Academic Advising Specialist

About this position

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 4,700 students from 50 states and 32 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Bethel offers bachelor’s and advanced degrees in nearly 100 fields. Educationally excellent classroom-based and online programs equip graduates to make exceptional contributions in life-long service to God and the world.

Bethel University’s Christ-centered mission includes a commitment to equal educational opportunity and equal employment opportunity. Bethel does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, marital status, disability, status with regard to public assistance, familial status, or age in its admissions, educational programs, or employment practices.

Our Academic Advising Specialists at Bethel University serve as trusted advisors and advocates for our graduate and seminary students throughout their academic journey. This role combines personalized student support, strategic academic planning, and proactive outreach to help students overcome challenges, stay on track toward graduation, and experience a strong sense of belonging within the Bethel community.

• Welcome & Support New Students
  Serve as the primary point of contact for new students, documenting communication and guiding students through successful enrollment.
  Collaborate with academic departments to build individualized academic plans and course schedules for incoming students.
  Develop personalized academic plans and semester schedules in collaboration with academic departments.
  Support new student orientation and transition programming.
  Participate in enrollment events and collaborate with Student Life to foster community and student engagement.
• Guide Academic Success
  Create and maintain individualized degree plans that keep students on track for graduation.
  Conduct degree audits and monitor academic progress.
  Advise students on registration, university policies, graduation requirements, petitions, and appeals.
  Collaborate with faculty, department chairs, and academic leaders to resolve complex advising situations.
• Champion Student Retention & Well‑Being
  Identify and proactively support students experiencing academic or personal challenges.
  Develop success plans for students on academic probation or those identified through Early Alert systems.
  Serve as a liaison when personal or family emergencies impact student engagement.
  Implement outreach strategies that encourage persistence, re‑engagement, and graduation.
• Collaborate Across Campus
  Partner with Admissions, Student Life, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Inclusive Excellence, and the Business Office to provide a seamless student experience.
  Maintain accurate and confidential student records while ensuring FERPA compliance.
  Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives by helping evaluate advising practices and student success outcomes.
  Stay current on advising best practices, university policies, and academic programs.

Bethel’s mission is to educate and equip students to lead lives of impact through transformative academics in a Christ-centered community. Bethel’s employee community plays a central role in developing our students as whole and holy persons. To carry out this mission, Bethel uses the foundation of our guiding documents, the Affiliation of Faith, Community Covenant, and Key Policies. Bethel expects all employees to actively participate in creating our Christ-centered community by agreeing with and abiding by our core beliefs in the Affiliation of Faith and supporting all other beliefs as Biblical, responsible, and thoughtful approaches while avoiding dissension and divisiveness.

Employees teach and mentor students and help one another uphold our Community Covenant commitments. As a result of these expectations, all University employees act as ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ by actively partnering with the University to carry out its mission and foster Bethel’s Christ-centered covenant community.

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