Academic Advocate

Job Title

Academic Advocate

University of South Florida Libraries

140 7th Avenue South, Saint Petersburg, FL 33701, US

$52,000 per year

Posting Date: 12/12/2025 09:30 PM

Apply By: 01/09/2026 09:30 PM

The Academic Advocate's primary role is to enhance undergraduate student retention and success, supporting key university goals. This position provides case management for students facing academic progress challenges, identifies barriers to success through data analysis, and collaborates with university offices (e.g., Registrar, Financial Aid, and Academic Advising) to address institutional challenges. The Academic Advocate works directly with students, assisting them in navigating academic plans, major selection, and career goals, while proactively outreaching to at‑risk students and connecting them to resources.

The role also contributes to policy and process improvements to foster student persistence and graduation.

• Serve as the case manager for specific cohorts of undergraduate students and follow outreach plans to enhance persistence and completion.
• Respond to student referrals and research student cases referred to the Office of Academic Affairs, coordinating across multiple university departments.
• Assist students with understanding institutional policy and processes, reviewing options, and resolving issues, including major exploration and reselection when necessary.
• Maintain student files, facilitate updates to academic records, and monitor progress to ensure ongoing satisfaction and successful persistence.
• Use analytical and evidence‑based decision‑making skills to develop and interpret reports, analyze trends, and create actionable information to inform outreach plans and enhance persistence programs.
• Monitor student trends and recommend changes in academic policy, procedures, and processes to enhance undergraduate student persistence, retention, and completion.
• Support the team by presenting at meetings, workshops, and other venues to disseminate and enhance USF's student success goals and strategies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Minimum Qualifications:
  
  A master’s degree in education or a related field, or a bachelor’s degree in those same fields with a minimum of two years of relevant experience.
• Preferred Qualifications:
  
  A master’s degree in education, counseling, or an academic field related to the position; three years of progressive academic advising, career development, or coaching experience in higher education; demonstrated experience or knowledge with first‑year retention or student completion/graduation efforts; participation in a regionally or nationally recognized professional organization such as NACADA; research and/or publications focused on first‑year retention, student success, or related areas.
• Additional skills:
  Oral and written communication, ability to build collaborative relationships, decision‑making, multi‑tasking, prioritization, interpersonal skills, and judgment.

Senate Bill 1310 – The Florida Senate (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S. (summary of work‑experience substitution provisions included in the original description).

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 background check.

ADA Accommodations:
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodations in the application process. A request is to be made five working days before the accommodation is needed. Contact the USF ADA Lead (Hr-ada-request) for more information.

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.