Assistant Dean for Advising, College of Arts and Sciences

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Assistant Dean for Advising, College of Arts and Sciences

Job Profile Title

Assistant Dean of Administration, Student Services, Advising

Job Description Summary

Assistant Deans for Advising in the College of Arts and Sciences provide academic advising and sustained support to College undergraduates, with particular responsibility for degree progress, academic standing, and complex cases. In addition to direct advising, Assistant Deans serve as stewards of academic policies and advising systems, coordinate with faculty and campus partners, and participate in advising working groups that function as core operational teams supporting student success.

Job Description

The College Office serves the undergraduate population of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania. The College works closely with about 60 departments and programs to offer majors and minors, supports roughly 1,200 instructional staff and promotes the value of the liberal arts to an undergraduate population of roughly 6,500 students.

Responsibilities:

This role will provide academic advising and sustained support to undergraduates, with particular responsibility for students navigating academic standing, ongoing intensive advising, and complex degree progress challenges. As part of the College’s extended case management infrastructure, Assistant Deans engage with students across the academic year and coordinate with campus partners to support continuity, equity, and timely resolution of complex academic situations. In addition to direct advising, Assistant Deans serve as stewards of the College’s academic policies and degree progress systems, interpreting and communicating College rules as they apply to students and supporting faculty, departmental advisors, and pre-major advisors in the consistent application of those rules. Assistant Deans play a central role in academic standing oversight, working closely with the Committee on Undergraduate Academic Standing to enforce College rules and evaluate exceptions, and carrying responsibility for follow-up and implementation throughout the year. They also contribute to the coordination and administration of cross-school and special academic programs (e.g., dual degrees, interschool enrollment, study abroad), emphasizing policy execution, eligibility review, and record accuracy. As members of the College Advising team, Assistant Deans provide oversight and coordination of pre-major advisors housed outside the advising office, participate in advising working groups that function as operational service teams, and maintain fluency in the College curriculum, degree audit tools, administrative systems, and the University’s network of undergraduate support services. 

Qualifications:

Education

• Master of Arts, Master of Science, and 1-2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• Advanced degree required; PhD in a discipline taught in the College of Arts and Sciences preferred.

Experience and Personal Attributes

• Strong background in and commitment to liberal arts education

• Experience must include teaching and/or advising of traditional college-age students as well as some administrative experience in higher education

• Experience with the design and management of advising communications, both print and web-based, is also desirable

• Ability to relate well to students, faculty, staff, and parents required

• The ability to work as part of a team is necessary

Technical Skills

• Good interpersonal communication (oral and written) and organizational skills required

• Comfortable with modern computer operating systems, such as Mac OS or Windows, and strong foundation in basic productivity software such as Microsoft Office, Firefox, email clients, and FileMaker Pro required

• Technical proficiency sufficient to master University systems such as Path@Penn, DegreeWorks, and Banner

• Propensity towards enthusiastically adopting new technologies and an aptitude for envisioning improvements to processes is desired as well

*For consideration, please submit a cover letter as well as a resume in the CV section of your application. You can upload multiple documents to the "Resume/CV" section.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$66,000.00 - $88,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement 

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements 
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay