Assistant Director, Undergraduate Advising

Villanova University, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Villanova, PENNSYLVANIA
Deadline: ;

Posting Details

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Posting Details (Default Section)


Posting Number: 20243900S
Position Title: Assistant Director, Undergraduate Advising
Position Type: Staff
Location: Villanova, PA
Recruitment Type: Internal/External Applicants
Work Schedule: full-time/12-months
Avg Hours Week
Department: 257-Clay Center
Position Summary:
The Assistant Director, Undergraduate Advising serves as the primary academic advisor for students during their four years in the Villanova School of Business (VSB) and also serves as part of a three-member advising team responsible for advising two catalog years of students ( approximately 40% of first-years and juniors or approximately 40% of sophomores and seniors). The Assistant Director communicates with students keeping them informed of important deadlines, information, and events throughout the academic year. The individual in this position co-manages either VSB Peer Advisors, Peer Tutors, or Advising Events and coordinates communications with students and parents while fostering within VSB students a culture of empowerment by promoting individual achievement, responsibility, and accountability.
The Assistant Director continually assesses the needs and interests of VSB students by staying current with trends and technology and adapts/improves services offered by the Clay Center as a result of student input, current innovative approaches and national trends.
Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian order. Diversity and inclusion have been and will continue to be an integral component of Villanova University’s mission. The University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Academic Advisor:
  • Serve as the primary academic advisor for students in two catalog years.
  • Advise/meet students individually and in groups regarding the development and implementation of their academic plan, including curriculum, majors, minors, and resources available.
  • Assist students in their educational progress, exploring service, leadership, experiential education and extracurricular opportunities, and setting goals.
  • Monitor advisees’ academic progress and maintain accurate student files.
  • Regularly communicate with advisees throughout the year, disseminate information to incoming first-year students during the summer, advise regarding registration, course information, and important deadlines (e.g., WX).
  • Respond in a timely manner to student and parent inquiries.
  • Review study abroad course selections with students in coordination with the Office of Education Abroad (OEA); meet individually with students to review their program of study and degree requirements.
  • Evaluate requests for pre-matriculated credit and summer courses taken at other institutions.
  • Coordinate with student support offices and departments across campus (Learning Support Services, Center for Access, Success and Achievement, University Counseling Center, Office of Disability Services, Office of International Students) and facilitate student referrals as appropriate.
  • Frequently review advising services to remain current with national trends, recent technology, and campus policies.


Peer Advisor (PA), Peer Tutor (PT), and/or Advising Event Management:
  • Oversee all general program operations throughout the calendar year and serve as primary contact for program alongside co-manager.
  • PA: Oversee recruitment and application process; deliver, review and update orientation training, on-going training, and evaluation of the program.
  • PT: Oversee recruitment and application process; coordinate Peer Tutor schedule; manage Blackboard site and website; work with faculty and campus offices to facilitate and coordinate tutoring process.
  • Advising Events: Develop and deliver annual VSB New Student Orientation, Student Resource Fair, VSB Majors and Minors Fair, and Sophomore Major Declaration and other faculty/student initiatives as needed.

Special Projects:
  • Assist the Associate Director with class-specific processes and initiatives (e.g., summer mailing and advisor videos to new students, sophomore major declaration, and degree completion review.)
  • Stay connected to trends within advising and higher education by participating in relevant professional development activities and/or associations (i.e., NACADA)
  • Serve on VSB Committees as required.
  • Perform additional duties and assist with special projects as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in counseling, business, higher education, or a related field.
  • 3 years of full-time, professional experience in academic advising or related experience in higher education.
  • Experience in undergraduate student academic advising with an understanding of the academic, personal, and professional needs of undergraduate students.
  • Sincere commitment to developing the academic, professional and personal well-being of students.
  • Excellent leadership, interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills required to meet with students, staff, faculty and parents.
  • Ability to work effectively as part of a team in a service environment with frequent interruptions.
  • Skills in setting priorities based on the importance of job responsibilities.
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Office programs and Banner (or related) software
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Preference will be given to candidates who have a master’s degree or pursuing graduate coursework in counseling, business, higher education, or a related field.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:
Special Message to Applicants:
Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until position is filled.
The VSB Clay Center’s Undergraduate Advising teams brings holistic support to students as they navigate their higher education to post grad journey. In-person support in addition to virtual student advising support is critical for our student community. Because of the value we place on the student-advisor dynamic, final interviews will be held in-person, on-campus at Villanova University. We invite local and non-local applicants to apply; any candidate travel expenses incurred during the interview process will be the responsibility of the applicant. We thank you for your understanding and look forward to receiving your application materials.
All applications must include the following:
  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • Names of three (3) references
  • Responses to the following prompts (uploaded as ‘Other Document’):

  • Identify and describe your advising philosophy. How would it inform your work as an Assistant Director for Undergraduate Advising?
  • What would you bring to this position from your previous professional experiences that would support effective academic advising?
  • What do you value that differentiates you as a candidate for this position?

    • Each question above should be answered in 1-2 paragraphs.
    Posting Date:
    Closing Date (11:59pm ET):
    Salary Posting Information:
    Commensurate with experience.
    Salary Band:
    Job Classification: exempt

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