Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: Administrative Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA with occasional travel to other campuses

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) Office of Undergraduate Studies provides proactive CEC-wide leadership, supervision, guidance, and accountability for CEC undergraduate studies. The Office works as a bridge for undergraduate studies between CEC department-level responsibilities and university-level responsibilities with regard to academic policy, student recruitment and admissions, academic advising, oversight and conflict resolution, and program development and management.

About the Position:

The Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs provides senior-level higher education expertise to manage academic affairs for CEC undergraduate programs and students, to include facilitating and guiding curriculum, creating and interpreting academic policy, and developing programs to improve retention and degree completion. The role also includes supervising staff and supporting accreditation efforts.

Responsibilities:

Oversees Academic Affairs for CEC Undergraduates

• Holds primary accountability for undergraduate academic affairs within CEC, ensuring that academic policies, practices, and procedures support student success, institutional integrity, and compliance with university standards;
• Owns the development, interpretation, and application of undergraduate academic policy for CEC, including translating university policy into effective college-level rules, regulations, and decision frameworks to address complex academic cases;
• Serves as the SME for CEC on academic policy, providing guidance and final interpretation to Chairs, Program Directors, advisors, and students on policy-related matters and academic exceptions;
• Leads evaluation of academic policies and outcomes, using student data and trend analysis to assess effectiveness, identify gaps, and recommend policy or process improvements that enhance student academic outcomes;
• Designs and establishes systems for monitoring the progress and pathways of key student populations, ensuring accurate tracking for assessment, intervention, and accreditation;
• Advises CEC faculty on the academic policies relevant to development and implementation of multidisciplinary programs;
• Supports strategic resource planning related to undergraduate academic affairs, advising the Associate Dean and Chief Business Officer on budget priorities that align with academic goals and student support needs;
• Leads and supervises undergraduate academic affairs staff, ensuring effective operations, professional development, and consistent, fair, and sound decisions on academic requests and policy exceptions; and
• Leads CEC's engagement with other academic unit peers and central administrative offices including, but not limited to, the Registrar, Provost's Office, Office of Financial Aid, and Student Accounts.

Retention

• In collaboration with the Associate Dean, Director of Advising, and CEC Departments, develops, implements, and oversees retention strategies and processes to improve current student retention and graduation;
• Designs, implements, and manages meaningful data analysis to proactively advise students and departments about their student populations, particularly focused on common barriers to students' academic progress; and
• Champions cultivation of an inclusive community and an environment of academic support for undergraduate students in CEC.

Catalog/Curriculum

• Responsible for the accuracy of catalog content and updates for all undergraduate CEC programs;
• Advises departmental representatives on curriculum submission process; and
• Represents Undergraduate Studies Office in CEC Undergrad Studies Committee and in Undergraduate Council.

Administrative

• Manages resolution of student issues that cannot be resolved at the departmental or program level;
• Provides program information for New Student Orientation;
• Cultivates and disseminates academic information via the Undergraduate Student Newsletter;
• Oversees approval of undergraduate academic forms;
• Contributes to recruiting, orientation, and advising efforts within the Office of Undergraduate Studies as needed; and
• Supervises office staff and students as needed.

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in higher education administration or a closely related field or the equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience (generally a minimum of five years) in academic affairs or a closely related area in a higher education setting;
• Knowledge of federal student data privacy laws;
• Knowledge of strategies that support student progress and graduation;
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills with students, staff, and administrators;
• Ability to independently interpret policies and procedures within delegated authority;
• Ability to make sound, policy-aligned judgments;
• Ability to organize and oversee projects and processes across departments;
• Ability to use data systems and dashboards effectively to interpret complex data, identify actionable trends, and generate reports;
• Ability to interpret and operationalize academic regulations;
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, prioritize effectively, and develop internal procedures;
• Ability to develop collaborative partnerships with faculty and staff;
• A minimum of two years experience supervising/mentoring staff and student workers;
• Ability to handle data and personal issues with discretion and to maintain integrity in all communications and decisions;
• Skill in demonstrating flexibility when handling change or unexpected issues;
• Excellent computer skills. Required proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; and
• Ability to learn new software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience (generally a minimum of five years) in academic affairs or a closely related area in a higher education setting with evidence of increasing responsibility over work history;
• Experience with Banner, MicroStrategy, CourseLeaf, and Salesforce;
• Knowledge of catalog processes, academic governance, and curricular changes; and
• Outstanding teamwork and supervisory skills.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director of Undergraduate Academic Affairs at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: May 13, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: May 27, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes