Academic Advisor

Position Overview

Jayhawk Academic Advising (JAA) is a unit within Academic Success, a division of Academic Affairs. JAA provides comprehensive academic advising services for new and currently enrolled undergraduate students in all undergraduate majors at the University. JAA is staffed by professional advisors, support staff, and graduate assistants. JAA maintains a highly student-centered focus and demonstrates commitment to continuous quality improvement and resilience for a dynamic and changing work environment.

An Academic Advisor provides holistic and proactive academic advising to support a designated caseload of students. Using holistic advising techniques, they assist students throughout their academic journeys and offer expertise across various undergraduate pathways. Advisors are tasked with addressing students' complex academic needs, utilizing retention strategies, and ensuring effective navigation of their undergraduate studies. They may also be called upon to assist with advising caseloads during times of transition.

This position requires a deep knowledge of and adherence to Board of Regents and University policies relevant to daily responsibilities. The Academic Advisor reports to the Assistant Director or Lead Academic Advisor of Jayhawk Academic Advising.

All advising positions in JAA are assigned to a specific KU Student Pathway as a part of an embedded advising model. Student pathway assignments will be determined by what is mutually beneficial to the needs of JAA and the advisor.

• Provide proactive and holistic academic advising to assigned undergraduate prospective, new, and currently enrolled students.
  • Guide student progress through academic milestones, including enrollment, career exploration and graduation.
  • Advise students on the development and selection of course schedules consistent with students' educational goals.
  • Assist students in developing appropriate educational goals and work towards those goals.
  • Assist students with completion of financial aid appeals, probation agreements, graduation plans, etc.
  • Provide outreach to students as needed in addition to providing appropriate follow-up and referral to University offices and resources.
  • Provide advisement to all students as necessary including those that may not be assigned to the advisor.
  • Facilitate student enrollment and approval processes such as petitions, enrollment changes, appeals, and applications for graduation in compliance with appropriate deadlines and approval channels; provide appropriate referrals to University offices.
• If appropriate for assigned caseload, provide prospective student advising to provide new student support from inquiry through application.
  • Maintain program information, student communication strategies, and transcript and progress review to provide one-on-one guidance to students to meet program admission goals.
• Use Slate, Jayhawk GPS, Enroll & Pay, and other relevant communication and advising tools for student application coaching, student enrollment, degree audit, course prerequisites, etc. Comply with FERPA. Manage a caseload of students with provided academic advising software and tools in a manner that is consistent with office metrics and milestones.
• Support University efforts geared toward increasing recruitment and retention.
• Responsible for knowledge of and compliance with Board of Regents and University policies regarding daily job-related activities applicable to the position.
• May be cross trained in the responsibilities of other academic advisors and in other academic departments.
• Participate in University orientation efforts.

• Perform programmatic duties that best serve the students and supports the office mission (on occasion during evenings or weekends).
• Serve as a liaison to a specific department, college or school and share resources and knowledge with other JAA staff. Where appropriate, interact with faculty to provide an exchange of information and to enhance advisement of students.
• Attend divisional, departmental, college or school meetings at the discretion of supervisor to facilitate embedded advising model goals and to enhance advisement of students.
• Assume other duties as assigned which may include:
  • Taking on special projects, serving on or leading committees, or fulfill a specific role of program responsibilities based upon the strengths and interests of the advisor and the needs of the office.
  • Deliver programs that assist in recruitment, transition, or retention efforts.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional…