ACADEMIC COUNSELOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Every undergraduate eventually faces a moment when the degree audit, the registration system, and the academic policy manual all say different things. The Academic Counselor is the person who resolves that moment, and every quieter version of it that precedes a student's decision to stay enrolled or walk away. This role holds a specific set of responsibilities that neither a faculty adviser nor a Dean's office staff member fully owns: translating FERPA-governed student record decisions into actionable guidance, monitoring Satisfactory Academic Progress standing, and managing the petitions and exception requests that fall between institutional policy and individual circumstance. It sits within a student affairs or academic services unit and answers to a Director or Associate Dean.

As the Academic Counselor, you guide a defined undergraduate student population through degree requirements, registration decisions, and academic policy, serving as the primary point of contact between students and the institutional policies that govern their academic standing. Your caseload spans the first year through graduation, and your work is coordinated alongside faculty advisers, the Registrar's office, and campus support units, including financial aid and disability services.

Career Impact: Developing fluency in NACADA-endorsed advising frameworks and FERPA compliance gives Academic Counselors a credential set recognized across four-year institutions and graduate programs in higher education administration.

Business Impact: Retention rates and six-year graduation percentages are among the metrics a provost's office watches most closely, and the Academic Counselor's caseload management is a direct input to both numbers.

Growth Opportunity: Academic Counselors who build expertise in degree audit systems and Satisfactory Academic Progress adjudication are well-positioned to advance to Senior Counselor, Advising Coordinator, or Director of Academic Services roles.

• Advise assigned undergraduate students on degree requirements, course scheduling, and academic standing within institutional policy guidelines.
• Monitor each student's Satisfactory Academic Progress and deliver outreach to at-risk students before academic warning thresholds are reached.
• Review and process degree audits, graduation applications, petitions for policy exceptions, and change-of-major requests.
• Liaise between students, faculty advisers, the Registrar, financial aid, and disability services to resolve issues affecting academic progression.
• Conduct orientation sessions and academic workshops covering topics such as study skills, time management, and degree planning.
• Document all advising interactions and maintain accurate student records in compliance with FERPA and institutional confidentiality standards.
• Collaborate with the Dean's office to prepare recommendations on academic probation, dismissals, and readmission requests.

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Education, Psychology, Sociology, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 2 or more years of academic advising or student services experience, with demonstrated work in a higher education setting.
• Working knowledge of FERPA requirements and the ability to handle student records with appropriate confidentiality.
• Demonstrated understanding of academic advising theories and student development models, including those endorsed by the National Academic Advising Association.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain institutional policies clearly to students, faculty, and administrative staff.
• Ability to analyze student academic data, identify risk indicators, and develop appropriate intervention plans.
• Proficiency in student information systems, degree audit platforms, and standard office productivity software.

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, or Counseling, representing the credential level favored by most four-year institution hiring committees.
• Direct experience advising specialized student populations, including NCAA student-athletes, international students, and first-generation college students.
• Familiarity with NCAA academic eligibility standards and progress-toward-degree requirements for intercollegiate athletics programs.
• Experience coordinating scholarship nomination processes or departmental awards within a college or university unit.

• Caseload retention rate, measuring the percentage of assigned students who persist term over term.
• Degree audit accuracy rate, tracking the proportion of graduation applications processed without error or appeal.
• Satisfactory Academic Progress intervention rate, reflecting how many at-risk students receive documented outreach before a formal warning is issued.
• Average days to resolve a student petition or exception request, measuring responsiveness on policy decisions.
• Advising appointment completion rate within the student's registered term, against the assigned caseload.
• Typical tools: Student information systems (commonly Banner or PeopleSoft); degree audit platforms (commonly DARS or DegreeWorks); CRM or advising platforms (commonly EAB Navigate or Salesforce Education Cloud).

• Base Salary Range: $42,000 to $58,000 annually, varying by institution size and region.
• Bonus: Uncommon; some institutions offer modest performance supplements.
• Equity: Not typically offered in higher education staff roles.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; many institutions cover a substantial portion of premiums.
• PTO: 15 to 22 days annually, plus institutional holidays and winter recess.
• Common Perks: Tuition remission for employee and dependents; retirement plan with employer contribution; professional development funding for advising conferences.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Background checks are a standard condition of employment for all positions working directly with student populations. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact the hiring department directly. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire.

The Academic Counselor owns a broad portfolio of student support services, from coordinating tutoring programs in basic science courses to leading workshops on study skills and managing international student graduation timelines. Working closely with campus staff across enrollment and student services, this role directly enables student retention and degree completion for a diverse undergraduate population.

Key Responsibilities

• Meet with individual students to assess and develop their educational and vocational goals.
• Monitor and meet with individual international students quarterly, working with the international advisor on graduation timelines.
• Oversee and lead registration for students identified on special schedules.
• Track and meet with students quarterly who are identified as not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Coordinate the tutoring program, including hiring and supervising tutors in basic science courses.
• Encourage students to utilize digital, tutoring, and library resources.
• Analyze and resolve student issues associated with program requirements, course scheduling, and degree matriculation.
• Interpret and apply academic policies for student degree requirements and academic progress as needed.
• Lead workshops regarding time management, study skills, test-taking, and related topics as needed.
• Collaborate with campus staff to identify creative solutions to enhance the students' overall educational experience.
• Respond to complex inquiries from students and prospective students relating to program requirements, curriculum, course offerings, and Testing and Educational Services.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Counseling, Psychology, Sociology, or a related discipline required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience of 1–3 years in a directly related role, preferably in a higher education institution.
• Demonstrated knowledge of academic advising theories and principles, including current learning outcome models as endorsed by the National Academic Advising Association.
• Knowledge of enrollment management and retention best practices and the ability to apply them to an adult learning environment.
• Experience in interpreting and applying academic policies for student degree requirements and academic progress, including resolving issues that involve vocational and life goals.
• Knowledge of federal regulations, including FERPA and HIPAA.
• Strong analytical skills to gather data with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheet, database, electronic mail, and internet applications, preferably Microsoft Office Suite.
• Technical skills to learn and use online tools and administrative software.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills to explain academic policies and procedures to diverse constituents, including students, faculty, and staff.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact with diverse constituents and provide high-quality support and customer service to students, including sensitivity to the needs of students from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy, maintain a high level of confidentiality, disclose conflicts of interest, and abide by ethical standards and guidelines for academic advising.
• Academic coursework in the Basic Sciences or a Health Care Discipline is preferred.

Embedded within a university advising team, the Academic Counselor supports undergraduate students from first-year enrollment through graduation, advising on degree requirements, academic regulations, and course selection while liaising with departments serving athletes, international students, and other specialized populations. Working closely with the Associate Dean, faculty, and university staff, this role strengthens student persistence and academic success across a diverse campus community.

Core Functions

• Advise and counsel undergraduate students in meeting degree requirements and understanding academic regulations and policy.
• Support and teach students to develop decision-making skills, addressing issues that affect academic performance.
• Make appropriate referrals to other University student services and communicate with faculty regarding students in academic distress.
• Assist students with selection and registration of courses, including new first-year and transfer students.
• Liaise with University departments that support athletes, international students, first-generation students, students of color, learning-disabled students, honor students, and other unique student populations.
• Monitor and evaluate each student's academic progress throughout the school year, assisting with the resolution of problems arising from degree audits, change of majors, graduation, and other undergraduate academic affairs issues.
• Conduct degree clearance for graduating students and maintain accurate records of advising meetings for student files.
• Make recommendations to the Associate Dean regarding exceptions to academic regulations, academic warnings, probations, and dismissals.
• Participate in on-campus recruitment and conversion events and create and conduct academic workshops for new students.
• Work collaboratively with the advising team and University staff to identify and develop experiential education programs that enhance the professional, intellectual, career, leadership, and personal development of undergraduate students.
• Represent the department on university committees and serve as a resource for faculty and other members of the university community.

Qualifications & Experience

• Master's degree in student development/affairs, higher education, or counseling preferred; Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience of 2–4 years in academic advising or other relevant, transferable professional experience.
• Familiarity with a university environment, including an understanding of the organizational and governance structure of major colleges and universities.
• Strong interpersonal communication and problem-solving skills with demonstrated cultural competencies across diverse populations, including LGBTQ, international, first-generation, and students of color.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize and multitask in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment with excellent attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as part of a team and develop productive working relationships with multiple constituencies, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and parents.
• Demonstrated public speaking ability with excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Reporting to the Director of Athletic Academic Services, the Academic Counselor supports assigned Division I student-athletes by developing individualized academic plans, monitoring graduation rates, and ensuring compliance with NCAA and Atlantic Coast Conference eligibility requirements. Partnering with coaches, faculty, and university support staff, this role sustains the academic standing and long-term degree completion of student-athletes across multiple sports programs.

