Emergency and Disaster Management - Academic Advisor

Emergency and Disaster Management
- Academic Advisor - #270025

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

• Posting Number: EHRA
  1133P
• Quick Link for Internal Postings: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below)./35504
• Classification
  
  Title:
  
  Academic Advisor
• Working Title:
  
  Emergency and Disaster Management
  - Academic Advisor - #270025
• Department:
  Criminology, Criminal Justice & Disaster Science
• Anticipated Hiring Range:
  Based on qualifications/experience, internal equity, and departmental budget restrictions.

Western Carolina University continues to rank high on Forbes 'Best Employers' lists each year. Including:

• 2025 - Ranked 1st in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.
• 2024 - Ranking in the top 8.5% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 34 out of the top 400 employers across all industries.
• 2023 - Ranked in the top 20% on Forbes 'America's Best Midsize Employers' list, WCU was ranked 97 out of the top 500 employers across all industries.
• 2022 - Ranked 14th in the top 100 employers in North Carolina in Forbes 'America's Best Employers by State' list.

Western Carolina University is the UNC system's westernmost campus and has been consistently ranked as one of the top 15 public regional institutions in the South.

Employees of WCU are provided a comprehensive benefits package as well as other resources, policies and programs to ensure a happy and healthy work/life balance. Benefit eligible employees have access to dental, vision and health insurance plans - eligibility begins on the first of the month following date of hire. Retirement plan contributions begin on the eligibility date following election and include employer contributions for either a defined contribution or a defined benefit plan.

Optional disability plans are also available.

Eligible employees have access to tuition waivers for up to three courses per academic year; employee may enroll at any of the constituent UNC System campuses. Also offered are free group exercise classes multiple times per week, a discounted membership to the campus recreation center, free vaccine and booster shots offered on campus, pretax flexible spending accounts, 12 paid holidays and 24 hours of paid community service leave each year.

Leave earning employees (staff and 12-month faculty) who work at least half of the working days of their first month of employment will begin accruing vacation and sick leave immediately. Paid parental leave after 12 months of continuous service.

WCU offers an abundance of training and development programs, certifications, workshops and conferences - many of which are offered free of charge.

The position may be based remotely or residentially but is expected to attend required face-to-face training and periodic program meetings on the Western Carolina University campus. This position is designated as being exempt from the State of North Carolina Human Resources Act (EHRA).

This position serves as the academic advisor for online students in the Emergency and Disaster Management B.S. degree program and provides instructional support through assigned distance-education courses in Disaster Science. The position advises current and prospective distance-learning students through the application, admission, orientation, registration, transfer evaluation, curriculum selection, and degree completion processes.

Work includes helping students understand academic policies, program requirements, university procedures, and community college transfer pathways; responding to student inquiries; evaluating academic records; coordinating with Educational Outreach, the Department Head, and the Director of Disaster Science; and teaching assigned online Emergency and Disaster Management courses during fall, spring, and summer terms.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of academic advising, degree planning, registration, transfer evaluation, and student progression practices.
• Knowledge of university academic policies, administrative procedures, curriculum requirements, and distance-learning student support processes.
• Ability to evaluate transcripts and academic records, interpret program requirements, and advise students through admission, orientation, registration, and degree completion.
• Ability to teach assigned online Emergency and Disaster Management courses and apply subject-matter expertise in Disaster Science or a closely related field.
• Ability to communicate…