Assistant Director of Academic Student Affairs, i-Learning Center
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Assistant Director of Academic Student Affairs, i-Learning Center
College of Veterinary Medicine
Job Summary
The Assistant Director of Academic Student Affairs plays a key leadership role in managing the student experience across two graduate-level academic programs delivered by the i-Learning Center. This position requires an experienced, confident professional who can work independently, think strategically, and collaborate effectively within a small, fast-paced team. The Assistant Director oversees academic advising, student onboarding, registration, and academic success efforts for both degree and Non-Degree students.Duties & Responsibilities
- Academic Advising and Student Success
• Lead academic advising services for degree and Non-Degree students, guiding them through program requirements, course registration, academic progress, and University and Graduate College policies.
• Design and implement student success initiatives, including orientation, onboarding, academic performance monitoring, career and professional development, and graduation support.
• Serve as the unit’s subject matter expert in academic and student affairs, delivering data-driven insights, reports, and recommendations for continuous improvement.
• Act as liaison between the i-Learning Center and the Graduate College on academic policies, registration, petitions, and admissions procedures.
• Advise students on probationary status or with academic/financial concerns, connecting them to appropriate campus resources as needed.
• Coordinate and supervise the registration process, including onboarding for all new degree and Non-Degree students.
• Maintain accurate graduate student records and oversee systems for tracking advising interactions, overrides, degree audits, petitions, and academic milestones.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive student communication plan (e.g., newsletters, text alerts) to promote engagement and affiliation with the college and university.
• Stay informed on program and curricular updates by coordinating with faculty and program administrators; ensure academic advisors are informed and aligned.
- Administrative Leadership
• Establish standard operating procedures for all academic student affairs staff and services such as:
o New student onboarding and orientation
o Enrollment processes for non-degree students
o Petitions and appeals
o Degree audit and graduation checks
o i-Learning Center communications (e.g., MVS Memo, text alerts)
o Management of student records and the advising portal
o Course scheduling and classroom reservations
o Departmental inbox and phone support (e.g., OPE, iLC shared channels)
• Represent the i-Learning Center at university-wide marketing and recruitment events.
• Serve as a collaborative team member in a dynamic, service-oriented unit that emphasizes innovation, accountability, and continuous learning.
• Assist marketing and recruitment with strategic planning and implementation.
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, social work or related field Three (3) years of progressive experience in academic advising, student services, or graduate education. Demonstrated experience working independently, managing complex student issues, and lead others in a high-functioning, service-oriented environment.
Preferred Qualifications
• Master’s degree in human resource development, higher education, social work or related field
• Experience supervising staff or leading academic/student affairs projects.
• Background in professional or online graduate programs.
• Demonstrated success in using data and student feedback to guide improvements in services.
• Strong familiarity with University of Illinois systems, policies, and processes.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Skilled in building educational experiences that create meaningful, positive job outcomes for learners
- Proven ability to work independently, manage complex student issues, and lead others
- Demonstrated ability to work in an environment with a high degree of ambiguity
- Ability to lead and work in multidisciplinary teams
- Excellent communication skills and organizational skills.
Appointment Information
This is a 100% full-time Academic Professional position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after close of the position. The budgeted salary range for this position is $60,000 to $80,000. The pay offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors including (but not limited to) the experience and qualifications of the selected candidate; internal equity; and external market pay for comparable positions. The University of Illinois offers a competitive benefits package. A summary explanation of these benefits can be found at https://www.hr.uillinois.edu/benefits
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on September 24, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. Applicants may be interviewed before the closing date; however no hiring decision will be made until after that. For further information about this specific position, please contact Search Chair, Holly Fuson, hjayne@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.
Requisition ID: 1032168
Job Category: Education & Student Services
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu