflict and competing demands.

· Awareness of and sensitivity to unique social, cultural, and economic circumstances of others.

· Highly reliable, flexible, helpful, positive, and adaptable.

· Experience with student information systems such as PeopleSoft.

· This position description is not all-inclusive, as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned.

Hobart and William Smith Colleges are committed to providing a non-discriminatory and harassment-free educational, living and working environment for all members of the HWS community, including students, faculty, staff, volunteers, and visitors. HWS prohibits discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities on the basis of age, color, disability, domestic violence victim status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other status protected under the law. Discrimination on the basis of sex includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual misconduct including stalking and intimate partner violence, and gender-based harassment that does not involve conduct of a sexual nature.