Primary Duties

• Provide academic counseling for student-athletes and teams as assigned.
• Monitor academic performance and prepare academic reports for designated sports.
• Develop individualized academic support plans for student-athletes and provide one-on-one academic assistance as needed.
• Develop strong working relationships to emphasize the value of education and the development of self-reliance.
• Assist the compliance officer and certifying officer in the NCAA certification and tracking process.
• Recommend and nominate student-athletes for awards and scholarships.
• Conduct academic meetings with recruits for assigned sports.
• Maintain open and consistent contact with coaches, athletic counselors, faculty, and University support staff.
• Monitor graduation rates and performance of assigned teams, providing reports on data within NCAA guidelines.
• Assist with recruiting weekends and new student-athlete orientation activities.
• Maintain current working knowledge of academic eligibility rules and procedures of the University, Atlantic Coast Conference, and NCAA, ensuring compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.
• Assist with determining student tutoring needs, ensuring adequate and consistent tutoring throughout the semester, including daily scheduling changes, system updates, and inputting preliminary data into the tutoring system each semester.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience of 2–5 years advising student-athletes at the Division I level.
• Working knowledge of NCAA academic eligibility and recruiting rules and procedures.
• Ability to lead and guide Division I student-athletes in their pursuit of a college degree.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including excellent written and verbal communication, with the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction, demonstrating strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work weekend and evening hours as needed.

Sitting at the intersection of student services and academic administration, the Academic Counselor – Senior delivers comprehensive advising to approximately 140 undergraduate engineering students, overseeing course scheduling, scholarship coordination, and departmental awards processes while serving as the primary liaison among students, faculty, and college units. Operating across admissions, orientation, and industry event planning, this role directly enables student progression and degree completion within the College of Engineering.

Duties

• Maintain a welcoming and supportive advising climate for all students.
• Provide timely, accurate, and constructive advising services to approximately 140 undergraduate students, including counseling on satisfactory academic progress, course scheduling and registration, and departmental and university academic policy.
• Monitor student progress, provide outreach to students at risk, process graduation requests, and regularly review degree audits for each student.
• Serve as undergraduate services liaison for students, faculty, and staff to other college and university units, maintaining the strictest standards of confidentiality and discretion.
• Receive and process student petitions for departmental degree requirements, advise on continuation and returning student policies, and notify the Director of Academic Services of unsatisfactory academic progress with recommended actions.
• Advise students on financial award opportunities, internship and career placement questions, and refer students to appropriate campus resources as needed.
• Manage departmental and College of Engineering awards processes, including preparing student data, coordinating nominations and selection, notifying recipients, and updating award records.
• Coordinate annual scholarship processes, provide fellowship and award opportunities to students and faculty, and assist with application processes.
• Oversee course scheduling, submit new course and course change applications, and coordinate departmental committee meetings, including MSE Undergraduate, Graduate, Accreditation, and Faculty meetings.
• Plan and coordinate new student advising, orientations, prospective student activities, graduation celebrations, industry events, and recruitment activities, including travel to high schools and community colleges.
• Manage undergraduate admissions processes, including preparing applications, sending admissions decisions, maintaining applicant communications, and creating admissions statistics reports.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree and three years of experience advising undergraduate students; Master's degree in education, social sciences, or a related field preferred.
• Experience working in higher education with students from diverse backgrounds, including previous experience advising STEM students.
• Strong organizational skills with event planning experience.
• Excellent English oral and written communication skills with excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with an international constituency, including faculty, staff, students, and institutional officers.
• Advanced computer and software skills, particularly Microsoft Office for Web, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Bookings, and university systems such as SDB, EARS, DARS, Canvas, MyGrad, and UW Enterprise Data Warehouse tools.

