"Academic Advisor, Pre-Professional Pathways Coordinator"

Academic Advisor, Pre-Professional Pathways Coordinator

Company:

Louisiana State University in Shreveport

Job Location:

Category:

Academic Advising

Type:

Full-Time

Summary

The Academic Advisor, Pre-Professional Pathways Coordinator, works as a member of the LSUS Student Success Center, performing a range of tasks enhancing and supporting our academic advising team and students. The primary responsibilities include serving as a generalist advisor for undergraduate students across all majors and backgrounds, while also coordinating specialized programs and initiatives focused on pre-professional pathways.

Key coordination duties involve partnering on outreach programs designed to ensure students are informed about undergraduate major options aligned with their career aspirations and the requirements for entry into professional schools, as well as pre-professional support programs that prepare students for the academic expectations and application processes necessary for professional school admissions.

Reports to the Assistant Director of Academic Advising, Special Populations, and is a full-time, unclassified position. This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive or all-inclusive description of duties and responsibilities.

About Us:

The Student Success Center at LSU Shreveport champions student-centered excellence, offering comprehensive resources, services, and programs – including Academic Advising, Academic Success, Career Services, First-Year Experience, and more – to promote a smooth transition, build academic and life skills, foster persistence and resilience, and empower goal-oriented success.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university.
• (LSUS values skills, experience, and expertise. Candidates who have relevant experience in key job responsibilities are encouraged to apply – a degree is not required if the candidate meets the required years of experience specified in the job description.)
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in areas such as student success, academic or career advising, or other roles in higher education.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in student personnel services, higher education administration, psychology, counseling, or a related field.
• Extensive experience in academic advising, particularly relevant to students pursuing professional school tracks.
• Familiarity with admissions processes and requirements for medical, occupational therapy, and other health professions schools.
• Experience in teaching college-level courses or workshops connected to career preparation and professional development.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong ability to assess and address student needs through empathy, active listening, and critical thinking while considering diverse backgrounds.
• Comprehensive understanding of academic advising principles and their impact on student achievement and readiness for competitive professional programs.
• Effective time management and organizational skills to manage a diverse caseload.
• Attention to detail and strong administrative skills related to program coordination and student documentation.
• Proven ability to foster relationships across university departments and with external stakeholders.
• Capacity to perform under pressure while maintaining professionalism and delivering excellent customer service.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with a commitment to creating an inclusive environment for all students.

Position Duties & Responsibilities:

Academic Advising & Student Support

• Serve as a university-wide academic advisor, guiding students in course selection, degree planning, and academic progress across diverse majors and classifications.
• Conduct individual advising sessions to assist students in understanding academic requirements, course equivalencies, and academic planning.
• Administer and interpret assessment tools (e.g., College Student Inventory, Appreciative Advising Inventory, Focus 2 Career) to better understand student needs and tailor interventions.
• Incorporate career readiness initiatives into academic advising, encouraging students to engage in internships, experiential learning, and networking opportunities.

Program Coordination for Pre-Professional Populations:

• Collaborate with campus offices to create and promote programs that inform students of undergraduate majors aligned with their interests and professional school goals (e.g., law school or medical school).
• Partner with faculty and Career Services to develop co-curricular support programs that enhance student understanding of professional school application processes, including workshops and networking opportunities for competitive career fields.
• Actively engage with pre-professional pathway students to promote available preparation programs and resources, ensuring they are well-informed about academic and application requirements to meet their goals.
• Work with the Academic Success team to motivate the utilization of support services, essential academic skill development, and effective study habits that ensure students' academic records meet professional program admission standards.

Data & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate student records and document all advising interactions.
• Collect feedback from students to evaluate and enhance program effectiveness and improve advising practices.
• Collaborate with the Registrar’s office to ensure the accuracy of graduation records and the effective tracking of graduation checkout processes.
• Partner with Career Services to monitor and promote student success in securing placements in professional schools and completing standardized testing requirements (e.g., MCAT, LSAT).

Professional Development

• Stay informed about university policies, degree requirements, and emerging practices in student advising.
• Engage in professional conferences, workshops, and certification opportunities focused on career readiness, transitions support, and advising practices.
• Collect feedback from students to evaluate and enhance program effectiveness and improve advising practices.

Core Competencies:

• Communication: Ability to adjust communication style to suit the audience/customer/situation.
• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively in group settings.
• Service to Customer and LSU: Ability to focuses on providing positive experiences for stakeholders.
• Delivering Results: Ability to focus on achieving outcomes.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to overcome barriers to success.
• Leading Others: Ability to inspire, guide, and support individuals and teams towards achieving common goals.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Light Work – Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly (Constantly: activity or condition exists 2/3 or more of the time) to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Even though the weight lifted may be only a negligible amount, a job should be rated Light Work: (1) when it requires walking or standing to a significant degree; or (2) when it requires sitting most of the time but entails pushing and/or pulling of arm or leg controls; and/or (3) when the job requires working at a production rate pace entailing the constant pushing and/or pulling of materials even though the weight of those materials is negligible.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work only. They are not an exhaustive list of all required responsibilities, duties, and skills. Other duties may be added, or this description amended at any time. Remains knowledgeable on current federal, state and local laws, accreditation standards or regulatory agency requirements that apply to the assigned area of responsibility and ensures compliance with all such laws, regulations and standards.

LSUS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Application Requirements

The following documents must be included with application:

1. CV or resume
2. Three professional references
3. Cover letter outlining why you would be a good fit for this position

Apply Now