Senior Academic Advisor, Biology

Overview

The professionals in Undergraduate Education foster student growth, empowerment, and success by serving, advising, guiding, nurturing, and celebrating our students, and working with them and our faculty to solve problems so that students may successfully navigate the university. We focus on the academic aspect of students' lives at Tufts, providing information, advice, and support to help them successfully complete their degrees in a timely manner while ensuring that our students have an enriching and rewarding academic experience.

To that end, we provide students with tutoring, advising, academic support, direction, and accurate information. We also provide academic enrichment programs and opportunities so that students may reach their full potential and achieve their best. We collaborate with faculty and other departments to advocate for students and improve the academic experience for all students as well as the policies governing undergraduate study at Tufts.

The Senior Academic Advisor serves as a proactive academic advisor to undeclared undergraduate students. The Senior Academic Advisor supports students in their engagement with the curriculum, helps them navigate university procedures and make informed decisions about choice of major, and acts as an accessible source for information about curriculum requirements, course selection, and campus resources. Supporting the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Associate Deans of Undergraduate Advising, the Senior Academic Advisor provides logistical support, programming, research, and data analysis for a team-based approach to pre‑major advising, New Student Orientation, the First Year Experience, and undergraduate retention efforts s is a hybrid position.

This position will work in person for at least half the work week during the fall and spring semesters while classes are in session, with more flexibility for remote work over the summer and during school breaks. There are periods of time and events in which in‑person participation is required. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required.

• Act as a liaison between the Department of Biology and programs in place to advance student success as they pursue the various post‑graduation degree programs and maintain active collaboration with the undergraduate advising team through regular meetings, shared advising practices, and coordinated student support efforts.
• Provide programming support to the Department of Biology and faculty advisors within the department. Duties may include creation and editing of advising materials for major students, planning and logistical support for on‑campus events, and delivery of presentations, online seminars, and interactive events for students in and interested in the department.
• Conduct research, compile data, and provide analysis and program assessment on various efforts to track, promote, and improve student retention and on‑time graduation, related to department curriculum and advising.
• Assist faculty advisors and Associate Deans of Undergraduate Advising in supporting majors who need more attention or are struggling with academics or adjustment to Tufts. Keep up‑to‑date and professional notes in Portfolio system and promptly share concerns with Associate Deans. Maintain discretion and student privacy when communicating with faculty, staff, and other students; keep student records confidential.
• Other duties as assigned in support of Department of Biology majors.

• Bachelor's Degree in Biology or related field
• Demonstrated interest or experience in Biology or related fields
• Two or more years' experience in college or university setting as an instructor, advisor, tutor, mentor or administrator
• Commitment to advising, mentoring, and guiding college students
• Superior interpersonal skills, including flexibility and approachability
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication; able to write, edit, and proofread educational documents and other publications. Confidence and experience in teaching, public speaking, or giving effective presentations before large groups.
• Proficient with technology,…