Assistant Athletic Director - Student-Athlete Academic Services - West Virginia University

Description

The department of Athletics at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Assistant Athletic Director of Student Athlete Academic Services.

About the Opportunity

This position provides academic support and guidance to student-athletes assigned by the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student-Athlete Services and Wellness. Duties include organizing and implementing academic programs that contribute to the educational and personal growth of supervised student-athletes. Specific sports assignments include football.  

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week 
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits.
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Provide oversight to the Football Academic Performance Center consisting of over 6 employees as well as operational oversight for any student-works/tutors. Duties include assignment of personnel, developing and maintaining daily schedule, oversight of computers and facilities and the activation of specific programs.   
• Direct and supervise the Football Academic Counselors (2), Learning Specialist (1), Assistant Learning Specialist (1), and Graduate Assistants (2). Duties include hiring, training and completing annual evaluation performance appraisals. Develop schedules for advising and counseling, tutoring, study halls and other aspects of student-athlete academic support services.
• Manage all tutoring services for football student-athletes; requests, scheduling, evaluation of tutors, monitor session reports, and communicate with staff regularly  
• Attend all official and unofficial visits with recruits and present to parents/prospective student-athletes 
• Present at football team meetings when requested throughout the semester 
• Present at football staff meetings throughout the semester as requested 
• Evaluate student-athlete academic records to determine progress towards a degree and maintenance of eligibility. Requires knowledge of institutional and NCAA edibility requirements. Inform coaches regarding institutional and NCAA requirements related to student-athlete’s academic progress and eligibility.
• Direct the Football student-athlete academic support which will include but is not limited to academic major counselling/education, monitoring academic progress, providing tutorial resources, coordination and referral of departmental and campus resources and communication with academic units, coaches and athletic staff.
• Establish and maintain relationships between the student-athlete academic unit and the University community which includes but not limited to faculty members, academic advising units, counseling services, student affairs, Registrar’s Office, Admissions Office, orientation, student learning services, testing, and other campus resources.
• Coordinate academic initiatives that require interaction with the University’s academic community
• Establish short- and long-term academic and personal development goals for student-athletes.
• Organize and implement specific academic programs to assist student-athletes in meeting their educational goals. Duties include monitor and guiding student-athletes during study hall, general tutoring and assisting with test preparation, study skills and time management.
• Maintain accurate records and knowledge of student-athletes' academic schedules to notify coaches regarding classes, tests, appointments, study sessions and community service. 
• Serve as a liaison with Disability Services for student-athletes with documented learning disabilities as needed in conjunction with learning specialist.  
• Guide and advise student-athletes in solving problems and addressing educational and social issues.   
• Prepare incoming student-athletes for college classes. Duties include communicating admission requirements and NCAA Eligibility Center requirements to parents, incoming student-athletes, high school coaches and advisors and college coaches via mailings, email and telephone conversations, subject to limitations per NCAA regulations.
• Distribute and collect from incoming student-athletes admission applications, and other necessary documentation for admission. Assist incoming freshmen with securing student IDs, book acquisition and familiarization with campus. 
• Ensure incoming student-athletes have paid all applicable fees prior to arrival on campus. Create class schedules for incoming student-athletes for summer and fall semesters. 
• Arrange placement testing and orientation for incoming student-athletes if applicable. 
• Collect brochures and other informational material for mailings to recruits. Subject to limitations per NCAA regulations, create and update applicable recruiting material relative to student services and academic programs for prospective student-athletes. 
• Meet with prospective student-athletes during official and unofficial visits. Arrange meetings with faculty, resident faculty leaders and other academic professional during visits. 
• Manage the football guest coaching program with faculty and staff at home football games.
• Maintain communications with athletic compliance office regarding legislation and interpretation of rules and regulations related to academic progress, summer school provisions, recruiting materials, NCAA Eligibility Center and other matters. Work with athletic compliance staff to provide information required to prepare eligibility waivers. 
• Provide information to Athletic Compliance Office, Admissions, Registrar, academic advisors and athletic staff for certification, updating eligibility lists, scholarship and aid provision for class scheduling. 

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required, preferably in higher education or sport management, counseling, or similar field
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in each of the following:
  
  • Counseling, advising, teaching, tutoring or otherwise instructing students in a higher education environment (Division I experience preferred)
  • Direct oversite, management, and supervision of full-time and part-time employees
  • Lead diverse and complex employee teams
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in each of the following:
  
  • Proven success in academic development
• Demonstrated experience successfully leading and supervising full-time and part-time employees
• Maintain high standard of ethics and integrity related to intercollegiate athletics 
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics 
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA and conference guidelines, policies, rules and regulations with the ability to interpret, apply, enforce and explain such policies and rules 
• Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA eligibility rules for both transfer and continuing student athletes 
• Maintain knowledge of state and University policies and procedures 
• Exhibit strong creative, organizational and interpersonal skills 
• Demonstrated knowledge of correct English, grammar, spelling, punctuation and sentence structure
• Demonstrated ability in public speaking skills 
• Demonstrated ability to function professionally under high stress and confrontational circumstances 
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks for extended period of time 
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan and organize work 
• Proactive attitude towards work and assignments 
• Demonstrated ability to maintain and develop personal contacts with outside groups, i.e. student-athletes, faculty, academic professionals, parents, University community
• Demonstrated interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community 
• Demonstrated knowledge of record keeping and adherence to schedule 
• Ability to stay abreast of information impacting the affected area 
• Demonstrated ability to organize and motivate groups and individuals 
• Ability to maintain proper unit attendance and punctuality standards, work extended hours including nights and
  weekends (often with extensive walking and standing)
• Demonstrated ability to manage personnel 
• Ability to make administrative / procedural decisions and judgments 
• Demonstrated ability to travel via motor vehicle
• Knowledge of higher education system and of counseling and advising techniques
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and with students individually and in groups 
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate high school and college transcripts for NCAA eligibility and degree major requirements 
• Ability to accurately plan program of study and advise students on progress towards their degree
• Demonstrated knowledge of University admission policies