"Academic Advisor: Fowler School of Engineering"

Job Description Summary

This is a temporary position that will support only majors in the Fowler School of Engineering. The academic advisor is a key facilitator dedicated to supporting all aspects of the student developmental experience and helping each student become capable of navigating the university landscape. Academic advisors are central to providing guidance, information, and support with the intent of enabling students to make informed decisions and engage available resources to maximize learning outcomes and pre-professional development. Working in partnership with stakeholders throughout the university community, academic advisors are student advocates integral to student learning, growth, and development. The academic advising relationship engenders a sense of purpose and growing self-awareness, helping students pursue their potential at the institution. The academic advisor is a university professional who engages with students to: Establish a collaborative and trusting relationship; Provide guidance and coaching to facilitate learning, goal setting and planning; Build understanding of campus values, policies, procedures and resources; Facilitate coordination among campus providers to enable student success; Advance critical reasoning, learning and decision making; Develop related life and career goals; Encourage development of autonomy in one’s academic and professional self.

Responsibilities

Interprets academic requirements and provides fundamental to complex academic advising to undergraduate students, including advising for retention. Uses principles of developmental academic advising to promote academic, career and life goals in an effort to support student retention, timeliness to degree, academic success, and intellectual and personal development. Develops an individualized plan of study based on program requirements, AP and transfer credits and academic and personal goals; updates plan of study each term. Works directly with students to assess and develop an appropriate academic plan of study to achieve degree and professional goals, guided by national best practices as well as university and college/school policies; liaise with other colleges to help student academic scheduling for major, minor, and General Education courses, resolve conflicts for students as appropriate; understand and communicate to students the implications of the program plan and degree progress and in particular the impact of changing academic plans to these goals. Understand, interpret, and enforce University policies while exploring academic and professional options. Advises majors and communicate relevant information from the school/college; advocates on behalf of the students to academic leadership and/or faculty and present success and challenges; provide guidance and triage processes between students, faculty, and relevant university administrators. Aids in retention of students from freshmen year to graduation; regularly advise students on academic policies and procedures, scheduling, degree requirements, academic possibilities (majors, minors, and choosing appropriate electives); mentor students who are placed on academic probation to ensure pathways back to good academic standing; provide timely and accurate resources for students to successfully navigate towards academic degree completion and other defined personal, academic, and professional goals. Supports student transitions and access other University resources (serve as an agent of referral to other campus agencies to help with personal problems and/or crisis management) as necessary. Develops content and is responsible for the upkeep of advising-related and admissions topics for prospective high school and transfer students. Partners and assists with academic and/or university yield events such as open houses, tours, preview days, etc. Organizes workshops and conducts advising that support student retention and timeliness to credential and/or degree.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least 3 years of related job experience in advising, supporting undergraduate programs, admissions and/or recruiting (military experience is included). Thorough knowledge of advising and counseling techniques. Thorough understanding of how processes and procedures work within a university setting. Understands graduation requirements, referral resources, and information about other offices on campus. Demonstrates ability to relate to individuals and groups of students through the use of basic communication, helping, and problem-solving skills. Ability to act with diplomacy and teach understanding. Possesses the following skills: critical thinking, active listening, ability to prioritize, empathy, excellent interpersonal and communication abilities, willingness to collaborate to solve problems. Appropriately manages sensitive and private information. Capacity and skills to work with a diverse set of students with specific advising needs (e.g., visa and I-20 compliance, learning accommodations and supports, and ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic differences). Able to work independently and take initiative in directing own work, as well as working efficiently and effectively with others. Demonstrated excellence at planning and organizing own work and records as well as coordinating with related parties and seeking task through to a timely and successful conclusion. Ability to multi-task. Strong written and verbal communication skills, including active listening.