Director of Academic Advising and Student Success

Job Description

The College of Architecture Arts and Design seeks a collaborative and student-centered Director of Academic Advising and Student Success to join our Academic Affairs unit in a holistic approach to providing integrated support for undergraduate academic advising and success.

The position will serve as a vitally important member of the AAD Academic Affairs team contributing to a collaborative and coordinated approach to undergraduate academic advising student support and student success across the colleges four schools. The unit aims to support students from recruitment through graduation by fostering academic engagement motivation and meaningful integration across the undergraduate experience. Along with all members of the deans office academic affairs unit this position partners with our university colleagues and cross-campus units to promote student persistence achievement wellbeing and timely progress to degree.

Key responsibilities and expectations of the position include:
Leading the undergraduate academic advising team and advising functions for the college
Managing data analysis and reporting for advising retention and graduation
Serving as an advising representative and liaison on behalf of the college to university committees and partners; or identifying a designee to do so as appropriate
Designing developing and implementing initiatives interventions and strategies that promote students academic success
Serving as primary advisor for Explore AAD students (AADs undecided majors) and teaching the First-Year Experience course (AAD 1004) for those students every fall.
Coordinating transfer credit evaluation review and processing (including AP IB CLEP and VCCS transfer guide.)
Collaborating with colleagues and partners to support a seamless studentfocused experience from recruitment through graduation

The successful candidate will be creative and highly collaborative; with proven commitment to build and maintain constructive and trusting professional relationships; and demonstrable skill in managing sensitive circumstances and conversations in a respectful and thoughtful manner. The successful candidate will enhance and strengthen an academic advising team and academic affairs unit deeply committed to supporting our students success and well-being.

Required Qualifications

Masters degree in higher education student affairs counseling education or a related field; or a bachelors degree with equivalent training and/or professional experience in academic advising or student services.
Demonstrated knowledge of academic advising principles and practices aligned with NACADAs core competencies (conceptual informational relational).
Experience conducting data analysis and leveraging metrics to monitor student progress and inform programming and interventions that support persistence
Proven ability to motivate teams toward shared goals by fostering a collaborative working environment and engaging individuals expertise.
Excellent communication problemsolving and interpersonal skills; ability to work both collaboratively and independently.
Demonstrated success in working effectively with diverse populations including students faculty staff families alumni and campus partners.
Demonstrated strengths in organization time management priority-setting and meeting deadlines.
Proven commitment to maintain high level of confidentiality and handle sensitive information in compliance with FERPA and university policies.

Preferred Qualifications

Professional experience in higher education academic advising student success or academic affairs within a college or departmental unit.
Experience with university academic policies degree audits graduation clearance processes and early academic alert/referral systems.
Experience coordinating new student orientation firstyear/transfer initiatives or new student welcome programming.
Experience training and onboarding advisors facilitating professional development and/or skill-building in advising best practices.
Demonstrated skill with student information and success management systems and advising technologies (such as Navigate Banner Slate); competency with Microsoft Office/Google Workspace
Experience developing or assessing initiatives that improve retention and timely progress to degree.

Application Materials

For full consideration interested candidates are required to submit the following:

• Cover letter addressing interest relevant experience and/or expertise and alignment with the positions responsibilities
• Updated resume/CV
• Statement of advising/student success philosophy
• Contact information for three professional references (name title relationship email and phone)

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

Salary range is $ per year

Hours per week

40

Review Date

Wednesday April 1 2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

Commitment to the Principles of Community

Virginia Tech affirms the inherent dignity and value of every person rejects all forms of prejudice and discrimination and commits to creating inclusive environments that nurture learning and growth for all. The successful candidate will contribute to and uphold these principles in all aspects of their work.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its mottoUt Prosim(That I May Serve) Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world Virginia Tech is aninclusive communitydedicated to knowledge discovery and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36000 undergraduate graduate and professional students in eightundergraduate colleges aschool of medicine aveterinary medicinecollegeGraduate School andHonors College.The university has a significant presence across Virginia including Blacksburg the greater Washington D.C. area the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke sites in Newport News and Richmond and numerousExtension officesandresearch institutes.A leading global research institution Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.