Senior Academic Advisor

The Senior Academic Advisor in the College of Health:

• Works under the direction of the Associate Dean for Academic Programs to provide comprehensive advising to College of Health students.
• Works closely with other advising personnel across campus as well as academic and career services personnel to ensure high-quality advising and academic services for all students.
• Is responsive to the needs of a large number of diverse and first-gen students and works in a high-volume and fast-paced work environment

Responsibilities

Academic and Student Support (60%)

• Caseload Management: Manage students from admission to program completion. Develop personalized academic plans, identify at-risk students using predictive analytics, and connect them with support services.
• Regular Communication: Meet with students using their preferred methods to discuss academics, experiential learning, and periods of difficulty, making appropriate referrals as needed.
• Facilitate Communication: Coordinate between professional advisors and faculty mentors to align advising strategies and goals.
• Collaboration: Work with department chairs, the Associate Dean for Academic Programs, and other campus units like Career Development, First-year Experience, Diversity, Inclusion, and Student Affairs.
• Advocacy: Advocate for students while enforcing policies, liaising between students and the University to ensure efficient service.
• Support: Address student inquiries from contact to resolution and follow up on referrals, establishing a college-level support structure.
• Programs and Workshops: Design and deliver programs and workshops to support students and engage faculty mentors.

Assessment and Data (20%)

• Data Collection: Assess, collect, and report on student data related to persistence, retention, graduation rates, and satisfaction. Develop benchmarks for progress.
• Record Keeping: Maintain notes and records in Salesforce or Navigate, tracking academic progress and outcomes, ensuring compliance with guidelines.
• Engagement Tracking: Track and report on student meetings and activities to ensure capacity meets volume.
• Evaluation: Continuously evaluate the advising structure's effectiveness, gather feedback, and make adjustments to improve outcomes.

Administration, Academic Program Support, & Professional Development (20%)

• Manage: Refine the professional advising model through data analysis and strategic modifications.
• Train: Develop and deliver training programs for advising staff.
• Collaboration: Support the Dean’s Office academic team and provide coverage as needed.
• Paperwork Processing: Process academic paperwork, including major changes, transfer credits, and graduation petitions.
• Orientation and Onboarding: Contribute to new student orientation and onboarding.
• Professional Development: Stay informed of best practices in academic and student affairs, proposing ideas to improve student services.
• Association Membership: Actively participate in professional associations related to advising and career services.

Qualifications

• Minimum Required Education: Bachelor's Degree
• Required Field(s) of Study: Education, psychology, sociology, human services, communications, or other related field
• Preferred Education: Master's Degree
• Preferred Field(s) of Study: Higher education, educational leadership, student affairs, academic advising or related field
• Preferred Other Training, Certifications, or Licensing: National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) certifications
• Other Notes: 3-5 years of experience may be considered if the preferred education is met.
• Minimum Years of Experience Required: 5-8 years