Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
Assistant Director of Academic Advising & Support
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts, us, 01247
About Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts:
At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each, of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
Job Description:
The Assistant Director (AD) reporting to the Director of Academic Advising & Support (AA&S) provides leadership for and representation of the following areas in collaboration with the oversight of the Director: daily operations and communications of the AA&S office, Trailblazer Tutor Program Center, AA&S and TRiO SSS Student Leadership and Employment Initiative, and Transition and Success Coaching Models. The AD collaborates with the Director, various campus colleagues, and students to assess, plan, implement and nimbly adjust academic, persistence and belonging initiatives and interventions. The AD has essential student facing and advising commitments serving as an academic advisor, success coach, tier 1 CARE response outreach coordinator, trainer, educational initiative convenor, and TRiO SSS program guide and mentor. Students served by TRiO SSS may be historically underrepresented in higher education, and are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. Fifty percent of the role involves priorities of the office of AA&S and fifty percent of the TRiO SSS program; there are intentional areas of interconnection. Fostering collaborative campus partnerships is integral to being of effective service. MCLA is a four-year public liberal arts college in North Adams, Massachusetts. This is a full-time grant-funded position.
Office of Academic Advising & Support Deliver high-quality, holistic and academic advising and success coaching to support students as scholars and learners, and as they navigate through their academic experience, transitions, goal planning, and decision making. Collaboratively contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive academic advising and support models. Provide additional coordination for the first year and transfer student course registration and onboarding processes, and for low/no registration outreach. Maintain advising of an assigned cohort of students that is calibrated with the TRiO SSS program advising cohort. Represent the office of AA&S and TRiO SSS as an ambassador, and at various fairs and events. Provide leadership, in consultation with the Director, for the daily coverage, operations and communications of the Office of AA&S. Lead all aspects of the Trailblazer Tutor Program, in consultation with the Director, including recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision of peer tutors across various academic disciplines. Conduct regular observations to assess tutor effectiveness and ensure alignment with diverse student learning styles. Maintain tutoring environments that foster academic success and integrated technology to enhance tutoring outcomes. Collaborate with various academic support resources to help connect services and respond to institutional priorities. Lead or coordinate special programs assigned annually (such as Student Leadership and Employment; Transition and Success Coaching Models; specialized Persistence & Belonging Initiatives. Collaborate with the Director to assess, plan, and implement effective academic support interventions aligned with MCLA's strategic goals. Work with the Director to build effective program models. Design and utilize assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes. Compile and analyze data regularly to inform continuous improvement, close equity gaps, promote belonging and persistence, and support institutional reporting. Create reports and respond in a timely manner to timely requests for data and information. Provide support to the Director for tier one CARE coordination responses assigned by the CARE Team to AA&S by proactively identifying student concerns and initiating coordination planning. Maintain consistent communication with the CARE team via the Executive Director for Persistence to ensure timely and effective support, documentation and interventions. Collaborate with the MCLA student success team and various mentoring programs for all students so that standards, models, policies, and approaches to mentoring/advising are aligned. TRiO SSS Program
Is a grant-funded program of the U.S. Department of Education, providing comprehensive academic and holistic support services to college students with a range of academic, social, personal development and well-being needs. Students served by TRiO SSS may be historically underrepresented in higher education, and are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. The TRiO SSS program at MCLA is a model seamlessly and collaboratively supported by the offices of TRiO SSS Academic Advising & Support, First Year and First Gen Programs, Disability Resources, and others that span the nexus of academic and student affai. TRiO SSS is guided by the oversight of the Director of TRiO SSS. The Assistant Director provides .5fte support for the program's direct student advising, assessment and reporting, student employment, and general activities in accordance with federal regulations, grant objectives, and MCLA strategic priorities. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with the Director of AA&S and the Director of TRiO SSS to recommend and create interconnected service and support models for students that are both universal in design and customized.
