Director of Student-Athlete Academic Success

Position Summary:

The Director of Student-Athlete Academic Success (SAAS) (E99720) oversees the comprehensive development of student-athletes, offering academic support, supplemental advising, and intervention services through the Student-Athlete Academic Success Center (SAASC). In alignment with UNC's commitment to student-athlete success, the Director ensures compliance with academic policies set by the university, the Big Sky Conference, and the NCAA. This role is essential for fostering student-athlete persistence and supporting their timely graduation.

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Success, the SAAS Director is an involved Student Academic Success leadership team member. The Director also works closely with Athletics staff, including coaches, the Senior Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator (SWA), the Director of Compliance, and the Athletics Director. Participation in Athletics’ senior staff meetings is expected. The SAASC staff serves as the primary advising office for undeclared (Exploring) majors and provides supplemental advising and success coaching for declared student-athletes. As such, the SAASC team is an integral member of the professional advising network.

“UNC professional advisors and coaches provide holistic, inclusive support helping students navigate the institution and meet their academic and personal goals through building meaningful relationships and intentional advising practices.” UNC aims to cultivate consistent advising practices and experiences for students across campus. Advising practices that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion are also desired. Therefore, the training and development opportunities designed and delivered by the strategist should align with these commitments and with the National Academic Advising Association’s (NACADA) core values and competencies. NACADA’s core values are Respect, Professionalism, Integrity, Inclusivity, Empowerment, Caring, and Commitment. The core competencies developed by NACADA provide a strong framework for the context, substance, and critical skills essential to effective and transformative advising.

Job Duties:

I. Strategic Leadership
Establish and enact a strategic plan and vision for the Center that aligns with SAS and the University’s mission and vision.
Responsible for ensuring an inclusive, engaging, welcoming, and respectful work environment and culture.
Actively advocates and promotes the most effective and institutionally appropriate approaches to advising.
Ensure staff is held accountable and their practices align with the Advisor Network statement of practice and follow NCAA guidelines.
Ensure that the SAASC team can effectively perform the outlined duties associated with their role. Lead and guide the SAASC, advising efforts to support campus-wide interventions such as the early alert/progress reporting campaign and registration nudges.
Hire, train, and supervise 3.0 FTE and 3-5 graduate student employees.
Guide the SAASC team in developing individual goals annually and provide at least two formal opportunities for evaluation: at the end of the fall and at the end of the fiscal year.
Monitor staff documentation and referral practices (and coach/intervene as appropriate) to ensure alignment with FERPA, the Advisor Network standard of practice, and relevant University, NCAA, and Big Sky policy and procedure standards.
Work closely with the Advising & Success Strategist on training and development needs and opportunities.
Establish and maintain high-quality partnerships with faculty and staff across campus.

II. Student-Athlete Success

Academic Support & Advising
Develop and oversee academic support services tailored to the needs of student-athletes.
Provide primary and supplemental academic advising and success coaching to ensure student-athletes meet eligibility requirements and degree completion timelines. Ensure the Student Athlete Advisory Committee has a SAASC student-club sponsor/advisor. Provide timely and accurate information regarding student athletes' academic progress and communicate necessary information to critical stakeholders (athletic staff, SAS staff, etc.). 

Promote Personal & Leadership Development
Encourage student-athletes to participate in programming and services that focus on their holistic development, including leadership, time management, and life skills. Promote the financial literacy, mental health, and career planning resources available on campus to prepare student-athletes for life beyond sports. Encourage student-athletes to participate in Athletics' Champions for Life program. Promote resources available to student-athletes utilized through the Center for Career Readiness.

Student Retention & Graduation Initiatives
Develop strategies to increase retention and graduation rates among student-athletes. Monitor at-risk student-athletes and implement support measures to prevent attrition. Case management for unique student situations and identified sports and ensure SAASC conducts student-athlete needs assessments, develops individual success plans tailored to individual student’s interests, and identifies opportunities for support. Provide logistical support for book scholarship distribution.

Student-Athlete Mental Health & Wellness
Prioritize student-athlete wellness and collaborate with campus services for counseling and support. Provide immediate intervention or referrals for personal or academic crises student- athletes face.

III. Compliance with NCAA, Big Sky, and University Regulations
Ensure student-athlete eligibility is maintained by serving as an essential member of NCAA Eligibility Certification Team.
Ensure the SAASC staff complies with all NCAA, Big Sky, and UNC rules and regulations related to academic issues.
Ensure student-athletes comply with NCAA or conference academic eligibility requirements.
Stay updated on changing regulations and communicate these effectively to student-athletes and staff.
Assist in the development and execution of strategies to maintain academic eligibility.
Assist in monitoring and tracking continuing eligibility standards for all student-athletes and create necessary success strategies.
Admissions review for transfer student-athletes to determine transfer eligibility and actively work with Athletics to minimize situations where a transfer student-athlete declares a major that inhibits their eligibility.
Participate in and help facilitate eligibility training for student-athletes, SAASC staff, and advisor network.

IV. Collaboration with Coaches, Sports Administrators, Faculty/Staff
Work closely with coaches, faculty, the advisor network, and other university departments to ensure student-athletes receive the necessary academic and personal support.
Act as a liaison between student-athletes, academic advisers, and professors when needed.
Work closely with the FAR on student/faculty issues.
Maintain regular contact with Sports Administrators.

V. Data Collection & Reporting
Collect and analyze student-athlete academic performance, retention, and graduation rates data.
Oversee data collection and reporting for the APP program. Educate staff on APR rates and develop success plans when necessary.
Prepare reports for internal stakeholders.
Participate in Program Review for Co-Curricular areas, as required by UNC, in compliance with HLC standards.

VI. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Sense of Belonging
Maintain a welcoming and inclusive culture supporting student-athlete and SAASC staff success.
Promote inclusive practices and ensure that services and practices support the unique needs of a diverse student-athlete community.
Address challenges underrepresented student-athletes face, including racial, gender, and socioeconomic issues, through advocacy and collaboration with other departments. 

VII. Budgeting & Resource Allocation
Responsible for the direct oversight of the SAASC budget for FY25 of $306 101, including signature authority on account(s), approval of center expenditures, and reconciliation with p-card and insight reports.
Work closely with the ASC Business and Account managers on necessary budget changes based on department and institutional priorities.
Cultivate strategic partnerships with campus partners to optimize and enhance student-athlete usage of support services.
Coordinate with the graduate school to provide graduate students valuable professional development opportunities by working with student-athletes.

Minimum Qualifications:

A master’s degree is required in a relevant or transferable skills field, such as Sports Administration, Higher Education, Psychology, Organizational Psychology, or Sociology.

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in a related field.

At least two years in a leadership-type position within a student-athlete support unit or demonstrated progressive leadership experience in a department focusing on student-athlete success.