Academic Advocate

Academic Advocate - University of South Florida. 3 days ago, apply among the first 25 applicants.

The Academic Advocate will coordinate the Office of Academic Advocacy's student intake and assessment process, which includes researching student situations, conducting the initial student interviews, working closely with the OAA graduate assistants who have intake responsibilities, and referring students to the appropriate staff member and/or department. The position works collaboratively with other partners across campus and within the community to aid undergraduate students as they negotiate a vast array of offices, services and programs.

The position will be focused on those students identified as having persistence challenges or who are ‘at‑risk’ for retention. Additionally, this position will provide support to the OAA staff through informational communication with students and campus partners, and other administrative tasks.

• Conduct student intake and assess concerns through phone and/or in‑person appointments, using advising and intentional interviewing techniques. Triage student concerns and refer students to appropriate campus resources; collaborate with Academic Advocates and campus partners to provide students and adequate support to succeed academically; provide initial guidance to undergraduate students who need major reselection and career exploration regarding their academic career.
• Provide administrative support through informational reporting, communication with students and campus partners, and other administrative tasks. This includes supporting the numerous persistence and outreach efforts of the Office of Academic Advocacy through various communication means.
• Work closely with OAA graduate assistants to coordinate and monitor the intake process including the evaluation of intake forms, the organization of the intake inbox, and the review/update of the intake process resources and forms.
• Maintain a strong understanding of challenges and opportunities faced by at‑risk students and provide periodic workshops/participation in on‑campus events that increase the student and staff knowledge of academic policies and resources.
• Track number of student intakes and their progress on a weekly basis.
• Other duties as assigned.

• This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling or an academic field directly related to the Advisor’s specific responsibilities with a minimum of one year of experience in advising or related academic functions within higher education. Work experience may not be substituted for the Bachelor’s degree requirement for this position.
• The preferred candidate will possess a Master’s degree in education, counseling, or academic field related to the position’s responsibilities. The preferred candidate will have three years of progressive academic advising, career development or coaching experience in higher education. Preferred candidates will have demonstrated experience or knowledge with first‑year retention or in student completion/graduation efforts. Preferred candidates will have participated with a regionally or nationally recognized professional organization such as NACADA and will have research and/or publications focused on first‑year retention, student success, or related areas.

• Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree; (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree; (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree; (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree.
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position.

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF’s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes…