The Associate Director oversees the College of Arts and Science (A&S) Pre-Major Academic Resource Center. This position is responsible for the leadership, operation, and further development of the CASPAR program. The Associate Director will also serve as an advisor for students in their first three to four semesters, beginning the summer before their first year in residence at Vanderbilt. The Associate Director is responsible for leading and managing professional advising staff; they will support department staff members by providing timely performance feedback, coaching toward professional goals, and opportunities for professional development. This role requires the Associate Director to collaborate with faculty and staff from departments across campus to foster a college-wide supportive atmosphere for first- and second-year students. The position reports functionally to the Senior Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Education.

About the Work Unit: 

CASPAR is the College of Arts & Science Pre-major Academic Resource. This unit works with first- and second-year undergraduates to help them understand and adapt to the academic expectations and requirements of the College of Arts and Science and chart courses of study appropriate to their interests and goals. Our dedicated academic advisers provide specialized support as students navigate course selection, choosing a major, and understanding university policies.

Advising Responsibilities:

The Associate Director of CASPAR will play a critical role in not only overseeing the comprehensive academic support for first- and second- year students without declared majors but also in fostering an environment that promotes student success and continuous improvement.

• Develop and implement a vision and strategic plan for CASPAR in alignment with the College's goals and objectives.
• Drive initiatives that enhance academic advising, student engagement, and overall support services.
• Provide clear, accurate information to students to ensure their readiness for intended majors and minors, guiding them through areas of interest exploration.
• Oversee and mentor a team of dedicated academic advisors, providing guidance, training, and support to ensure the delivery of exceptional services to pre-major students.
• Participate in the hiring process for advising staff, conducting interviews and contributing to decisions. Develop comprehensive training programs for new employees, ensuring they possess essential institutional knowledge. Coach and mentor staff, fostering their professional growth and goal development.
• Collaborate with advisors to provide specialized support to students in navigating course selection, major exploration, and understanding university policies.
• Foster collaborations with faculty, departments, and university stakeholders to enhance academic opportunities for pre-major students. Establish partnerships across campus to expand resources and support networks.
• Assess the evolving needs of pre-major students, establishing goals to offer high-quality advising that addresses specific requirements and challenges.
• Utilize data-driven insights to assess the effectiveness of advising programs and initiatives. Implement improvements based on assessment outcomes to enhance student outcomes and experiences.
• Monitor students' progress to ensure compliance with key bench-marking dates and academic requirements. Accurately document academic recommendations and individual discussions with students for reference and advising continuity.
• Serve as an advocate for pre-major students within the College, representing their needs and concerns to relevant stakeholders. Act as a liaison between students, faculty, and administration.
• Develop, enhance, and maintain advising orientation courses for incoming students using Learning Management Systems.
• Manage office resources efficiently, including budget, supplies, and administrative tasks.
• Cultivate a positive, growth-oriented office culture while supporting staff in handling complex student situations.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position is responsible for overseeing the operation of the unit as well as the leadership and supervision of six advisers within the department.

Education and Certifications: 

• A Master’s degree in Higher Education, Educational Psychology, Counseling, or an equivalent field is necessary.
• All advisers are required to have at least one earned degree in a discipline from one of the three divisions (e.g., Humanities, Social Science, Natural Science) of the College of Arts and Science.

Qualifications: 

• 1-2 years experience managing a team of five or more members is necessary.
• Five or more years of experience in academic advising, student support services, career counseling, student coaching, or an equivalent setting is necessary.
• Ability to communicate effectively and empathetically, both orally and in writing is necessary.
• Ability to use independent judgment to analyze and solve problems is necessary.
• Ability to analyze course prerequisites, certification, and/or curriculum/graduation requirements is necessary.
• Records maintenance skills are necessary.
• Understanding of student privacy and confidentiality rights and laws is necessary.
• Ability to maintain calendars and schedule appointments is necessary.
• Ability to collaborate with a diverse group of faculty and staff is necessary.
• Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare relevant reports is necessary.
• Knowledge of student recruitment and retention issues is preferred.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.