A key member of the Athletic Academic Services team, the Academic Counselor builds individualized academic plans and monitors progress toward degree compliance for intercollegiate student-athletes in accordance with NCAA and Big Ten Conference eligibility requirements. Collaborating across University departments, coaching staff, and Schools and Colleges, this role supports the academic success and graduation of student-athletes while maintaining institutional integrity.

Functions

• Develop, implement, and supervise academic support services through direct contact with student-athletes.
• Monitor academic performance, compliance with academic requirements, progress toward degree, academic priority, and transition issues for student-athletes.
• Coordinate and implement individualized academic plans for designated student-athletes, including tutoring and study schedules, and monitor student compliance and progress with plans.
• Counsel students on academic standing and course selections in conjunction with Academic Advisors, assist with decision-making for academic majors and programs, and provide career education where applicable.
• Develop academic status progress reports for the Director, Coaches, and Administrators, and maintain student academic records, files, and academic eligibility tracking.
• Maintain regular communication with faculty and staff regarding individual student academic progress, including non-academic issues, and develop appropriate interventions to address productivity and deficiencies.
• Conduct recruiting sessions with prospective student-athletes and their families during on-campus official visits.
• Act as liaison to University Departments and Student Affairs concerning students' academic, personal, or financial issues, referring students to appropriate university services as needed.
• Supervise evening temporary staff, assist in supervision of tutorial sessions, and fulfill designated program-wide responsibilities as assigned.
• Understand and apply NCAA and Big Ten Conference eligibility and progress-toward-degree requirements to academic counseling with student-athletes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and 2–3 years of related experience required; Master's degree in education, counseling, psychology, or a related field preferred.
• Direct experience in advising and counseling intercollegiate student-athletes.
• Knowledge of NCAA and Big Ten Conference requirements as they pertain to academic eligibility and working knowledge of the University's academic rules and policies.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate with Academic Advisors across Schools and Colleges regarding student-athlete progress and course schedules.
• Basic computer skills, including word processing, with availability to work nights and weekends.

Continued academic program quality and staff performance in an online K–12 school depends on the HS Assistant Academic Administrator/Principal, who directs and coordinates educational and administrative activities across a faculty of 20 or more full-time equivalent employees, personally leading hiring, evaluation, instructional coaching, and school improvement planning. Based within a predominantly virtual work environment and reporting to the Head of School, this role advances student achievement by ensuring all programs meet state and local standards.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Ensure conformance of educational programs to state and local school board standards through evaluation, development, and coordination activities, researching and implementing non-K12 curriculum resources that meet state standards as needed.
• Manage teaching staff, including interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, directing work, appraising performance, rewarding, disciplining, addressing complaints, and resolving problems for 20+ full-time equivalent employees.
• Help articulate the school's mission and vision to ensure all stakeholders have a common understanding and are positioned to work cooperatively to achieve desired results.
• Confer with teachers, students, and parents concerning educational and behavioral problems in school.
• Ensure the school meets the needs of students while complying with local, state, and federal laws regarding special education and other categorical programs.
• Develop and implement the school's improvement plan, monitoring student data by teacher to ensure students are meeting academic goals, and coaching and developing teachers to build strong instructional practices.
• Coordinate and implement grade-level meetings, complete staff evaluations and observations, and actively participate in all school leadership team meetings.
• Work with parent and student concerns and issues, and assist with projects as directed by the Head of School.
• Utilize communication technologies and practices that most effectively support a predominantly virtual and remote work environment.

Position Requirements

• Master's degree and five years of educational experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Current Utah Academic Administrators License with Administrative Endorsement required.
• Previous experience as an online educator and previous administrative experience preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel 25%, including some in-state travel.

