Director of Academic Planning and Experience

The Director of Academic Planning and Experience plays a crucial role in enhancing student success and degree completion within the institution. The director oversees academic planning, student progression to degree, and leveraging technology to optimize student experiences. The director collaborates with faculty, staff, and students to create a seamless academic journey.

• Manages and optimizes the use of smart scheduling and degree planning software to assist students in planning their academic paths efficiently.
• Collaborates with academic departments to ensure course availability, prerequisites, and sequencing aligns with student needs.
• Monitors degree progress and provides actionable data to Advising Centers to intervene when students face challenges in meeting requirements.
• Implements strategies to improve graduation rates and reduce time-to-degree.
• Monitors and leverages Space Usage Efficiency (SUE), course offerings, designations, and instructors to maximize state funding opportunities.
• Develops reports and actionable data analysis and provides it to the leadership of student progression programs, including academic advising, tutoring, and mentoring.
• Fosters a supportive environment that encourages student engagement, persistence, and achievement.
• Actively works with those leading initiatives to address retention, graduation, and student satisfaction.
• Ensures efficient course scheduling, taking into account student preferences, faculty availability, and classroom resources.
• Facilitates personalized degree plans, considering major requirements, electives, and co-curricular opportunities.
• Analyzes student data to identify trends, predict academic challenges, and recommend interventions.
• Utilizes digital platforms for timely communication with students regarding academic milestones, deadlines, and resources.
• Works closely with academic departments, faculty, and other student support units.
• Collaborates with enrollment management, admissions, Institutional Research, and financial aid offices to streamline internal processes.
• Analyzes and reports on initiative/unit performance and provides analysis that will enhance student experiences.
• Engages with student organizations, campus events, and orientation programs.
• Prepares reports for external audiences.
• Regularly assess the effectiveness of academic planning and student progression to degree.
• Uses data-driven insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes.
• Stays informed about best practices in higher education and student success.

• Performs all other duties as assigned

Direct Reports:

• NA

Delegation of Work:

• NA

Supervision Given:

• NA

Required Education:

• Master's degree in a related field

Required Experience:

• Minimum of five (5) years of related job experience
• Experience in an academic advising, student affairs, or related roles.
• Experience with scheduling and degree planning software.

License/Certification:

• None required

• None

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of the management of a program in a higher education environment, and of the related trends, issues, and accepted practices

Skills:

• Strong leadership skills
• Strong collaboration skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Abilities:

• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse university community

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment.

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a typical interior work environment which does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements; individual has discretion in relation to walking, standing etc., and has minimal exposure to physical risks
• Must have precise hand-eye coordination and the ability to identify and distinguish colors

Commitment to Excellence - UHD

• Demonstrates a commitment to competently perform his/her job duties and responsibilities within established time frames.
• Continuously strives to improve work performance.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her commitments to the university.
• Contributes to the success of the university by consistently providing quality results in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.

Respect and Cooperation

• Treats others with courtesy, respect, and dignity in the workplace.
• Promotes cooperation through open and honest communications and consideration of others ideas, thoughts, and opinions.

Integrity

• Demonstrates high ethical standards of conduct in the performance of his/her job duties and responsibilities.
• Accepts responsibility for his/her actions.
• Respects and complies with department and university policies, procedures, and work rules.

Proficiency

• Possesses required job skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrates the ability to apply those skills and knowledge to competently perform his/her job duties and assignments.

Dependability

• Takes responsibility to accomplish job assignments within reasonable deadlines.
• Willing to accept new projects and/or commitments.
• Does due diligence to complete projects within specified timeframes and/or fulfill commitments.
• Arrives to work on time prepared and ready to contribute.

Flexibility

• Willingly adjusts to changing work assignments or conditions.
• Open to changes in operational procedures, technology, and/or organizational structure.
• Views changes as opportunities for learning and professional development.
• Displays a positive attitude to encourage others.
• Promptly responds to changes in work priorities and/or unexpected circumstances or situations.

Focus on Customer Service

• Focuses on customer's needs and expectations. (Customers can be students, external constituents, employees, or university guests.)
• Respectfully ascertains customer's needs and determines appropriate response.
• Promptly responds by providing requested information, takes appropriate action, or refers customer to appropriate individual or department.
• If further actions need to be taken, advises customers of realistic timeframes for a response to their request.
• Follows up with customers on outstanding requests in a timely manner.
• Tactfully explains to customers why their needs and/or expectations cannot be met if the university does not provide the requested information or services.

Organizational Management

• Manages department or section planning and assessment consistent with the university's goals and objectives and executive management's directives.
• Develops and oversees administration of the department/section budget to ensure effective utilization of financial resources and appropriate disbursement of funds.
• Fosters a cooperative and productive work environment that advances department/section operations and initiatives through motivation, encouragement, and professional development of staff.
• Develops department/section procedures and work rules for compliance with government regulations and university policies; participates in the development and revision of applicable university policies.
• Competently represents the department/section through interactions with the university community and/or external constituents.

Computer/Automated System Proficiency

• Proficient in the use of university applications or automated systems to perform job duties.
• Complies with related policies, procedures, and work rules to maintain system security and data integrity.

Student Success Indirect Support

• Contributes to student success by assisting students with anything that supports their student experience, whether directly or indirectly.
• Helps students navigate their way through the different offices, programs, and services at the university and/or connects students with the appropriate party(ies).
• Connects students with services or resources that can help them with career exploration, goal selection, and ongoing academic assistance.
• Helps students build peer support networks.
• Encourages student participation in out-of-class activities.
• Provides encouragement and guidance to foster student success.
• Treats students with respect
• Maintains the learning environment to ensure quality and/or sound pedagogy.

Work Leadership

• Leads the work of assigned staff.
• Assigns projects and tasks with clear instructions and understanding of work to be performed.
• Mentors and guides by sharing expertise, knowledge of work rules and procedures, and best practices.
• Follows up to ensure tasks and projects are completed within reasonable timeframes.

Decision Making

• Demonstrates the ability to make informed decisions in a timely manner.
• Assimilates and/or secures relevant information to assess the risks and benefits of alternatives.
• Considers impact of decision in the long and short term.

Building External Relationships

• Demonstrates the ability to build rapport and develop relationships with external constituents.
• Displays a genuine interest in constituents' ideas and concerns, and pursues mutual interests and aspirations between the university and external constituents.
• Builds trust and forms alliances through shared respect and cooperation.