The University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education (MCE) invites applications for the position of Manager of Academic and Student Affairs. MCE’s vision is to train global leaders who employ innovative and effective approaches to advance learning throughout the lifespan, educational change, and social equity. Our programs prepare ethical, collaborative practitioners who can apply principles to promote learning and development with diverse clients, communities, and information systems. We are looking for a candidate who can lead efforts to advance college-wide academic and student services functions toward meeting the College’s enrollment, retention, and graduation goals. Under the leadership of the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, the Manager leads a team of Academic Services Coordinators (ASCs) and ensures continuity of key academic and student services during times of transition while being an exemplar of excellent customer service both within MCE and externally to DU and the community.

Position Summary

The Manager of Academic and Student Affairs in the Morgridge College of Education (MCE) leads innovative practices and processes intended to support the retention and graduation of our diverse student body through accurate and consistent academic and student services. In partnership with MCE leadership (including the Dean’s Team and Department Chairs) the position provides knowledge of best practices in academic and student affairs, including policy interpretation and implementation of various student engagement and retention initiatives. The Manager serves as the lead example in providing an exceptional customer service experience to students, faculty, and staff in MCE and across DU. The Manager provides guidance, coaching, and advocacy for the ASC staff in supporting students, faculty, and staff across the College’s program areas, including providing coaching and promoting a collaborative team environment for direct reports. This position serves as the lead in updating and maintaining student records and retention efforts; collaborates on identifying student needs and developing workshops and other professional development opportunities; and manages course scheduling and Bulletin updates. The Manager collaborates with Dean’s Team and Department Chairs to support student engagement and identify areas of potential improvement of the student experience and other academic processes as deemed appropriate. The Manager serves as the main liaison with Office of Graduate Education (OGE) in providing timely responses to student inquiries, including graduation checks, and works closely with the MCE Director for Accreditation and Assessment to assist with accreditation and licensure information. This position may also be assigned a liaison to one or more MCE academic departments/programs. The Manager works directly with the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs and Department Chairs in supporting policies set by the College and OGE, providing guidance on student academic petitions/requests, maintaining and revising department handbooks, and reviewing curricula proposals. As part of a team, the Manager supports faculty academic advising by monitoring academic progression of current students; processes student forms; supports students in course planning; provides guidance on student examinations; administers graduation checks; and supports with student orientation and ongoing professional development. The Manager ensures continuity of key academic and student services during times of transition. This position maintains collaborative working relationships with colleagues across MCE, OGE, and other areas across campus. The Manager takes on other duties as assigned.

Essential Functions

In addition to following the University of Denver’s policies and procedures, primary duties for the Manager of Academic and Student Affairs include:

Unit Leadership

• Provide leadership of the Morgridge Academic and Student Affairs (MASA) unit, including leading accurate, consistent, and timely academic and student information and procedures.
• Develop templates for shared academic and student affairs communications and responses to various inquiries.
• Manage a team of 3-5 full-time, part-time, and/or student staff members within the Morgridge Academic and Student Affairs (MASA) Unit.
• Interview, hire, train, assign and review work, develop performance goals and assess performance for direct reports.
• Ensure that direct reports are prepared to successfully communicate with current students and faculty with excellent customer service.
• Manage and approve work schedules to ensure proper coverage and timely response rates for daily tasks and projects among members of the MASA team.
• Support continuity in key tasks and procedures during times of transition within the MASA team.

Academic Affairs

• Provide administrative support efforts for any assigned MCE department(s)/program(s) and faculty including but not limited to scheduling rooms for department and program meetings; preparation and submission of academic documents (e.g., handbooks, coursework plans); communicating information on behalf of programs/departments and facilitating communications of changes to DU/OGE policies and procedures that will affect MCE Programs.
• Provide MCE academic support including but not limited to quarterly faculty class and room scheduling; supporting with the maintenance of Canvas and Digication site(s); ensuring Banner and Courseleaf are accurate and updated; submitting hiring requests for quarterly adjuncts; and supporting information gathering and planning related to accreditation.
• Ensure important academic registration and scheduling dates, deadlines, and correct information is communicated effectively to students and faculty through various channels, including the MCE website, Digication, Canvas, and Ruffatto Hall digital signage.

Student Services

• Provide student services support including communicating information, requirements, and deadlines on quarterly academic processes (e.g., registration, graduation checks) in a timely manner; assisting with questions related to student status, academic progress, and student course registration; maintaining student and academic records; and compiling Probation/Non-passing grades/Incompletes grades for review.
• Identify current student needs and develop workshops and other professional development opportunities to support student engagement, retention, and graduation efforts.
• Respond to various degree program inquiries and requests from internal and external MCE and DU constituents.
• Work closely with Marketing and Communications on utilizing various program and departmental list serves and email distribution lists.
• Collaborate with other MASA team members the Events Committee to jointly organize college events and official functions with a focus on student engagement and retention efforts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Ability to effectively analyze and interpret data and present information.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to take initiative and work well both independently and as part of a team.
• Effective technological abilities, including proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, common student information systems – preferably Banner.
• Ability to anticipate problems and use good judgment in developing solutions.
• Excellent organization and project management skills.
• Ability to cultivate strong relationships, collaborate effectively with others, and establish and maintain effective working relationships at all levels.
• An eye for design and the ability to think creatively.
• Ability to prioritize work and manage multiple assignments concurrently while maintaining professionalism, attention to detail, and adherence to deadlines.
• Ability to provide outstanding customer service.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with diverse populations, displaying high cross-cultural sensitivity and emotional intelligence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 4-5 years of experience in higher education, student affairs, or other areas of education or non-profits.
• Experience working with CRM, student information, and/or course scheduling systems.
• Experience and commitment to working in, or with, culturally and racially diverse environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or graduate course work.
• Familiarity with graduate student retention strategies.
• Proficiency with student information systems, especially Banner.
• Academic and/or student affairs experience in a college or university setting, particularly in graduate education.
• Unit management and/or supervisory experience.
• Project management experience.
• Knowledge of current best practices in graduate student retention efforts, particularly in the fields represented in the programs of MCE.

Working Environment

1. Standard office environment.
2. Unexpected interruptions occur often and stress level is moderate to high.
3. Noise level is quiet to moderate.

Physical Activities

1. Ability to sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time.
2. Occasionally required to move about the office/campus with the capability of transporting objects up to 20 lbs.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

In accordance with the University’s flexible work policy, this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work after a preliminary period. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration, please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) September 23, 2024.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through jobs.du.edu to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 9.

Salary Range:
The salary range for this position is $58,000-$65,000

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, but not based on a candidate’s sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits, including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver's Non‑Discrimination‑Statement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.