Working Title: Academic Advisor – School of Theatre and Dance

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Visual and Performing Arts

Department: 100019 - School Theatre and Dance

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 3/8/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The School of Theatre and Dance (STAD) seeks a highly motivated individual to join an experienced, respected, and student-centered team. In support of student academic success and engagement, University Advising team members are committed to the development of the whole student; offer expertise on curricular requirements and academic expectations; enhance student connections with the university and community; remain highly accessible and responsive to their students and multiple constituencies; actively collaborate with colleagues throughout the university and beyond; and engage in pursuits that ensure their own professional development.

The individual works under the guidance of the School of Theatre and Dance and will be supported by the Director of University Advising.

This is a full-time, 12-month, Administrative and Professional Faculty position in the College of and Performing Arts (CVPA), reporting to the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide academic advising to current and prospective School of Theatre and Dance students.
• Advise assigned student caseload, monitor academic progress, communicate regularly with and maximize availability for advisees, and connect them with campus resources and opportunities to foster sense of community and enrich student experience.
• Help students formulate meaningful and appropriate academic plans based on their interests and goals, providing guidance on the General Education curriculum, major and degree requirements, and academic opportunities within context of STAD majors.
• Remain informed of changing program requirements for all the majors in the STAD.
• Serve as advising resource for and liaison with faculty and administrators in the college.
• Build and maintain effective partnerships with academic departments, faculty, and colleagues in the College of Visual and Performing Arts and across campus.
• Serve college and university community through committees, service projects, and academic and curricular initiatives.
• Support students on academic probation and suspension by helping them understand academic expectations and identify strategies to improve academic performance.
• Utilize campus-wide advising technology resources and maintain electronic student records and accurate data for CVPA, STAD, and University Advising.
• Ensure updated print and web-based advising resources for students and colleagues.
• Represent college at academic open houses and other recruitment events and respond to inquiries about its academic programs.
• Contribute actively to the CVPA, STAD, University Advising team, and campus academic advising network through regular meetings, information sharing, and professional development opportunities.
• Utilize campus-wide advising technology and maintain electronic student records and accurate data.
• Collaborate on efforts to ensure updated online and print advising resources for students and colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

  Required
• Master’s degree.
• Demonstrated commitment to accessibility and belonging.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to and sustain a welcoming, respectful, and collaborative work and learning environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage meaningfully and supportively with undergraduate students.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with colleagues and supervisors.
• Strong oral and written communication skills, with demonstrated strengths in time management, organization, and problem solving.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and navigate integrated student information systems in a dynamic environment.
• Strong work ethic and high level of professionalism.

    Preferred
• Academic advising experience working directly with students in higher education.
• Experience advising within the arts and or creative disciplines in higher education.
• Strong attention to detail alongside the ability to understand and communicate the broader academic context.
• Familiarity with national trends and best practices in academic advising and higher education.
• Experience interpreting, applying, and clearly explaining complex academic requirements, policies, and procedures.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.