Director of Academic Advising

About Bethel University

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor's and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

With oversight of the full advising experience from entry to graduation, the Director of Academic Advising supervises professional advising staff and partners with the faculty advising liaison to provide leadership to the college advising community. The Director provides institutional leadership for academic advising across Bethel University, overseeing Early College, undergraduate (traditional and online), graduate, and Seminary students. The Director sets and advances a shared advising vision aligned with the university’s student success goals and leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of a cohesive, outcomes-driven advising strategy that supports retention, persistence, and degree completion.

The Director collaborates closely with faculty stakeholders within the colleges/schools and offices across campus (e.g., Admissions, Academic Support Services, Student Life, Career Development & Calling, Accessibility Resources and Services, Registrar, and Financial Aid) to ensure coordinated, student-centered advising practices. The Director fosters innovation, aligns advising policy and practice with current research and best practices in student retention and completion, and represents Bethel’s advising vision internally and externally.

• Set University-Wide Vision and Strategy for Academic Advising

  Develop and lead a university-wide advising vision and strategic plan aligned with Bethel’s student success goals and grounded in NACADA standards and student development theory, supporting retention, persistence, and completion. Advance advising initiatives and contribute to enrollment strategies to expand access and increase enrollment. Foster a safe, inclusive, and student-centered advising culture that advances inclusive excellence.

• Lead an Integrated and Inclusive Advising Experience

  Coordinate across academic and administrative units to ensure holistic, seamless student support throughout the advising lifecycle. Collaborate and maintain professional relationships with faculty and campus partners to align advising efforts and student success initiatives. Contribute to university-wide recruitment and new student orientation efforts, ensuring appropriate advising leadership and staffing support.

• Oversee Advising Operations, Staff, and Resources

  Provide direct supervision and leadership to Advising Unit Leads (Early College, Undergraduate—traditional and fully online, and Graduate/Seminary), including consultation on complex advising cases. Manage designated advising budgets and contribute to institutional financial planning in collaboration with budget managers.

• Direct Advising Communication, Representation, and Collaboration

  Lead internal communication related to academic advising, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment across advising units and campus partners. Ensure consistent advising practices and interpretation of academic policies through shared communication, training, and documentation. Oversee external advising communications in partnership with Marketing—including advising web content and student‑facing messaging—while ensuring timely, accurate communication to students about curriculum changes, academic policies, and advising updates, and proactively conveying advising services,…