Contribute to the selection/eligibility of TRiO SSS program participants according to SSS guidelines; collect and maintain program data and prepare reports as required by the USDOE and MCLA. Work with program and college staff in the development, coordination, and implementation of academic and student services, programs, models and initiatives for program participants according to the established recruitment plan. Recruit, hire, train, supervise, professionally support, and evaluate TRiO SSS student employees. Serve on the MCLA TRiO SSS advisory and strategic work group. Conceptualize and coordinate cross-divisional collaborations with roles directly serving and supporting TRiO SSS (e.g., AD for New Student Programs and First Gen Initiatives). Maintain robust student advising and engagement caseload. Provide academic coaching, holistic support, intervention/care guidance, career engagement, encouragement and support to an assigned cohort within the 160+ undergraduate students who meet the TRiO SSS eligible status of first-generation, low-income, and/or holding a disability. Help students design and implement enhanced academic success and career plans that include goals and objectives that address need area(s). Support successful goal completion and monitor student progress toward established goals. Apply principles of appreciative and culturally responsive advising, and active learning to build rapport, engagement and trust with students. Other
Serve on campus-wide committees with the permission of the direct supervisor. Attendance at all campus signature events may be required and are often encouraged. This role may include occasional weekend and evening commitments. Some examples include, first year onboarding, admission events, convocation and opening academic year events, commencement, affinity group receptions, and signature events. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed within the scope of related work duties and the priorities of the role and the office. At times, a flexible schedule may be required beyond specific business hours. This is a predominantly in person, on campus, direct student-facing role.
Requirements:
Master's degree in relevant fields (Education, Behavioral and/or Social Science, Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs Administration). A minimum of three years of successful educational program and retention initiatives coordination at the post-secondary level. Prior experience in academic advising, tutoring and mentoring undergraduate students. Experience developing, implementing, and assessing universal academic and holistic support services and models for all students, and customized for historically underrepresented in higher education, and/or for students who are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. Previous experience working with students from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds; experience fostering inclusive communities and belonging. Knowledge of theories and best practices in student development, academic learning and well-being/wellness. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain a productive working relationship with multiple constituencies across campus. Experience convening committees. Knowledge of college/university processes and procedures, and with working with sensitive and confidential student information. Working knowledge of student management database systems and learning platforms, such as EAB Navigate360, Canvas, BANNER and Degree Works. Well-developed written and oral communication skills, including developing and delivering presentations, trainings, and workshops.
Additional Information:
This is a full-time, benefited, grant-funded position in the APA bargaining unit. The annual salary for this position is $60,000 per year.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.
Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.
Lucas Morrill Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 Telephone: (413) 662-5103 Titleix@mcla.edu
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights 33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424 Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172 OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Application Instructions:
Applicants should electronically submit an application by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below.
At MCLA, we're here for all, and focused on each, of our students. Classes are taught by educators who care deeply about teaching, and about seeing their students thrive on every level of their lives. In every way possible, the experience at MCLA is designed to elevate our students as individuals, leaders, and communicators, fully empowered to make their impressions on the world. In addition to our 130-year commitment to public education, we have fortified our dedication to equitable academic excellence. MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 10 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2025, after earning the No. 7 spot the prior three years. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2025 U.S. News rankings: No. 5 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 2 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more at www.mcla.edu.
Job Description:
The Assistant Director (AD) reporting to the Director of Academic Advising & Support (AA&S) provides leadership for and representation of the following areas in collaboration with the oversight of the Director: daily operations and communications of the AA&S office, Trailblazer Tutor Program Center, AA&S and TRiO SSS Student Leadership and Employment Initiative, and Transition and Success Coaching Models. The AD collaborates with the Director, various campus colleagues, and students to assess, plan, implement and nimbly adjust academic, persistence and belonging initiatives and interventions. The AD has essential student facing and advising commitments serving as an academic advisor, success coach, tier 1 CARE response outreach coordinator, trainer, educational initiative convenor, and TRiO SSS program guide and mentor. Students served by TRiO SSS may be historically underrepresented in higher education, and are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. Fifty percent of the role involves priorities of the office of AA&S and fifty percent of the TRiO SSS program; there are intentional areas of interconnection. Fostering collaborative campus partnerships is integral to being of effective service. MCLA is a four-year public liberal arts college in North Adams, Massachusetts. This is a full-time grant-funded position.
