Ofc of Vice Provost Student Success & Dean of University College

Executive Director of Academic Advising

Ball State University

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:

• Proven experience in academic advising or student services leadership
• A commitment to supporting a diverse student population
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making skills
• The ability to foster a student-centered culture of care and support
• Strong interpersonal, organization, and communication skills

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.

Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State University’s ambitious goals for our second century:

• We pledge to provide a premier educational experience for every student.
• We pledge to partner with the community to improve the lives of our neighbors.
• We are dedicated to having a lifelong presence in the lives of our alumni.

And when we complement these promises with our commitment to our enduring values, we define that which makes our University and its culture distinctive.

Our faculty are collegial, collaborative, innovative, inclusive, and adaptive, both within and beyond one’s home unit. These attributes include commitments to collaborative discourse, interdisciplinary inquiry, and enterprising learning practices.

Our faculty are expected to be innovative, adaptive, engaging teachers across modalities; producers of impactful creative and/or scholarly work; leaders in meaningful service activities to multiple communities. We seek faculty members who are strategic thinkers, engaging our dynamic communities. We are committed to student and faculty success, impact, and access, within an environment that prioritizes inclusive excellence. We inspire each other to be critical thinkers and responsible citizens, so that we can pursue fulfilling careers and meaningful lives.

Ball State University lives the values of Beneficence. We invite you to be part of our community.

At Ball State University, inclusiveness and freedom of expression are a part of our enduring values and inform all of our efforts. We encourage applicants to familiarize themselves with our Inclusive Excellence Plan to learn more about our commitment and to identify how you might contribute to these efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities:   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.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in relevant field from an accredited institution.        

• Five years of experience in academic advising, student services, counseling, or related field in higher education.
• Knowledge of advising and registration platforms.
• Experience supervising professional academic advisors.
• Demonstrated experience engaging in a proactive advising approach.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple simultaneous projects with attention to detail and adherence to deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to form collaborative relationships with other University Offices.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Knowledge of advising theory and approaches.
• Knowledge of student development theory.

Preferred Qualifications: Doctorate or terminal degree from an accredited institution. Familiarity with Banner and DegreeWorks; thorough understanding of the university’s Core Curriculum program; familiarity with Ball State curriculum, academic policies, and academic procedures.

• 5 years of experience as a director or Associate Director of Advising.
• Demonstrated experience with student success platforms such as EAB Navigate.
• Experience with Canvas Learning Management System.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships that support interdisciplinary approaches to student success.
• Experience working in a centralized advising model.

Candidates for searches must have current authorization to be employed in the U.S. without employer sponsorship.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11/28/2024.

Apply online at: https://bsu.peopleadmin.com/postings/45600. Include the following documents with your application: Curriculum Vitae and in support of your application for this position, please prepare and submit a cover letter that describes how your qualifications and experiences align with the elements of the position description (or leadership profile). In your cover letter, please also describe how you have demonstrated a commitment to our University’s enduring values, including inclusiveness, which we define as a commitment ‘to respect and embrace equity, inclusion, and diversity in people, ideas, and opinions.’

The option to upload transcripts is available. Original, official transcripts showing the highest related degree earner is required at the time of hire (even if obtained at BSU). Degree verification will be conducted.

Ball State is a great place to work! In fact, Forbes has ranked Ball State University as the fourth-best midsized employer—and the only recognized education institution—in the State of Indiana.

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.

The Ball State way is rooted in the Beneficence Pledge – a commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship, honesty and integrity, social responsibility, gratitude and valuing the intrinsic worth of each member of our community. Ball State students, faculty and staff are empowered in a culture that believes in them and demands they believe in themselves. They are partners in an innovative, immersive approach to education. They are supported by living and learning facilities that enable intellectual curiosity. We graduate scholars who are changing the world, and we’ve dedicated our University to do the same.

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.