Applied Health Sciences, Student Affairs Academic Advisor

Job Summary:

The Applied Health Sciences (AHS) advisor is a member of the advising team in the AHS Office of Student Affairs. This position requires expertise in major and career exploration, as well as familiarity with AHS undergraduate programs; and general admissions information for graduate and professional health science programs. The AHS advisor works with students from undergraduate majors across the college, including supporting the unique needs of exploring majors and career paths for our undecided student population.

In this role, the advisor assists AHS Undeclared students in major exploration and selection and advises students pursuing AHS undergraduate majors or concentrations. The advisor engages undergraduate students in promoting their academic, professional, and overall development from application to program and orientation through graduation. The advisor evaluates students’ progress toward degree and provides guidance on course registration, pre-requisite completion, and degree planning, as well as referrals to available University resources.

The advisor also advises students on campus policies, procedures, and academic requirements while maintaining thorough and up to date documentation on student appointments and correspondence.

Engage in individual advising appointments, drop-in advising sessions, group advising sessions, and email/phone communication with current and incoming undergraduate students and transfer students for the purpose of evaluating students’ progress to degree, course selection and registration, pre-requisites completion, degree planning, and referral available University resources.

Provide education and guidance on health-related fields and develop students’ understanding of the points of entry for these respective health professions.

Identify current and potential needs of students (e.g. study skills, tutoring, and counseling). Intervene, and refer students to resources throughout the University community, as appropriate. Exercise professional discretion and judgement to troubleshoot problems as they arise.

Coordinate with Transfer Articulation and Degree Audit (TADA) unit to evaluate and verify transfer transcripts from other academic institutions for equivalencies and application to degree program. Review student’s degree audit and make exceptions manually for courses when needed.

Participate in first-year and transfer campus orientation sessions for both fall and spring entry to UIC, as well as participate in department/program orientation activities.

Create and facilitate workshops and group advising sessions on academic advising specific topics of interest to AHS students such as major exploration.

Participate and support AHS Undeclared first year seminar sessions which exposes students to different AHS majors, health professions, and health-related careers, as well as themes related to first-year transition and sense of belonging. Coordinate with departments on program specific first-year seminars.

Provide general advice and guidance on professions, jobs and career paths in collaboration with department faculty with discipline specific expertise;
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs; and Career Leadership Council.

Meet regularly with academic departments about specific advising needs, program changes, and guidelines for overrides and/or course restrictions.

Participate in regular meetings with AHS advising team, AHS undergraduate program directors, AHS Student Affairs staff, and professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency.

Stay current on advising best practices and investigate the career health fields of interest to our student population.

Educate prospective students and their family/friends…