Academic Advisor

Title:

Academic Advisor

Division:
Provost's Office

Department:
University Division

FLSA Status:
Exempt

Salary Range:
Annual Salary

EEO Job Group: 2 C8

Position Summary

Responsible for serving as a professional academic advisor for students pursuing programs within the College of Liberal Arts. This position supports student success from matriculation through graduation by providing comprehensive, student-centered advising that promotes academic achievement, persistence, engagement, and timely degree completion. Using a developmental advising approach grounded in NACADA Core Competencies, the Academic Advisor integrates conceptual, informational, and relational advising practices into daily work.

Duties/Responsibilities

Academic Advising and Student Success:

* Advise assigned students using a developmental, holistic advising approach.

* Foster student engagement, self-advocacy, decision-making, and accountability.

* Monitor academic progress and conduct proactive outreach to at-risk students.

* Maintain accurate advising records and documentation.

* Make referrals to appropriate campus resources.

Academic Planning and Degree Progression:

* Interpret degree requirements, policies, and graduation criteria.

* Utilize placement scores, transfer credit evaluations, and academic history to guide course selection.

* Process overrides, substitutions, waivers, and enrollment exceptions as appropriate.

* Monitor prerequisite compliance and degree progression.

Registration and Enrollment Services:

* Assist students with registration, schedule adjustments, and enrollment issues.

* Provide individual and open advising during orientation, registration, and throughout the academic year.

Collaboration and Campus Partnerships:

* Serve as liaison among students, faculty, departments, the Registrar, Admissions, Financial Aid, and student support services.

* Collaborate with campus partners to support special populations including first-generation students, 21st Century - Scholars, veterans, student-athletes, adult learners, students with disabilities, transfer students, and students at academic risk.

Assessment, Retention, and Student Success Initiatives:

* Compile, interpret, and utilize advising-related data for assessment and continuous improvement.

* Participate in retention initiatives, early-alert outreach, and student success campaigns.

Outreach, Recruitment, and Programming:

* Participate in orientation, open houses, transfer visit days, admitted student events, and recruitment activities.

* Represent the College of Liberal Arts at university and community events.

Professional Development:

* Maintain current knowledge of university policies, curriculum changes, and advising best practices.

* Participate in professional development aligned with NACADA Core Competencies and CAS Standards.

* Assist with advisor development initiatives.

* Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge and Skills

* Bachelor's degree required

* Knowledge of student development theory and developmental advising practices.

* Ability to interpret academic records, curriculum requirements, and university policies.

* Understanding of FERPA and student record regulations.

* Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

* Demonstrated problem-solving, organizational, and time-management skills.

* Ability to work effectively with diverse student populations.

* Proficiency with advising technologies, student information systems, CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

* Commitment to student success and continuous improvement.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

* One to three years of academic advising, student services, higher education, counseling, teaching, coaching, or related experience preferred.

Functional Requirements

* Remaining in a stationary position at a desk or workstation for extended periods of time for the majority of assigned duties.

* Physical assess to classrooms, meeting rooms and various sites throughout campus, and to local and regional venues for occasional conferences or events.

* Ability to use computers and computer systems (software and hardware) to set up functions, to enter data, to retrieve and process information and create documents.

* Ability to retrieve information from written documents and from computer-generated.

* Effective problem solving and the presentation of a professional demeanor while meeting deadlines and achieving critical outcomes, even under demanding conditions such as multiple priorities and short-notice deadlines.

* Extensive physical activity in preparation for and throughout events to oversee activities and interact with staff, faculty and students.

Regular Work Hours/Travel Requirements

* Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

* Occasional irregular hours required.

* Irregular work hours as necessary to accommodate students during registration, welcome week and orientation.

* Occasional travel required in the course of professional development and professional activities.

About USI

The University of…