As the Academic/College Counselor, this role shapes a comprehensive school counseling program across assigned secondary schools, designing and delivering college access seminars, financial aid support, and multi-faceted intervention tracking to move students toward on-time graduation and post-secondary success. The secondary school community relies on this work to ensure all students benefit from equity-based advocacy, data-informed planning, and consistent collaboration among site principals, families, special education teams, and the Director of College Initiatives.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a written plan for effective delivery and continuous improvement of the school counseling program, in collaboration with site principals, deans, leadership teams, special education teams, and social/emotional counselors.
• Assist all students individually and in groups with developing academic, career, and personal goals and plans, collaborating with parents, guardians, family members, and colleagues in supporting attainment of those goals.
• Collect, interpret, and present student outcomes data to drive student plans and determine and monitor program development goals, conducting yearly program reflections and sharing annual goals with stakeholders.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve referral, tracking, and follow-up processes, as well as student and family activities and programming to deliver academic, early college, and college counseling services.
• Monitor student academic performance, ensure timely delivery of written intervention plans for off-track students, and assist administration with appropriate interventions, including tracking progress toward the 15-credit early college graduation requirement.
• Design and implement a multi-faceted college access and success program, including college seminars, tours, financial aid support, scholarship support, and post-secondary success planning, fostering a strong college-going culture aligned with the College for Certain mission.
• Provide training to staff on the comprehensive school counseling program, assist stakeholders in interpreting student outcomes data, and identify students at risk of not matriculating or graduating on time.
• Actively participate in regional and organization-wide professional development, advocate for site participation in key annual conferences, and seek out additional professional development opportunities.
• Adhere to laws, policies, and ethical standards of the school counseling profession, including mandated reporting, confidentiality, and fostering an equity-based approach for all student populations.
• Collaborate with registrars to ensure final college transcripts are sent, participate in summer school and credit recovery activities, and perform other related duties as required.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in Counseling preferred.
• Pupil Personnel Services Credential preferred.
• Experience of one or more years implementing a school counseling program, including internship experience, with previous teaching experience preferred.
• Knowledge of current state and federal laws governing counseling, college admissions requirements, and all applicable academic policies.
• Strong collaborative and interpersonal skills with the ability to work pleasantly and cooperatively with all constituents, including the Director of College Initiatives, social/emotional counseling teams, administration, faculty, and staff.
• Demonstrated willingness and skill in presenting policies to small and large groups, maintaining professional confidentiality throughout.

Academic Counselor coordinates all standardized testing and district-wide assessments, leads family engagement initiatives, and drives social-emotional support programs to foster student persistence across a high-growth campus environment. The work directly supports school leadership and teaching staff by creating accountability systems, training staff on test security, and proactively addressing truancy through data-tracked prevention strategies.

Accountabilities

• Collaborate with school leaders and teachers to reach school goals.
• Coordinate all standardized testing and district-wide assessments, including creating a campus testing plan, training staff on test security and test systems, ensuring all deadlines are met, and ensuring all students receive appropriate assessments with a 24-hour turnaround for scanning.
• Empower students to build emotional intelligence and provide social-emotional support.
• Identify and proactively work with truant and other at-risk students, leading prevention strategies to ensure student persistence.
• Facilitate family involvement by implementing the Family Engagement Plan, leading family engagement event planning, and following the campus communication flow chart to resolve issues promptly.
• Create and monitor systems to support teachers and staff, utilizing the Recapture log, tracking, and responding to student persistence data.

Background & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree in guidance counseling preferred.
• Valid Texas Counseling certificate preferred.
• Teaching experience preferred.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to manage student behavior and adjust to a multitude of situations in the school environment.
• Strong cross-departmental relationship-building skills, working through silos to achieve outcomes with urgency and purpose in a high-growth, entrepreneurial environment.
• Proven track record of success, with demonstrated effective outcomes, accountability, responsiveness to feedback, and commitment to high standards of conduct and professionalism.
• Belief in and alignment with the mission that all students are capable of getting to and through college, serving as an agent of change.

The Academic Counselor owns the full admissions conversion cycle, conducting outbound lead calls and collaborating directly with colleges to guide prospective students toward informed enrollment decisions. Reporting into a high-growth, target-driven team, this role builds the student pipeline that sustains institutional enrollment and organizational revenue goals.

Key Deliverables

• Counsel students using current industry knowledge to support informed admission decisions.
• Convert leads into admissions through high-velocity closures, conducting outbound calls on assigned leads to maximize conversion rates.
• Liaise directly with colleges as required to support the admission conversion process.
• Maintain daily management information system records on calls attended and walk-ins attended.
• Meet weekly and monthly targets in a fast-paced, high-growth, low-supervision environment.

