Executive Director of Academic Advising

Are you a visionary leader passionate about student success and transformative advising? Join our institution as the Executive Director of Academic Advising and lead a dynamic team in creating an inclusive, supportive, and outcomes-driven advising environment. In this role, you will be at the forefront of shaping a cohesive and comprehensive advising strategy that enhances student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.

As Executive Director, you will oversee the development and implementation of high-impact pro-active advising practices, including data-informed decision-making, academic planning, and proactive student support interventions. You will collaborate with academic and administrative leaders across campus to align advising initiatives with institutional goals, ensuring every student receives personalized guidance on their academic journey.

The ideal candidate will bring:

If you are ready to make a significant impact on the lives of students, faculty, and staff, and have a track record of building and leading high-performing teams, we invite you to apply to be part of our mission-driven community.

Join us in supporting students to achieve their academic, personal, and career goals.

The salary range for this opportunity is $76,400 - $90,000.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness is one of the enduring values and informs all of our work. We define 'inclusiveness' as a commitment 'to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.' As such, this value incorporates a commitment to inclusive excellence and freedom of expression.

Ball State University offers an excellent benefits package for eligible positions. Click here to explore options.

Reporting to the Associate Dean of University College, the Executive Director of Academic Advising will execute the strategic direction of a holistic and centralized professional academic advising unit. The position supervises 14 direct reports and coordinates equity-based programs and services with an emphasis on student care, persistence, and graduation. The Executive Director will execute a data informed model for innovative and consistent engagement of undergraduate students, including prioritization of high-support and other unique populations. The incumbent will maintain a culture of proactive advising and holistic student success for an advising unit comprised of more than forty professional academic advisors and advising leadership. The Executive Director will partner with academic colleges and other campus partners to strategize advising practices for meeting students where they are and removing obstacles for persistence and student success.

Master's degree in relevant field from an accredited institution.

Doctorate or terminal degreed from an accredited institution.

Associate Director, Assistant Directors, and an Administrative Support staff

Ball State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that is strongly and actively committed to diversity within its community. Women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other legally protected status.

Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana, on an attractive campus 45 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Approximately 20,000 graduate and undergraduate students enroll in one of eight academic colleges that offer 270+ undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of our master's, doctoral, certificate, and specialist degrees rank among the best in the nation. We engage students in educational, research, and creative endeavors that empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives enriched by lifelong learning and service, while we enhance the economic, environmental, and social vitality of our community, our state, and our world.

Under the guidance of the Vice Provost for Student Success and Dean of University College and in collaboration with the Associate Dean of University College, establish strategic direction for centralized proactive advising and strategic case management.

Provide day-to-day supervision of the Associate Director and Assistant Directors of Academic Advising ensuring a consistent approach to advising across all areas of the College.

Work closely with the Associate Dean to advance university priorities for improving student persistence and graduation.

Ensure a consistent approach to academic advising that fosters a common student experience for advising that includes University College advising staff and other campus partners (e.g., Honors College, DoSL, etc.).

Utilize macro and close to practice data to inform advising strategies.

Strategically collaborate and communicate with university partners (e.g., department chairs, the Registrar, student affairs, etc.) to ensure smooth and functional advising services (e.g., advising and registration, transfer credit and graduation verification procedures, degree planning, etc.).

Coordinate Indiana Common Core certificate.

Develop a comprehensive and strategic approach to communication with students, faculty, and staff regarding advising programs and initiatives.

Strategize a model for monitoring registration, persistence, and stop-out data, and engaging students as appropriate to support retention, persistence, and completion.

Ensure upward communication with Vice Provost & Dean and Associate Dean regarding the needs of advising staff.

Collaborate with University College leadership to formulate assessment and continuous improvement within academic advising.

Maintain integration of proactive advising best practices and ensure the proliferation of those practices across academic advising.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive onboarding and training model for new advising staff that includes professional mentoring of new advising staff members.

Provide feedback to University College leadership and Institutional Technology for improving functions EAB Navigate advising platforms.

Maintain a positive culture within the advising unit that fosters a sense of belonging and positive morale.

Engage in professional development and consistently provide professional development opportunities for academic advising unit.

Serve on committees and special assignments as appropriate.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

For nominations and questions regarding this opportunity, please contact Tiffany Turner, Assistant Director of Talent Acquisition, at tiffany.turner@bsu.edu.

In support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experience align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please select one of our enduring values and describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to that value in your professional endeavors.