Academic Advisor and Student Support Specialist (28321)

OTTAWA UNIVERSITY•Ottawa, KS

About The Position

Ottawa University (established in 1865), one of the oldest private liberal arts universities in the United States, is a multi-campus system serving approximately 4000 students through its campuses in Kansas (Ottawa, Kansas- Residential Campus and Overland Park, Kansas- Adult Programs); Arizona (Surprise Residential Campus and OUAZ Adult Programs); Wisconsin (Brookfield Adult Programs); and our OU ONLINE PROGRAM based out of Overland Park, Kansas. Ottawa University is a regionally accredited, church-related, private university that strives to integrate faith, learning, and life in the academic experiences of students. JOB SUMMARY Responsible for managing a portfolio of students through leadership and collaboration and for contributing to the intellectual life of a liberal arts institution in a unit that promotes diversity and fosters academic excellence, while offering holistic and individualized services to students. Provide and document advising to assigned undergraduate first and second-year students. Convene resources and advocate on students’ behalf, and in collaboration with others. Contribute to the programming and presentation of PGD workshops.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or extensive career/professional experience required.
Five (5) years of experience required; prior experience in higher education strongly preferred.
Highly effective interpersonal and life coaching skills
Competent working in and knowledgeable of academic and curricular issues
Skilled in the use of assessment tools and the application of assessment data
Strong organizational skills

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of students (principally freshmen and sophomores and others as assigned) with the explicit intent of assisting students to persist through to the junior year and beyond to graduation.
Advise students related to concerns, questions, and provide problem solving; providing a connection for the learner with appropriate and applicable university services. Serves as a coach and fosters a productive University support system for the student. Serves as central communicator with the student regarding updates and changes to university policies, procedures, and operational processes.
Implement established procedures toward providing timely eligibility and funding information to students to guide their financial planning. Assure that all required documents are complete, and audits are facilitated as required. Understand and continuously expand knowledge of Title IV regs.
Work with athletics, academic affairs, student affairs, and financial aid office as necessary to gather and disseminate information about students in the assigned portfolio in order to ensure their success.
Meet with the student as needed to update progress and assess needs for tutoring, mentoring, career counseling, internship, service learning, etc. Connects student with appropriate faculty members for further mentoring as needed.
Act as an ombudsman on behalf of the students in resolving issues, coaching, and intervening where and when necessary to enhance student success and the student experience. Advocate for the use of additional academic and professional resources for the student as needed.
Represent and communicate university policies and procedures and coach students as necessary regarding compliance and properly represent key functional areas in their dealings with students.
Convene meetings with individuals and groups as necessary to interface productively with students. Intervene when and where appropriate to achieve student and university objectives.
Assist students in developing their life-plan narratives as well as specific goal statements for each year of matriculation.
Act as a policy and advisory resource to internal elements of the university organization based on experiences they encounter and observe. Increase the responsiveness of the organization to student concerns and obstacles.
Provides leadership to others through appropriate conduct, attitude and professionalism.
Facilitate, communicate, and track academic accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) for OUAZ students.
Other duties as assigned
Model and encourage collaboration among University departments assuring effective communication and operations.
Understand the University’s policies and, procedures, and exercise good judgment accordingly. Assure that University and student information is managed in a confidential and ethical manner in accordance with the University’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.
Provide leadership through conduct, attitude, and professionalism. Represent the University to students, external groups, faculty, and staff in a way that reflects positively on the University.
Be mindful and supportive of the overall Mission of Ottawa University.
Exercise Inclusivity in your daily actions accruing alignment within expectations of the University’s Mission Statement and Statement of Inclusion, Openness, and Community.