Office of Academic Advising & Support Deliver high-quality, holistic and academic advising and success coaching to support students as scholars and learners, and as they navigate through their academic experience, transitions, goal planning, and decision making. Collaboratively contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive academic advising and support models. Provide additional coordination for the first year and transfer student course registration and onboarding processes, and for low/no registration outreach. Maintain advising of an assigned cohort of students that is calibrated with the TRiO SSS program advising cohort. Represent the office of AA&S and TRiO SSS as an ambassador, and at various fairs and events. Provide leadership, in consultation with the Director, for the daily coverage, operations and communications of the Office of AA&S. Lead all aspects of the Trailblazer Tutor Program, in consultation with the Director, including recruitment, hiring, training, and supervision of peer tutors across various academic disciplines. Conduct regular observations to assess tutor effectiveness and ensure alignment with diverse student learning styles. Maintain tutoring environments that foster academic success and integrated technology to enhance tutoring outcomes. Collaborate with various academic support resources to help connect services and respond to institutional priorities. Lead or coordinate special programs assigned annually (such as Student Leadership and Employment; Transition and Success Coaching Models; specialized Persistence & Belonging Initiatives. Collaborate with the Director to assess, plan, and implement effective academic support interventions aligned with MCLA's strategic goals. Work with the Director to build effective program models. Design and utilize assessment tools to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes. Compile and analyze data regularly to inform continuous improvement, close equity gaps, promote belonging and persistence, and support institutional reporting. Create reports and respond in a timely manner to timely requests for data and information. Provide support to the Director for tier one CARE coordination responses assigned by the CARE Team to AA&S by proactively identifying student concerns and initiating coordination planning. Maintain consistent communication with the CARE team via the Executive Director for Persistence to ensure timely and effective support, documentation and interventions. Collaborate with the MCLA student success team and various mentoring programs for all students so that standards, models, policies, and approaches to mentoring/advising are aligned. TRiO SSS Program
Is a grant-funded program of the U.S. Department of Education, providing comprehensive academic and holistic support services to college students with a range of academic, social, personal development and well-being needs. Students served by TRiO SSS may be historically underrepresented in higher education, and are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. The TRiO SSS program at MCLA is a model seamlessly and collaboratively supported by the offices of TRiO SSS Academic Advising & Support, First Year and First Gen Programs, Disability Resources, and others that span the nexus of academic and student affai. TRiO SSS is guided by the oversight of the Director of TRiO SSS. The Assistant Director provides .5fte support for the program's direct student advising, assessment and reporting, student employment, and general activities in accordance with federal regulations, grant objectives, and MCLA strategic priorities. The Assistant Director works collaboratively with the Director of AA&S and the Director of TRiO SSS to recommend and create interconnected service and support models for students that are both universal in design and customized.
Contribute to the selection/eligibility of TRiO SSS program participants according to SSS guidelines; collect and maintain program data and prepare reports as required by the USDOE and MCLA. Work with program and college staff in the development, coordination, and implementation of academic and student services, programs, models and initiatives for program participants according to the established recruitment plan. Recruit, hire, train, supervise, professionally support, and evaluate TRiO SSS student employees. Serve on the MCLA TRiO SSS advisory and strategic work group. Conceptualize and coordinate cross-divisional collaborations with roles directly serving and supporting TRiO SSS (e.g., AD for New Student Programs and First Gen Initiatives). Maintain robust student advising and engagement caseload. Provide academic coaching, holistic support, intervention/care guidance, career engagement, encouragement and support to an assigned cohort within the 160+ undergraduate students who meet the TRiO SSS eligible status of first-generation, low-income, and/or holding a disability. Help students design and implement enhanced academic success and career plans that include goals and objectives that address need area(s). Support successful goal completion and monitor student progress toward established goals. Apply principles of appreciative and culturally responsive advising, and active learning to build rapport, engagement and trust with students. Other
Serve on campus-wide committees with the permission of the direct supervisor. Attendance at all campus signature events may be required and are often encouraged. This role may include occasional weekend and evening commitments. Some examples include, first year onboarding, admission events, convocation and opening academic year events, commencement, affinity group receptions, and signature events. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed within the scope of related work duties and the priorities of the role and the office. At times, a flexible schedule may be required beyond specific business hours. This is a predominantly in person, on campus, direct student-facing role.
Requirements:
Master's degree in relevant fields (Education, Behavioral and/or Social Science, Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs Administration). A minimum of three years of successful educational program and retention initiatives coordination at the post-secondary level. Prior experience in academic advising, tutoring and mentoring undergraduate students. Experience developing, implementing, and assessing universal academic and holistic support services and models for all students, and customized for historically underrepresented in higher education, and/or for students who are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. Previous experience working with students from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds; experience fostering inclusive communities and belonging. Knowledge of theories and best practices in student development, academic learning and well-being/wellness. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain a productive working relationship with multiple constituencies across campus. Experience convening committees. Knowledge of college/university processes and procedures, and with working with sensitive and confidential student information. Working knowledge of student management database systems and learning platforms, such as EAB Navigate360, Canvas, BANNER and Degree Works. Well-developed written and oral communication skills, including developing and delivering presentations, trainings, and workshops.
Additional Information:
This is a full-time, benefited, grant-funded position in the APA bargaining unit. The annual salary for this position is $60,000 per year.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.
Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.
Lucas Morrill Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator 375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247 Telephone: (413) 662-5103 Titleix@mcla.edu
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights 33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424 Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172 OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Application Instructions:
Applicants should electronically submit an application by clicking on the APPLY NOW button below.