Student Academic Advisor

Position description

Reporting to the Registrar, the Academic Advisor will oversee the coordination of all activities related to academic advising, providing academic advising support to undergraduate students, with a focus on improving retention of students through to graduation.

The Academic Advisor is responsible for assessment of incoming transfer credits, Letters of Permission (domestic and international) and for Study Abroad & Exchange Program Transfer Credit Evaluation. The Academic Advisor is responsible for conducting the degree audit process for graduating students, with particular attention to advising prospective graduates and their Program Advisors of degree compliance problems identified through the degree audit process, and for maintaining Ellucian’s online Program Evaluation in Connect.

Position Responsibilities Evaluate and confirm transfer credit assessments to ensure course equivalencies are appropriate and compliant with academic regulations and suitable for students’ degree program; generate with signing authority evaluations for incoming students, Letters of Permission and Study Abroad & Exchange Program Transfer Credit Evaluation letters;

Meet with students and program advisors individually and in groups to provide information such as:the nature of the student / advisor / program advisor relationship, including roles and responsibilities;interpreting and providing rationale for academic policies, procedures, and requirements;providing course and program information on academic programs and disciplines;course selection and registration program planning and tracking progress toward graduation

Coordinate advising initiatives for student retention, particularly for first-year, first–generation, Indigenous, international, and those readmitted on probation and those experiencing academic difficulty identified through an early alert system, to discuss academic plans for success and raise awareness of available resources;

Conduct degree audit processes for prospective grads; identify and inform students and program advisors of non-compliance issues that place students’ graduation at risk; prepare and post grad lists for Senate approval;

Liaise with the Academic Deans, Registrar, Department Heads, Program Advisors, the Meighen Centre, and other relevant stakeholders to resolve questions/concerns/problems identified during the advising and degree audit processes;

Keep abreast of current research literature and best practices in academic advising, particularly for Indigenous, first generation, and international students;

Develop and update advising materials and web content for new incoming and current students, including Indigenous, first generation, international, mature, and transfer students;

In collaboration with other departments in the university, develop and maintain innovative and cost-effective on-line and print self-help and advising resources for students and program advisors (e.g., social media (Twitter), degree audit forms, on-line Program Evaluation, resource tutorials, FAQ’s, other web-based self-help tools); constantly seek ways to improve the academic advising process;

Refer students to other resources when educational, attitudinal, attendance, financial, employment, or other personal problems require the service of other professionals;

Record and maintain transfer credit equivalents in Ellucian Colleague;

Update and maintain Ellucian’s online Program Evaluation in Connect;

Update changes to the academic calendar approved by Senate; specifically Sections 11 and 12; identify and resolve any discrepancies;

Assist Academic Advisors to cover absences due to vacations, illness;

Evaluate and confirm change of degree and program requests;

Meet with prospective…