Academic Advisor

Academic Advisor I

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.

This position is structured as a career ladder across three levels (Advisor I, II, and III), each with an increasing scope of responsibility, autonomy, and contributions to institutional leadership. At all levels, the position is grounded in a developmentally appropriate advising philosophy, the application of NACADA Core Competencies, and a commitment to inclusive and responsive student support. Advisors work within the college advising centers, coordinated by a lead advisor/director.

The Lead/Director reports to their college associate dean. UG Academic Advising consists of approximately 16 advising professionals: 5 leads/directors, 1 assistant director, and 10 professional advisors (ranging from Levels I, II, and III). This position is appropriate for individuals committed to advising as a teaching and learning profession who can build trusting relationships with diverse student populations, navigate complex institutional systems, and contribute meaningfully to the collective success of the undergraduate advising team and the students UNC serves.

Qualified candidates are sought to fill advisor positions across the Advisor Network. There are one or more vacancies in the following college advisement centers:
Performance & Visual Arts (PVA), Monfort College of Business (MCB), Education & Behavioral Sciences (CEBS), Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) and Natural & Health Sciences (NHS). Primary job functions include:

• 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 under represented 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.

Required qualifications include a bachelor's degree and minimum 0–2 years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student affairs, or a closely related role. Preferred qualifications include experience in advising undergraduate students, experience working in a student development or related program, experience with academic…