Experience & Qualifications

• Graduate degree required.
• Experience of 0.5 to 3 years in a related role.
• Understanding of the education sector, including government and private universities, colleges, and institutions.
• Knowledge of the local language of the respective state.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and listening skills with an inherent ability to have engaging conversations.
• Genuine interest in helping people succeed, with a self-starter mindset, and high ownership orientation.
• Ability to execute effectively with minimal supervision.

Embedded within a university advising department, the Academic Counselor delivers holistic student support through CRM-based outreach, data-driven retention campaigns, and one-on-one coaching across a diverse online student population. Working closely with Academic Advisors and department leadership, this role builds the advising infrastructure and team capability that directly sustains enrollment and student persistence outcomes.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Systematically contact newly enrolled students to establish rapport, maintain communication, and support expectations.
• Assist students with class scheduling, enrollment-related issues, and basic career advising and goal setting.
• Provide proactive engagement through student success campaigns, leveraging data-driven and holistic interventions to support progression across targeted student populations.
• Communicate with students in a culturally inclusive and competent manner across all channels, including telephony, chat, SMS, and email, facilitating appropriate referrals to other departments and campus resources as needed.
• Thoroughly document all student engagement and communications within the CRM, escalating or de-escalating complex student issues as appropriate.
• Participate in daily retention activities in coordination with Academic Advisors and leadership, implementing strategies to improve retention.
• Act as the primary point of contact or lead when leadership is unavailable, including opening, closing, and weekend shifts, and assist leadership with day-to-day operations.
• Coach and develop Academic Advisors through group training sessions and one-on-one coaching to meet and exceed student service expectations.
• Develop, maintain, and contribute to department best practices, standard operating procedures, and student success strategies, providing leadership with actionable feedback regarding areas of concern and compliance.
• Engage in leadership and personal development through online classes, assigned mentorship, and public speaking opportunities.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Solid working knowledge of customer service skills with intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience with CRM, Student Information Systems, database management, SMS, live chat, and telephony software, including knowledge of call recording procedures and disclosures.
• Solid interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion, work independently, and foster a cooperative spirit within diverse teams in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities.
• Ability to develop new insights, encourage innovation, and generate creative solutions that produce successful outcomes while accepting personal accountability and supporting honesty and respect.

Reporting to the Office of Academic Advising, the Academic Counselor guides lower-division undergraduates through complex academic policy decisions, from processing study abroad approvals and credit overloads to managing readmission requests, while consulting periodically with faculty advisers to ensure continuous academic progression. Partnering with campus partners, residential programs, and the Committee on Academic Affairs, this role enables student retention and timely degree completion for first-generation, international, and other underserved student populations.

Areas of Ownership

• Provide advising to students and consultation and guidance to parents, faculty, and administrators regarding academic matters.
• Meet with students daily to process requests for study abroad approvals, late drops, late adds, credit overloads, and other issues related to academic policies and procedures.
• Track assigned students throughout their lower-division academic careers, consulting with faculty advisers periodically to assure academic progression.
• Counsel students who find it necessary to leave the University, accept and process readmission requests, and receive and make decisions on requests for part-time status.
• Serve as liaison between the Office of Academic Advising and assigned divisions, departments, programs, majors, residential groupings, campus partners, and the Committee on Academic Affairs.
• Provide initial support for students facing personal challenges of mental and physical health, connecting students with appropriate university support resources.
• Receive and investigate reports from faculty and academic advisers regarding students with excessive absences, poor academic performance, or failure to attend class, working with faculty and administrators to determine withdrawal decisions and communicating outcomes to relevant offices.
• Assist with planning and execution of new student orientation, registration of incoming first-year students, and recruitment and assignment of lower-division and student advisers.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus one to three years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of academic advising, student development, retention issues, and strategies to support first-generation, international, ethnic minority, and LGBTQ+ students.
• Knowledge of rules, regulations, and laws regarding student records, with the ability to maintain confidentiality and manage and distribute information appropriately.
• Proficiency in Banner, Microsoft Office Suite, web design and maintenance, virtual meeting tools, internet privacy and security protocols, and secure professional use of social media.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to analyze and solve problems, investigate and draw logical conclusions, make decisions using independent judgment, perform multiple tasks, and prioritize as necessary.
• Commitment to participating in regular professional development, with the ability to work a varied physical or remote schedule as needed.