Director of Academic Services, College of Connected Computing

The Director of Academic Services serves as an integral part of the College of Connected Computing (CCC) at Vanderbilt University. This position will report to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to provide high-level administrative advisory and programmatic support as a dynamic and highly contributing member of the College of Connected Computing. This position is responsible for leading student success and retention efforts through the development and implementation of a holistic program of academic advising academic mentoring and student addition the Director of the Office of Academic Services will have supervisory responsibility for program managers and coordinators that manage the day-to-day operations.

Another critical aspect of this role is establishing an organizational model that thoughtfully integrates AI and automation into academic services and administrative operations to enhance efficiency while preserving a high-quality experience for students staff & faculty. This work will involve close collaboration with College of Connected Computing leadership to design and implement innovative AI-enabled approaches that reimagine how academic services are delivered within the broader Vanderbilt ecosystem. As internal AI use cases are developed and scaled the Office of Academic Services will be positioned to shift capacity toward higher-impact strategic initiatives. This role offers an exciting opportunity to model and advance the Colleges Computing for All culture by demonstrating how emerging technologies can be leveraged responsibly and inclusively in support of student success.

About Vanderbilt University:
Situated in Nashville Tennessee Vanderbilt University is recognized globally for its rigorous academic programs and dedication to innovative research and development fostering a community committed to making a positive impact through discovery and teamwork.

Duties and Responsibilities

Lead the Office of Academic Services Strategy (25%)
Offer strategic vision and direction to the Office of Academic Services (OAS) ensuring quality of service for all student success advising academic operations and onboarding activities
Supervise Office of Academic Services staff
Employ staff retention and engagement efforts for OAS including team-building and professional development activities
Manage the OAS budget and forecast future budget needs that reflect the offices and College of Connected Computings goals
Serve as primary contact between College of Connected Computing and campus partners in undergraduate education including the Office of the University Registrar Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships and Office of Student Accounts; represent OAS team in meetings with campus partners and on university committees and taskforces
Define and create assessment of OAS programs and processes; use assessment results to plan and implement improvements
Contribute to visioning and direction of large-scale hallmark events including Convocation Graduates Week Activities and Commencement
Align College of Connected Computing initiatives with the University academic calendar
Work with Associate Dean to coordinate compliance with the expectations with accreditation agencies and assist with periodic reporting to accrediting agencies
Oversee reporting and visualization of OAS assessment outcomes

Direct Program of Undergraduate Student Advising (15%)
Collaborate with CCC faculty and staff in advising of over undergraduate students with varying needs and interests
Organize publicize and preside over three annual advising workshops/webinars and related communications to train faculty and professional advisers and to share advising policies strategies curriculum changes and advising programs/platforms
Remain current on emerging and efficacious advising trends practices programs
Serve as resource for all faculty advisers and OAS staff during student meetings and on a walk-in/ advising hotline basis
Serve as secondary adviser for all CCC students being readily available to meet with students and parents to provide advice supplementary to faculty advising;
Develop and maintain a system to assign advisers to first year students and change advisers coordinated with each department
Serve on University committees related to academic advising at the undergraduate level

Lead Robust Programs of Support for CCC Students (40%)
Coordinate with appropriate deans OAS staff and VU partners to develop proactive programs to meet student academic needs
Oversee an Academic Mentoring Program for academically at-risk students
Communicate with faculty about student involvement
Oversee a Retention Program for students with multiple risk factors
Serve as representative to the Universitys Behavior Intervention Team (CARE Team)
Oversee CCC internal CARE team to monitor school of CCC students who are at risk of dropping out dismissal or worse
Develop research and best-practice informed programs of support
Collaborate with CCC personnel for student retention support
Collaborate with Office of Housing and Residential Education Student Care Coordination and Student Affairs to ensure holistic wellbeing of students
Oversee a Recovery and Return program for students on Required Leave of Absence
Regularly review programming in support of student reflection recovery from academic failures skill-building for academic success and planning for return to studies
Assess support programs each semester for quality assurance and program effectiveness
Oversee support for students who have applied for reinstatement returned from a required leave of absence or who have been put on final probation or who have been referred to OAS by faculty or campus partners
Meet with and counsel students who have grade deficiencies at midterm
Collaborate with VU partners to enrich student programming in CCC and serve as a liaison with relevant campus offices for student support
Coordinate External University Transfer (EUT) Program for students entering the CCC
Send all admitted external undergraduate students a welcome letter from CCC with a check list explaining the process and documents needed to have their previous academic work transferred to Vanderbilt
Host EUT meetings webinars and advising sessions
Assist students with their credit transfer process and with course registration
Maintain phone and email communication with these students from May August
Set up the CCC Transfer Orientation and coordinate the University EUT orientation events
Oversee the CCC Internal University Transfer (IUT) Program
Review internal work records for all IUTs to determine their eligibility to transfer. Consult with Associate Dean on transfer decisions
Meet with students throughout the semester to answer questions about the CCC programs that they wish to transfer to and prepare work sheets for them and advise them on the best courses to register for while their transfer is in process
Organize publicize and host information sessions each term for students considering IUT
Coordinate adviser assignments with the students new departments
Notify students of their admission and new adviser at CCC

Direct Academic Operations and Student Progress Programs (20%)
Exhibit functional mastery of all programs and data reporting tools that support OAS academic operations including YES PeopleSoft and Oracle Analytics Cloud (OAC)
Oversee student academic registration process by providing leadership to OAS team academic departments advisers program coordinator and students throughout the registration process
Coordinate undergraduate student onboarding processes
Create academic support materials
Direct review and processing of class enrollments or withdrawals requisite overrides grading basis changes transfer credit and other registration event-related matters such as repeat credit check B- rule check.
Oversee OAS offices evaluation of student credentials academic progress graduation eligibility as well as processes to assign end-of-semester academic actions and related correspondence.
Oversee running of degree audit completion reports on all junior and senior students fall summer and spring before each term after drop ends and after grades are submitted and subsequent communications with students missing requirements/hours to graduate
Oversee assignment of end-of-semester academic actions (probation good standing) and correspondence to action recipients
Participate in review of candidates for dismissal and required leave of absence
Serve as liaison with Signature Events for Commencement-related activities (e.g. report Founders Medalist and Banner Bearer)
Oversee Summer Elsewhere and Transfer of Credit Review and Processing
Counsel students with questions about transfer credit process
Work with University Registrars Office to approve and post transfer credit when completed
Follow-up with students who submitted requests to study elsewhere who have not submitted official transcripts
Review all submission of track changes major/minor changes adviser changes degree audit substitutions
Other duties as assigned

Qualifications
Masters Degree or relevant experience
Minimum of seven years experience in a Higher Education student support role
Three years experience in a supervisory role within Higher Education
Understanding of Academic Advising models and practices
Ability to listen and work with upset constituents including students and parents
Strong administrative support skills
Proficiency in Microsoft Office
Excellent interpersonal communication and presentation skills
Ability to work independently while functioning as part of the team
Good work ethic
Good problem-solving skills showing initiative and diplomacy
Ability to accept instruction
Ability to adapt to changes
Exemplary organizational skills
Ability to multi-task work under pressure and respond to deadlines without sacrificing quality