Professional Advisor

Position:
Professional Advisor I (Inside Higher Ed)

Department:
Student Success Center

Reports to:

Director of Student Success

Standard

Work Hours:

37.5 hours per week

Employment Status:
Full-Time

Employment Classification:
Exempt

Classification:
Staff – 12 months

Effective Date: TBD

The Student Success Center at KSU serves all students to provide seamless, robust, focused, and comprehensive educational support. The Advisor will join a team of outstanding individuals with diverse professional and personal backgrounds in the Student Success Center who form a high-functioning community of practice. The Advisor will provide personalized, one-on-one support in navigating the road to academic success and staying on track towards timely degree completion.

Additionally, Advisors may provide instruction for KSU seminar courses and assist with retention programming efforts.

• Meet with students individually or in groups to provide academic advising and guidance. Assist students in selecting appropriate courses, understanding degree requirements, and creating academic plans that align with their interests and goals.
• Stay updated on the institution's academic policies, program requirements, and degree pathways. Help students navigate through the curriculum and ensure they are aware of any prerequisite courses, core requirements, and elective options.
• Assist students in developing semester‑by‑semester course schedules that align with their academic goals, ensure timely progress towards graduation, and consider factors such as prerequisites, course availability, and any specific program requirements.
• Collaborate with other campus departments or resources, such as tutoring centers, career services, or mental health services, to connect students with additional support services that can enhance their academic success.
• Track students' academic progress, such as monitoring grades, attendance, and credits earned. Identify any academic challenges or concerns and develop strategies to address them, including referring students to appropriate resources for additional assistance.
• Interpret and explain institutional academic policies and procedures to students. Help students understand regulations regarding course add/drop, withdrawal, academic standing, and transfer credits.
• Provide guidance and support to students in exploring their personal and career interests. Help students identify potential career paths, discuss major/minor options, and explore opportunities for internships, research, or other experiential learning experiences.
• Participate in orientation programs and assist new students in navigating the academic environment, understanding institutional resources, and registering for their first semester of classes.
• Keep accurate and up‑to‑date records of student interactions, advising sessions, and academic plans. Utilize advising software or information systems to document student progress and communicate with relevant stakeholders.
• Maintain current knowledge of student development theories, best practices in academic advising, and relevant institutional policies or programs.
• Represent the Advising Office and/or the Center for Student Success at open houses, admission events, and other functions as necessary.
• Perform other site and position specific functions as assigned.

• Superior listening and critical thinking skills
• Experience with retention data collection and reporting
• Working knowledge of best practices in postsecondary academic advising and retention strategies
• Candidates should have the ability to become knowledgeable of the range of varied student services available, enrollment services, academic policies, requirements, and procedures of Kentucky State University
• Strong interpersonal/human relations skills essential
• Ability to initiate and maintain professional relationships with diverse groups, demonstrating sensitivity to the needs of a diverse student population including low‑income, first‑generation, students of color, disabled, underrepresented, older and non‑traditional, and international students
• Must have excellent verbal and written…