Director Academic Systems - Columbia College

Columbia College Chicago is an acclaimed undergraduate and graduate institution that provides a comprehensive education in the arts, communications and public relations. We constantly aim to reach our full potential as an educational innovator, incubator of new creative practice and generator of real-world success for young creatives. We are in the heart of Chicago, across the street from historic Grant Park, and housed in some of the most iconic buildings in the South Loop.

Columbia College Chicago a private urban institution of over 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students, four-year College offering a distinctive curriculum that blends liberal arts, creative and media arts and business is currently searching for a Director of Academic Systems.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Academic Systems is responsible for overseeing the development, integration, maintenance and testing of all college-wide academic and curricular systems and processes under the purview of the Office of the Registrar, while managing the daily workflow and operations of their assigned team. They work to streamline, improve, and document assigned processes in the Student Information System, Colleague, and other auxiliary applications.  They serve as the degree auditing software's system administrator, responsible for programing and delivering the system architecture that accurately represents Columbia’s intended curricular program offerings and academic record information to students regarding their progress toward completion of degree requirements. The Director of Academic Systems ensures that academic policies and procedures, as well as best practices in records maintenance, are consistently observed and that all functions are performed according to institutional standards, and federal rules and regulations. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for overseeing the implementation, integration, maintenance, and testing of all academic and curricular systems and processes under the purview of the Office of the Registrar.
• Streamline, improve and document all new and current Student Information System processes and procedures, including but not limited to Ellucian’s Colleague ERP, CollegeSource, and Modern Campus applications.
• Serve as lead system administrator for Columbia’s degree audit software, responsible for programing and delivering the system architecture that accurately represents intended curricular program offerings and student’s individual academic record information. 
• Oversee the encoding of degree audits, transfer evaluations and functionality supporting exceptions.
• Manage all operations and software used by assigned team and/or stakeholders, and for the continual improvement process management efforts.
• Supervise and lead assigned team, including Assistant Registrar, Catalog & Schedule. Conduct performance management, provide training, recommend professional development, and evaluate performance. 
• Interpret and enforce academic policy as it pertains to transfer credit evaluation and degree conferral, and use professional judgement to conduct exceptions to processes or academic policies, as needed.
• Work closely with Information Technology, key college partners, and vendors to ensure effective systems utilization that leverage technology to deliver innovative solutions.
• Regularly conduct systems and student records audits to ensure data accuracy and integrity. 
• Develop and conduct stakeholder training. Produce and maintain training materials and resources for future use.
• Participate in commencement events as assigned or required.
• Perform other duties and/ or responsibilities as assigned or required.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 6+ years of experience in higher education administration, preferably in a registrar, student records, or academic advising setting where system configuration and design were assigned responsibilities.
• 4+ years of personnel supervision and leadership experience required.
• Experience working with Colleague Student Information System, with a focus on the Degree Audit & Planning module, preferred.
• Experience encoding degree requirements and/or transfer credit required.
• Keen ability to understand and configure complex computer systems and processes to sufficiently manage and further develop assigned processes.
• Knowledge of academic record keeping, registration practices, and curricular services.
• Ability to effectively communicate across all levels in the higher education environment.
• Ability to exercise critical thinking and independent judgement.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or college.

At Columbia, we offer a rewarding work environment for our faculty and staff. We take pride in offering competitive benefits with affordable health, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; commuter benefit program, life and accidental, death & dismemberment coverage; paid and unpaid leave options; work/life benefits; educational assistance programs; and retirement and financial planning benefits.

We invite you to join our talented faculty and staff and become part of our collective aspiration to ensure Columbia prepares students for success in their creative fields through innovation, engagement and real-world experiences.

Additional Information

• Position subject to a background screening.
• This is a non-union position. 
• This position is overtime ineligible.

Qualified candidates of diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

Columbia College Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations concerning civil rights. The college does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law.”