Academic Advisor

Position Title

Academic Advisor I

50,000. USD per year

Professional Administrative

Academic Support Office

8/1/2026

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance
• Defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions
• Sick leave and other leave options available based on position
• Full-time employees eligible for tuition waiver benefits
• Dependents and spouses of employees at 0.5 FTE or above eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants up to 50% of in-state tuition charges
• Other benefits may be available based on position

The Academic Advisor I is a professional staff position within Academic Affairs at the University of Northern Colorado. This position is within the Advisor Network and is designed to support student retention, persistence, and timely degree completion across all undergraduate degree and certificate programs. Advisors serve as primary points of contact for assigned undergraduate students' academic advising aligned with UNC's mission as a Student-First Institution.

• Function I:
  Academic Advising & Student Support, 80%

  Manage a caseload of approximately 300-350 undergraduate students with proactive, equity-centered advising. Support academic planning, course selection, degree audits, and graduation preparation. Guide students through program exploration and institutional navigation, with particular attention to first-generation and underrepresented populations. Facilitate transitions, including orientation, mid-year entry, re-entry, and graduation clearance. Maintain timely, detailed records in the university CRM and contribute to early alert processes.

• Function II:
  Student Success, Retention & Equity, 10%

  Monitor caseload data to identify at-risk students and initiate proactive outreach. Coordinate referrals to financial aid, counseling, tutoring, disability services, and other campus resources. Participate in early alert systems, probation advising, and reinstatement reviews. Contribute to equity initiatives by identifying and helping address systemic disparities in student outcomes.

• Function III:
  Collaboration, Liaison & Institutional Partnership, 5%

  Serve as the advising liaison to assigned academic departments, staying current on curricular changes and degree requirements. Partner cross-functionally with Admissions, the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, Bursar, Student Affairs, and the Center for Career Readiness. Participate in team meetings, network-wide staff meetings, and professional development activities.

• Function V:
  Assessment, Data & Professional Development, 5%

  Participate in unit assessment cycles, including surveys and outcome reviews. Use institutional data, degree audits, persistence dashboards, and early alert reports to inform advising practice. Pursue ongoing professional development aligned with NACADA Core Competencies through conferences, trainings, and a professional growth portfolio.

• Bachelor's degree. Minimum 0-2 years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student affairs, or a closely related role. Relevant previous student employment, graduate assistantship, or practicum experience in advising or student services may be considered.
• New employees will require 6-12 months of structured onboarding and supervised practice to reach full independent performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with students from a variety of educational and demographic backgrounds.

• Experience in advising undergraduates and/or working in student development or related programs.
• Experience with academic coaching methods in a university setting.
• Experience providing academic, personal, emotional, and crisis intervention support in a paraprofessional capacity.
• Advising and coaching first-generation students or working for a Hispanic Serving Institution.
• Experience in success programs such as TRiO.
• Candidates with educational and/or professional experience that aligns with the hiring colleges will receive preference.

Somewhat negotiable. No later than August 2026

The University of Northern Colorado offers an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the UNC community. In accordance with federal and state law, UNC prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. UNC also prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, and gender expression.

Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the…