Academic Advisor

Position Summary

Academic Advisor – Grant

University of South Carolina Upstate

RTF
00201PO26

Spartanburg, SC

Academic Advisors are responsible for advising current and prospective students, promoting good advisement practices, and assisting with academic support. Academic advisors assess students’ needs, goals, interests, and prior academic experiences to guide students in designing and implementing a successful academic plan. Advisors are also responsible for promoting student success, including academic support and career exploration. This position will serve majors as assigned by the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success.

Job Related Minimum Required Education and Experience

Requires a bachelor’s degree in a job related field and 3 or more years of job related experience, which may be substituted by an equivalent combination of job related certification, training, education, and/or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree required with a minimum of 1 year of experience in higher education academic advising, academic support services, first-year experience programming, career counseling, or related field.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

Ability to work and motivate traditional as well as nontraditional students, strong computer and interpersonal skills required.

Job Duty Navigate students through the major transitions of college enrollment. Provide programming for students as they enter, remain enrolled, and leave the institution. Maintains an advising load and works directly with students to accomplish educational goals. Key aspects include maintaining the integrity of academic policies while serving as a student advocate; fostering a culture of student responsibility and success; providing students with information about the possible consequences of academic decisions;

and creating plans of study. Must maintain current knowledge of degree programs. Assists students during OAR and participates in open house events, FAB Friday, and other student recruitment events. Complete plans of study.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 25

Job Duty Assist students in the development of an educational plan, including choosing a program of study and/or clarifying educational goals.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 15

Job Duty Provide academic advising for assigned majors and monitor student registration. Educate students about course planning and registration processes. Refer students to campus resources to meet individual needs.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 15

Job Duty Implement targeted outreach to students with at-risk factors.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 10

Job Duty Improve students’ career readiness through major exploration and referral to appropriate campus programs and services.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 10

Job Duty Maintains accurate data for reports and informed decision-making. Keeps advising statistics, work schedules, and other reporting documents up-to-date. Monitor and respond to students using advising software (Starfish).

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 10

Job Duty Teach UNIV 101 (College Success Seminar).

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 10

Job Duty Other duties as assigned.

Essential Function Yes

Percentage of Time 5

Employees in Safety-Sensitive or Security-Sensitive positions will be subject to pre-employment and post-employment drug testing in accordance with University policy HR 1.95 Drug and Alcohol Testing.

Number of Vacancies 1

Desired Start Date 08/31/2026

Position End Date 09/30/2028

Job Open Date 08/31/2026

Job Close Date Open Until Filled Yes

Location of Vacancy USC Upstate, Spartanburg, SC

Part/Full Time Full Time

Hours per Week 37.5

Work Schedule Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 5pm;
Some evenings and weekends…