Job Summary

The primary role of the Lead Advisor is as the arm of Student Affairs in Medical Student Education on the Regional Campus. The Lead Advisor serves as the first point of contact for their students, provides academic counseling, and serves as an advocate for the students in their cohort. They do not assess student learning in a formal capacity.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Serves as a first point of contact for the students and triage student concerns to ensure appropriate referrals and follows up, including with the Regional Dean, Mental Health Specialists, Learning Specialists, Tutors, and ADAA.
• Arranges individual meetings at least 3 times a year with all students in the cohort to provide academic support, assist with professional development and career mentoring, assess personal wellness, and enhance students connection to the IUSM. Student meetings are documented with Qualtrics Surveys and the ADRX advising system.
• Formally tracks students progress toward graduation.
• Works with ADAA to identify at-risk students, and implement remediation plans; work with Course Directors/Campus Dean or delegate to assure remediation plans and Area of Concern interventions are completed.
• Coordinates early career mentoring and professional development by connecting students with appropriate Career Mentors, physician mentors and other leaders on Campus, or within the IUSM.
• Assists with production of the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) for all M4 students within the campus cohort.
• Be a knowledgeable and trusted resource for IUSM-Bloomington students and faculty regarding academic progression processes and policies, including Areas of Concern, Time Away requests, and Leaves of Absence.
• Works closely with the phase 1 and phase 2/3 coordinators to assist with organizing and implementing co-curricular student wellness and promotional activities and events, including Orientation, First Look events, Match Day events, Honors and Awards ceremony, and pre-med outreach events on the IU-Bloomington campus.
• Serves as a point of contact for IU-Bloomington premed advisors with the IUSM.
• Works with the Regional Dean to create, implement, analyze, monitor and evaluate data related to co-curricular student services in the MD program.

General Responsibilities

• Provides academic counseling for students pursuing or considering majors, minors, or certificates. Guides students in planning their course of study in concert with the departments' curricular requirements. Explains curriculum requirements and school and campus policies.
• Meets with students in groups and 1-on-1 to guide students in academic programs that will meet their educational needs and the requirements of their chosen major, minor, and/or certificate.
• Assists students in making informed decisions about a choice of major and potential career or graduate school direction. Helps students to assess their interests, values, and academic skills and to understand these in relation to major choice and potential future career/graduate school options.
• Teaches students how to navigate university systems, academic processes, and policies. Empowers student accountability in academic decisions about courses, career direction, and long-term plans. Provides guidance on avenues for increased involvement as an IU student and in the IU community.
• Refers students to appropriate campus resources, such as academic support resources, placement programs, internship and overseas study opportunities, etc.
• Tracks and monitors students' academic progress, reviews and maintains confidential student records to ensure that students meet requirements and to document advising discussions, and communicates this information in a timely manner to students and to appropriate academic offices when necessary.
• Represents the advising function as a presenter at campus meetings and recruiting functions. Assists in developing written advising materials for use in student events.
• Researches, recommends, or creates best practices for unit or campus initiatives, projects, processes, or programs and may provide guidance to other Academic Advisors.