Executive Director of Academic Advising and Student Success

Job Summary

Central Washington University is recruiting an Executive Director of Academic Advising and Student Success to join our Academic Advising - Exploratory team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $96,500 - $108,350 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~8,300 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the  academic year. In addition, for seven out of eight years, CWU was a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Rent Cafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.

Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here.

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more:
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The Role:

Under the direction of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies, the Executive Director of Academic Advising & Student Success provides strategic leadership and direction for coordinated, university-wide advising and other student retention and success initiatives. This position is responsible for directing key centralized advising services, establishing evidence-informed standards, and implementing university policy and procedures related to academic advising. The Executive Director of Academic Advising and Student Success provides strategic coordination among the College Deans, Associate Deans, Advising Directors and other campus leadership to ensure a cohesive, coordinated, high-quality, and student-centered advising experience s position will independently lead data-informed strategic priorities and administer programs to support undergraduate persistence, retention, graduation and success, with an emphasis on first year students, in collaboration with a variety of campus partners within Academic Affairs and across other division leaders.

This position provides fiscal and personnel management for several units including First Year and Exploratory Advising, and cross-functional programs and initiatives such as the first-year experience, early interventions, peer education, and public or private grant funding opportunities that support first year student success. This role is expected to engage best practices for professional advising and student success, relevant technologies, and strategic data insights throughout its portfolio of responsibilities.

All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU's vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence.

Job Duties

Undergraduate Advising

* Independently lead initiatives and projects related to undergraduate academic advising, supported by the Dean of Undergraduate Studies

* Direct key university-wide advising initiatives to include planning and implementing academic advising assessment, quality improvement, reporting, and evaluation of advising services; establishing training, onboarding, and professional development standards for new advisors; supporting professional development and advancement of advising professionals; leading the communication and facilitation of referrals between intake advising and discipline-specific advising units, and other relevant activities

* Foster strong communication and collaboration with the college Deans, Associate Deans, Advising Directors, and their support units on planning and implementing both university-wide and college-level advising initiatives

* Serve as the Chair of the Academic Advising Council

* Develop strong working relationships with academic units, faculty, administrators, and staff across campus

* Support new student orientation and student program activities where academic advising & student success is…