ACADEMIC ADVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION
Updated: Oct 03, 2024 - We are seeking an Academic Advisor who will deliver personalized guidance to students, ensuring smooth navigation through their degree programs and the accurate awarding of transfer credits. This role involves monitoring student progress with a keen focus on those new to the program or nearing graduation, and providing essential post-graduation advice. The ideal candidate will also play a vital role in course management, student retention, and bolstering our local recruitment efforts to foster community growth and academic excellence.
An Overview of Academic Advisor Job Description Responsibilities and Qualifications
1. The Academic Advisor assists adult learners in navigating their academic passions, crafting suitable study plans to achieve educational objectives, and pinpointing further resources for information and support. This role entails consistent and proactive engagement with students via scheduled meetings, impromptu consultations, and email interactions.
Academic Advisor Functions:
- Provides advising support through regular and frequent communication with advisees from initial enrollment through graduation.
- Assists students in developing educational goals, identifies ways to achieve these goals, and tracks progress to ensure students meet all requirements to graduate.
- Helps to affirm students’ major choice, or assists in identifying a new major, based on students’ interests and goals.
- Knows and disseminates university and school policies and procedures, as well as course and program planning requirements.
- Evaluates transcripts for transfer credit.
- Maintains accurate records, including all interactions with students, using electronic record keeping; ensures that students’ degree audits are accurate.
- Refers students to campus offices/resources such as career services, accessibility services, tutoring, student health services, counseling center, student accounts, and financial aid.
Academic Advisor Experience and Qualifications:
- Works two evenings per week.
- Serves as the liaison to the Delaware County location.
- Travels between campuses to meet with program staff and students on occasion.
- Interprets University and School academic policies and procedures.
- Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.
- 1-3 years of experience working in a university environment, experience working with adult learners preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a dynamic, evolving environment.
- Experience using computer programs such as MS Word, Access, and Excel.
2. The Academic Advisor I serves as the primary counselor for our students, overseeing their progress towards academic achievements and offering guidance to ensure they remain on track.
Academic Advisor Details and Responsibilities:
- Provide sound academic advice to students based on their school bulletin and degree program
- Coordinate with the main campus evaluations department to ensure students receive appropriate transfer credits where warranted
- Track students through their degree program, placing a special emphasis on new students and students nearing graduation
- Give post-graduation guidance to students when requested
- Assist in course management and student retention
- Assist with local recruiting efforts
Academic Advisor Requirements and Qualifications:
- Excellent public speaking and writing skills, networking abilities, and experience giving public presentations.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with flexibility for some evening and/or weekend work.
- Must be comfortable with data and have an intermediate level proficiency with computer technology.
- Friendly, approachable, energetic, and a desire to enhance the student body in Urban Studies and UW Tacoma.
- Experience in or formal knowledge of urban studies related fields.
- Master's Degree.
- Experience in marketing or public relations.
- Experience using UW administrative systems.