Senior Academic Advisor

POSITION OVERVIEW
The Senior Academic Advisor provides comprehensive academic advising, retention support, and holistic student-success coaching to first-year, second-year, transfer, and continuing students generally with 0-60 earned credit hours. The position provides intentional support to student-athletes and other assigned student populations as they navigate academic requirements, institutional processes, personal challenges, and the transition to degree programs.

Reporting to the Director of University College, the Senior Academic Advisor serves as a lead advising resource and supports the continued implementation of EAB Navigate 360, advisor and faculty training, semester advising checkpoints, and data-informed interventions. The position collaborates with faculty, coaches, Athletics staff, and campus partners to strengthen academic achievement, persistence, eligibility, engagement, and timely degree completion.

GRANT FUNDED POSITION STATEMENT
This position is funded 100 percent through the federally funded Title III-B Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding, programmatic needs, and satisfactory job performance. The employee assists with the implementation, assessment, documentation, and reporting of activities designed to strengthen student success, retention, academic achievement, and institutional effectiveness at Southern University at New Orleans.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Lead advisor and faculty training related to EAB Navigate 360 features, advising protocols, documentation standards, and semester checkpoints.
• Advise first-time freshmen, continuing students, transfer students, and student-athletes with 0-60 earned credit hours regarding course selection, registration, academic planning, degree progression, and applicable academic eligibility requirements.
• Provide holistic student-success coaching that supports academic achievement, leadership development, personal wellness, and career readiness, with attention to the distinct needs of student-athletes.
• Collaborate with Athletics staff, coaches, faculty, and academic departments to monitor student-athlete academic performance, attendance, eligibility, and persistence.
• Help students balance academic responsibilities with practice, travel, competition schedules, employment, and co-curricular commitments through proactive advising and individualized success plans.
• Meet with assigned students throughout each semester to review academic progress, performance indicators, personal challenges, and graduation planning; maintain timely and accurate advising notes and case records.
• Analyze academic-progress and retention data for assigned populations and develop targeted outreach and intervention strategies for students who may be at risk.
• Identify barriers involving time management, academic preparation, study skills, finances, disability-related needs, or personal well-being and connect students with appropriate campus resources.
• Facilitate workshops and success seminars on time management, study strategies, academic accountability, leadership development, intercollegiate athletics expectations, wellness, and career preparation.
• Interpret and explain University policies, academic regulations, curriculum and degree requirements, and applicable eligibility standards to students and relevant stakeholders.
• Support orientation, registration, recruitment, transition, and student-engagement programming for new and continuing students and student-athletes.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with deans, department chairs, faculty, coaches, Athletics administrators, and student-support offices; communicate curriculum updates and student concerns as appropriate.
• Assist students with academic forms and processes, including withdrawals, appeals, changes of major, academic recovery plans, and graduation planning.
• Maintain accurate records and prepare reports using EAB Navigate 360, Banner, Microsoft Excel, and other institutional systems.
• Lead communication campaigns supporting retention, enrollment management, student success, and University-wide engagement initiatives.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends during athletic seasons, orientation, registration, recruitment events, and student-success programming, as required.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY AND JUDGMENT
The Senior Academic Advisor independently manages an assigned advising caseload, applies established academic policies, analyzes student-success indicators, and selects appropriate interventions and referrals. Exceptions to policy, eligibility determinations requiring formal approval, and matters outside delegated authority must be referred to the Director of University College or the appropriate authorized official.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in education, counseling, higher education, student affairs, business, psychology, social work, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible university-level academic advising, mentoring, coaching, or college student-support experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of student-success principles, retention practices, and the use of data and technology to monitor student progress and outcomes.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, educational leadership, or a related field.
• Experience in athletics academic support, advising, TRIO, student success, or first-year experience programming.
• Experience supporting historically underserved, first-generation, and student-athlete populations.
• Familiarity with NAIA, NCAA, or other intercollegiate athletics academic-eligibility and compliance expectations.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of academic advising, student development theory, retention strategies, enrollment practices, and higher-education student-success methods.
• Understanding of the academic, social, emotional, and time-management challenges experienced by student-athletes and other diverse student populations.
• Ability to train and support advisors and faculty in advising processes and student-success technologies without exercising supervisory authority.
• Strong relationship-building, culturally responsive communication, presentation, case-management, organization, and data-analysis skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with students, families, faculty, coaches, administrators, and campus partners while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
• Knowledge of FERPA requirements and sound practices for protecting student confidentiality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, student information systems, advising technologies, and success platforms such as EAB Navigate 360 and Ellucian Banner.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities. Lead training, coordination, and technical-guidance duties do not include authority to hire, assign work, evaluate performance, discipline, or terminate employees.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Work is primarily performed in a professional office setting with frequent interaction with students, faculty, coaches, and campus partners. Participation in athletic events, orientations, recruitment activities, workshops, and student-engagement programs may be required.

• Ability to sit, stand, and walk as needed; climb stairs; communicate verbally and in writing; use a keyboard and standard office equipment; and lift or carry materials weighing up to 10 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Occasional travel to conferences, athletic events, student-development programs, recruitment activities, and University-related functions may be required.

BENEFITS
Eligible employees may participate in health insurance offered through the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits, retirement through the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana, dental and vision coverage offered through UNUM, and applicable paid time off benefits. Benefit eligibility is determined by the employee's appointment, plan requirements, and University and Southern University System policies.

HOW TO APPLY
Applicants should submit all required application materials through the Southern University at New Orleans employment application process. Applications must clearly demonstrate that the applicant meets the required qualifications.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION
Southern University at New Orleans is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SUNO prohibits discrimination and harassment based on race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in the Uniformed Services, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This commitment applies to employment and to the administration of educational programs, policies, scholarships, loans, athletics, and other University-administered programs.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT STATEMENT
SUNO complies with applicable federal and state disability laws and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Individuals who need a reasonable accommodation for the application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, or to access employment benefits should contact the Office of Human Resources.

STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER
Louisiana is a State as a Model Employer that supports the recruitment, hiring, and retention of individuals with disabilities.