Assistant Director, Center for Academic Success and Advising

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Center for Academic Services & Advising (CASA) is responsible for academic advising and academic support services for all undergraduate students. CASA oversees university support services, which include but are not limited to tutoring services, supplemental instruction offerings, academic program planning, early intervention systems, and academic support services. In full, CASA serves approximately 4500+ students throughout the course of an academic year. Furthermore, CASA collaborates frequently with academic departments, orientation programs, and various student life departments as an academic and student resource and support office.

The Assistant Director will lead CASA’s efforts to ensure students have equal access to academic advising, including directly advising individual students and cultivating the peer advisor program. The Assistant Director will administer various academic support services and retention efforts in collaboration with academic faculty and administration. Assistant Directors report to the Director of CASA and support the integration, facilitation, and coordination of outcomes-driven efforts that support student success (e.g., retention, persistence, and graduation). The Assistant Director works closely with the Registrar, the Office of Graduate Studies, Academic Affairs, and Student Life Departments to accomplish comprehensive student engagement and completion goals.

The Assistant Director will support CASA through a collaborative structural redesign to create an office/center more heavily focused on academic support, retention, degree progression, and advanced student advising. The Assistant Director’s responsibilities, skills, experience, and priorities will remain, though the office deliverables will shift in priority as CASA evolves. The Assistant Director will be expected to help lead through this change with poise, quality deliverables, and uncompromised collegial rapport alongside the CASA leadership team.

The Assistant Director positions are full-time, 12-month, exempt, administrative faculty position working within national standards for academic advising and support set out by NACADA, is expected to abide by FERPA and privacy regulations with all confidential student material.

This work takes place primarily on campus in Golden, Colorado.

Primary Responsibilities

Academic Advising and Advising Leadership

• Serve as a generalist floating advisor with multidisciplinary proficiency to assist students in high demand majors.
• Help develop and execute plans for advising coverage during periods of advisor turn-over, including serving as backfill to directly advise students when needed.
• Provide individualized assistance to students, including those with complex transcripts, advising, and academic support needs (e.g., students with academic challenges, advising holds, AP/IB advanced credit, transfer students, non-traditional, study abroad, combined graduation program, and more).
• Communicate to identified students, including routine outreach regarding campus policies and academic advising, as well as targeted outreach to special populations
• Maintain confidential records and data including consistent and thorough record keeping of all student contact and advisement such as pre- and post-advising session notes.
• Interpret, apply and enforce CASA and Mines curriculum, policies and procedures, as well as state and federal laws.
• Support Academic Advising Coordinators (AACs) in accurately interpreting curriculum, policies, and procedures, requiring frequent collaboration with the Registrar and other campus partners to address questions.
• Learn new technology and tools designed for student advising and success and integrate them into a balanced and holistic approach to advising.
• Contribute to the continual improvement of advising infrastructure, approach, standards, meetings, and advising data.
• Provide assistance and support to student families and prospective student/families with awareness of FERPA compliance.

CASA Leadership

• Develop and maintain strong, professional interpersonal relationships with faculty and Student Life departments.
• Provide proactive and thorough communication with academic faculty and departments in need of assistance and support for advising purposes.
• Demonstrate ethical decision-making, cultural competency, responsible management, and leadership for students and staff through all actions and communications.
• Demonstrate conflict management and conflict resolution decision-making skills when working with dissatisfied individuals.
• Suggest resolutions to problems and issues affecting CASA and assist in directing measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the department.
• Ensure the responsible planning and expenditure of fiscal resources in a manner consistent with all university policies and procedures and applicable local, state, and federal laws for AAC budget areas.
• In conjunction with the CASA Director and leadership team, assist with:
  • Hiring and training of AACs
  • Planning of weekly staff meetings, retreats, and professional development
  • Developing, maintaining, and implementing department policies and procedures
  • Assessment initiatives
  • Planning and execution of peak advising periods and events (e.g., incoming new students, first week of the semester, and the first week of registration)
  • Providing CASA representation on various university ad hoc and standing committees and working groups
• Serving as a consulting member of the Student Life Readmissions Committee when needed
• The Assistant Directors may serve as a backup for the Director for processing university withdrawals, attending the Behavioral Intervention Team meetings, and/or stepping in as a proxy as requested by the Director.

CASA Program Development

• Coordinate and sustainably grow a re-envisioned peer advisor program (e.g., ensure effective practices related to hiring and training, skill development, performance management, outcome assessment, daily operations, etc.)
• Ensure opportunities for input and leadership from AACs and the CASA program assistant in peer advising initiatives
• Contribute to plans and future programs developed in support of the forthcoming CASA redesign

Professional Development and Other Duties

• Participate in NACADA regional conference and/or committees as able based on funding and stay up to date on NACADA journal publications and innovative advising efforts.
• Participate and present on behalf of CASA as requested and needed by campus stakeholders.
• Participate and volunteer as requested in day, evening, and weekend CASA and Mines-wide events to support Mines students, including signature events such as the M Climb, Career Day, Admissions events, E-days, etc.

Minimum Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education.
• Master’s degree from an accredited institution.
• Three or more years of progressive professional experience.
• Three or more years of professional employment in a student-facing role.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher from an accredited institution in a relevant discipline, including Student Affairs, Counseling, College Student Personnel, Education Leadership, etc.
• Three or more years of professional employment as a full-time academic advisor, coach, and/or academic support or student support administrator.
• Experience working with STEM majors and students.
• Professional supervisory experience (e.g., student workers, part-time staff, or full-time employees)  
• Proficiency with computer software, including but not limited to Microsoft Suite, Degree Works, Acuity, Banner, SLATE, etc.

Salary and Benefits

$66,000 - $73,000 annual salary rate

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health and dental care options
• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year – including a week-long winter break for entire campus.
• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution
• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)
• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position now nor in the future.

This posting may be used to fill more than one vacancy based on business needs.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Application review will begin August 6, 2026. This posting will remain open until filled and may close without notice. For best consideration, apply by August 5, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. as applications received after that date may not be reviewed.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines’ scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 36 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2025).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that’s manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 “Very High Activity” research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size – roughly 8,200 undergraduate and graduate students – also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus – nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don’t get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails – and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world’s problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a community where our individual perspectives and experiences enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Additional Information and Reasonable Accommodation Requests
It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at hr@mines.edu or 303.273.3250 for assistance.

Successful completion of a background investigation is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a talented student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequality or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting