Life Directions Center Advisor

Description

About the Job

The Life Directions Center (LDC) Advisor position reports to the Director of the Life Directions Center and functions under Academic Affairs in the College of Undergraduate Studies. Each LDC Advisor serves a cohort of students and provides training and support to Faculty Advisors who in tandem provide quality academic advising to students. Each LDC Advisor provides leadership over a specific set of academic programs that coincides with the academic major where the faculty teach. The purpose of the LDC is to equip authentic disciples of Christ to achieve academic success, discern their life calling, and engage in meaningful service.

Job Location

Fully on-site - must reside and work legally in the U.S. Regular work location: Lakewood, Colorado.

About CCU Colorado Christian University is the premier interdenominational Christian university in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region, delivering world class education to thousands of students. The fully accredited, nonprofit University is located in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of Denver.

Colorado Christian University was founded in 1914. CCU's motto is--grace and truth. This motto comes from John 1.14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." (ESV)


CCU's mission is Christ-centered higher education transforming students to impact the world with grace and truth.

Colorado Christian University cultivates knowledge and love of God in a Christ-centered community of learners and scholars, with an enduring commitment to the integration of exemplary academics, spiritual formation, and engagement with the world. We envision graduates who think critically and creatively, lead with high ethical and professional standards, embody the character and compassion of Jesus Christ, treasure the gospel, and who thereby are prepared to impact the world in their callings.

CCU embraces an educational model that was present at the foundation of many of the great western and American universities. It is made up of three pillars-competence, character and Christ-centered faith. Secular universities have abandoned two of those pillars. We think this is a major oversight that eventually undermines education. Furthermore, we believe this classical educational model is both life-giving and greatly needed in our time.

A leader in higher education, CCU has been consistently ranked in the top 2 percent of colleges and universities nationwide for its core curriculum by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni. CCU has had ten consecutive years of enrollment growth and has been named one of the five fastest-growing master's granting universities by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

CCU offers more than 200 degree program options for traditional and adult students through its two colleges--the College of Undergraduate Studies and College of Adult and Graduate Studies. More than 9,000 students attend the University on the main campus, in regional centers throughout Colorado, and online.

What is most appealing about working at CCU?

1. Faith-friendly: CCU's culture is unique to higher education. Where else can you pursue academic excellence yet read the Holy Bible, pray with teammates and students at work, and work to impact our culture in support of Christian values?
2. Convictionally Christian: As a university, we have an enduring commitment to Christ, his kingdom and the truth of God's Word.
3. Live out your calling: We are a traditional evangelical university where you can invest your God-given talents and abilities alongside coworkers and teammates, while having a profound influence on students as they deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ.

We're looking for candidates who have:

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required, with a Master's degree in Student Development, Education, Counseling, or related field preferred.
2. Two to three years of experience working in Christian higher education preferred.
3. Ability to support Faculty Advisors and provide technical support as they also advise their own cohorts.
4. Passion for helping students deepen their relationship with God and develop as the man or woman of God they are designed to be.
5. Ability to coach college students and assist them in decision-making.
6. Proficiency with Microsoft Office, experience using and maintaining a shared database system, and a willingness to learn new technology.
7. Desire to learn, self-start, problem-solve creatively, and maintain organization, while working successfully independently and as part of a team.
8. Effective oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills for personalized service to students.
9. Ability to balance multiple priorities and a large number of meetings in a very fast-paced environment, especially during high-demand periods of a semester.
10. Ability to adapt quickly and cheerfully to changing priorities and processes.

Key Job Duties

1. Contribute to CCU's mission: CCU provides Christ-centered higher education to transform students to impact the world with grace and truth. The LDC Advisor contributes to this mission by guiding and encouraging students to fulfill their God-given calling and educational goals by providing quality, Christ-centered advising to enhance and advance exemplary academics, spiritual growth, and engagement with the world.
2. Advise a cohort of students comprised of each class (freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior). A typical cohort size is 75-85 students. This holistic advising includes academic advising and mentoring as well as personal and spiritual care.
3. Provide academic advising to students including major exploration and confirmation, course selection, and adherence to a degree plan to ensure timely graduation and assist the student in pursuing opportunities to meet their academic goals.
4. Provide technical support and training to faculty as they partner in the academic advising process with their own cohorts of students.
5. Work with faculty, Deans, and the Registrar's Office (Service Central) to ensure cohesive communication regarding academic requirements.
6. Support the LDC's learning outcomes in an educational process that, by design, facilitates students' understanding of the meaning and purpose of higher education and fosters their intellectual and personal development toward academic success and life-long learning.
7. Navigate students through the transfer of credit process from other institutions and the College Board courses and placement exams.
8. Update and maintain detailed records of students' academic progress using office tools and the University database system.
9. Provide support for student services that may include study abroad, internship fairs, connection events, international student affairs, student athlete advising, etc...) This may include pursuing outside training and certification, planning events or fairs to display services/resources available to students.
10. Coach students on a variety of topics including: God's calling on their life, their faith journey, service to others, and personal, spiritual, and interest assessments, as well as academic and life goals.
11. Support CCU's Academic Affairs through involvement in campus-wide programming, committees, and events. This may include attending events after normal business hours and on weekends.
12. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of the Life Directions Center.

Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, you may be required to walk, stand, sit, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, speak with clarity, and have appropriate vision and hearing capabilities. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. You may be required to work occasional irregular hours, including some nights and weekends.

What we offer our employees:

We offer competitive compensation and benefits packages to all employees. Our benefit package includes: a tuition waiver program, excellent healthcare, generous paid time off, matching 403(b) retirement plan, and additional organizational paid benefits and voluntary benefit offerings. Pay and benefits will be discussed in more detail as candidates progress through the interview process.

Colorado Christian University's pay philosophy is based on internal and external data for pay equity; along with budgetary considerations for effective stewardship. Pay will be assigned based on relevant experience at a range of $18.82 - $20.80 per hour. We reserve the right to pay an equitable rate that we believe is within our salary structure or that may fit a candidate's qualifications or experience for the job. A wage range posted is not a guarantee of a specific wage range for a job offer. CCU reserves the right to make pay decisions based on economic and equity considerations to attract the best possible talent. CCU does not determine pay based on sex or any other protected status.

Application Deadline


Applications will be accepted until position is filled.


Spiritual Requirements

1. Committed follower of Jesus Christ, who believes there is no salvation apart from faith in his atonement on the cross, by grace alone becoming "born again" thus beginning a personal relationship with Christ, the Son of God.
2. Able to effectively communicate personal faith and apply biblical principles and convictions in the workplace. Must have a strong sense of calling to the ministry of Colorado Christian University.
3. Regularly attend and be engaged in meaningful involvement in a Bible-believing evangelical local church. Knowledgeable about the Word of God and passionate about Christian education.
4. Must be a traditional evangelical Christian whose lifestyle is in consonance with sound Christian principles, is compatible with CCU's Statement of Faith, and is in agreement with the Strategic Priorities promulgated by the University.

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. Colorado Christian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status. CCU is committed to an environment free from discrimination and harassment and calls on every member of the university community to be vigilant in deterring and reporting all violations. CCU does reserve the right to exercise preference on the basis of religion in all of its employment practices. All employees who work at CCU must demonstrate a spiritual testimony consistent with our evangelical mission and follow our lifestyle expectations.