Sr. Academic Advisor, College of Engineering

Job Summary

Senior Academic Advisor, College of Engineering

Experienced advising professional responsible for student retention, leadership, mentoring advisors, and strategic student success initiatives from application through graduation.

This position reports directly to the Associate Director of Student Success within the College of Engineering and serves as a key leader within the College. The position is an experienced academic advising role. The Academic Advisor Senior will function under the mentorship of the college enrollment management, as a mentor to entry-level advisors. The Academic Advisor Senior is responsible for advising, retention, and various student services, ensuring the welfare and academic success of the college's diverse student body.

The primary responsibilities encompass knowledge of departmental curriculum, executing effective recruit-back initiatives, addressing high-risk student needs, and developing a valuable experience. The Academic Advisor Senior is a key contributor to the department's mission to support students from application to graduation and beyond, ultimately ensuring their holistic growth and achievement within the field of engineering. The Academic Advisor Senior plays a critical role in enhancing the academic and personal support services for engineering students.

This position requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and the ability to work collaboratively with various stakeholders to ensure student success and program effectiveness.

Essential Job Functions

* Holistically assist students on their journey at Lamar University, with a specific focus on each piece of the matriculation cycle, to include:

* initial enrollment

* support during the term for the successful completion of courses

* referrals to pertinent support offices

* empowering students to build success skills for progression, sound decision-making, goal setting, and degree completion

* reenrollment each term through graduation.

* Assess each student individually and provide a "one student at a time" approach in the academic advising and student (customer) service strategies

* Utilize advising systems and technologies (e.g., Banner, Navigate, Degree Works) to support the delivery of advising services and keep accurate records of student advising contacts and progress toward degree completion. Maintain and update student files and records in accordance with federal, state, and university regulations.

* Utilize degree audit reports to advise students on appropriate course selections and evaluate students' degree progress. Assist students in interpreting the degree audit and requesting any exemptions or course substitutions from the academic departments that may be needed.

* Identify, create, or secure resources and services to enhance the academic and personal development of engineering students, ensuring access to necessary academic support, counseling, tutoring, etc., and collaborating with other departments, faculty, and staff for seamless coordination of support services. Additionally, develop, maintain, and regularly evaluate plans and initiatives to attract top-tier students and industry partners to the College of Engineering (COE) and the Engineering Institute for Energy and Petrochemical Industries (EPI).

* Assist students in developing an academic plan for each semester based on their exploration of various fields of study, evaluation of academic abilities, and clarification of educational and career goals.

* Verify, compile, interpret, and record a wide variety of data and student information. Track student interactions, input notes, and monitor student success data to influence successful outcomes and provide follow-up with students as needed. Responsible to consistently reporting pertinent data to the direct supervisor.

* Execute and implement support programs for students facing academic, personal, or financial challenges, identifying and providing resources and interventions to ensure their success in their academic journey.

* Lead programs and initiatives to re-engage former students who wish to return to the engineering program.

* Collaborate with undergraduate and graduate advisors within the college and university to ensure that students receive comprehensive academic advising, including course selection, degree planning, and progress monitoring.

* Collaborate with department chairs to ensure comprehensive and accurate advising, course selection, degree planning, and progress monitoring.

* Work with leadership to design and implement programs that ease the transition for engineering students, ensuring they have the necessary support and resources for a successful first-year and retention into upperclassmen years.

* Ensure that university policies, state mandates, and ABET accreditation are carried out in advising and enrolling students

* Use predictive analytics software for targeted advising and monitoring of student academic progress.

* Guide possible courses of action and refer students to…