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Posted: 02-Mar-26
Location: Dallas, Texas
Type: Full-time
Sector:
Anticipated salary range - high 50s
About SMU
SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.
SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.
SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.
Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.
SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.
About the Department:
The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA) reports through the Office of the Provost and is dedicated to supporting all undergraduate and graduate Division I student-athletes. Our team provides comprehensive academic counseling, including major and degree planning, course selection, NCAA Eligibility calculations and academic skills development. We offer a variety of support services, such as literacy specialist support, peer tutoring, and assistance with executive functioning. We also provide priority registration to help student-athletes balance the demanding academic and athletic commitments required to compete at the Division I level. Our goal is to empower them to excel both in their sport and in the classroom.
About the Position:
This role is an on-campus, in-person position.
The Senior Academic Counselor supports the academic success of assigned NCAA Division I teams (2-4). Reporting to the Director and ultimately the Senior Director under Academic Affairs, this position promotes the ethical and holistic academic success of all SMU student-athletes by monitoring individual and team academic progress, retention and eligibility. Additional responsibilities include assessing of individual, team, and unit academic and policy needs. Facilitates an coordinates academic interventions, creating and updating various academic reports, providing campus referrals, contributing to the advancement of the academic unit, and educating student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administrators on SMU, Provost, Athletic Conference, and NCAA rules, regulations, etc. The incumbent must be a proficient communicator who is expected to collaborate with faculty, staff, advisors, coaches, and other members of the SMU community.
Essential Functions:
Oversee services for assigned NCAA Division I teams and provide academic counseling for student-athletes as determined by supervisor. This includes assigning and monitoring academic interventions, communicating with faculty, facilitating academic success programs, tracking eligibility and regular meetings with coaches and athletics to advocate, educate, and inform on student and academic affairs.
NCAA Eligibility monitoring, tracking, updating, reporting and predictions for sport-specific student athletes. Maintain a database of pertinent NCAA academic eligibility information as required by the Director and Senior Director. Provide guidance and eligibility education to sports-specific teams and coaches as needed. Complete NCAA transfer evaluation for prospective student-athletes
Work closely with campus partners and assigned professional development entities to represent ADSA. Provide policy and practice input. Represent ADSA on various committees. Collaborate on departmental projects. Extensive SAES area wide collaboration required.
Work closely with other departments to create personalized academic graduation plans for graduate and undergraduate student-athletes. Working with campus-wide advisors, department coordinators and records offices to verify enrollment plans. Coordinate major exploration and selection, the registration process, and graduation planning for assigned student-athletes. process, and graduation planning. Facilitate holistic individual student development. NCAA continuing eligibility and athletic transfer evaluation monitoring, calculating, and predictions.
Contribute to ADSA programming with innovative ideas, practices and solutions. Facilitate academic recruiting presentations for prospective student-athletes. Facilitate structures and programming on behalf of the unit for new student and staff on boarding. Provide intrusive academic support and education for assigned teams on and off campus to include during team travel taking place nights, weekends, holidays and during university vacation periods. Create and facilitate structured and objective study hall learning environments for assigned student-athletes to include individual and group academic accountability sessions.
Serve as the lead learning specialist for at-risk student athletes on your team(s) as determined in conjunction with the Director. This includes providing frequent individual academic support sessions focused on the development of executive functioning skills, course-specific intervention support, and the collaborative incorporation of best practices for learning as outlined by ADSA interventionists, SMU faculty, and other applicable education-related communities.
Partner with the Senior Director to oversee and lead unit-specific program(s) that support the holistic success of all SMU student-athletes. Provide training, support, guidance, best practices, policy, and procedures to other ADSA staff and student-athlete(s). Serve as the lead contact for assigned projects/committees on behalf of ADSA to facilitate unit knowledge, information and collaboration. Programs support all 17 athletic teams.
Assist with the creation and assessment of ADSA and institutional programs aligned with departmental, institutional and athletic conference priorities. Lead components of the ADSA new student on boarding, summer bridge programming. Conduct various educational workshops.
Assist with on boarding for new counselors, graduate assistants, interns and student workers. Provide professional mentorship, training, and guidance to interns, graduate assistants, and new athletic counselors within the unit. Maintain academic integrity. Abide by ADSA, SMU, Athletic Conference, and NCAA rules, regulations and processes. May supervise either a graduate assistant, an intern, or a field studies student. Required to follow guidance from all members of ADSA Executive Team.
Be present at assigned Athletic team competitions, travel to monitor study hall and/or provide academic support with assigned teams. Participate in the Athletic Department staff events to include but limited to student-athlete orientation, athletics bridge, academic workshops. Other duties as assigned.
Non traditional work hours to include nights and weekends.
Travel is required to provide academic support, conduct study hall, and/or proctor exams as needed. Additional travel will be required to attend professional conferences.
Qualifications Education and Experience:
A master's degree is required. A degree in counseling, higher education administration, education, academic advising, sport administration, psychology or related areas is a plus.
A minimum of three (3) years of experience in Division I athletic academic support is required.
Experience providing direct academic support and academic counseling to Division I student-athletes, experience and understanding of NCAA Division I continuing eligibility rules and regulations is required. Experience working directly with Division I athletic coaches and a diverse population of student athletes is also required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.
Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.
Candidate must have familiarity with conducting recruiting presentations for prospective student athletes.
Candidate must be able to work with a diverse population of student athletes.
Candidate ability to manage conflict, disseminate data and work on a team is a plus.
Candidate must be able to work with both high-risk and high-achieving student athletes.
Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) and video conferencing tools (Zoom, Teams, etc.).
Candidate familiarity with Teamworks or other athletic related software is a plus. Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Canvas and Qualtrics is also a plus.
Physical and Environmental Demands:
Sit for long periods of time Stand Carry/lift 25 lbs. Handle objects (dexterity) Deadline to Apply:
Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by March 16, 2026.
This position is open until filled.
EEO Statement
SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.
Benefits:
SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.
SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.
The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.