Academic Advisor I

Carbondale•Carbondale, IL

About The Position

The College of Arts and Media at Southern Illinois University is seeking an Academic Advisor I for a full-time, term administrative/professional position. The role requires a broad understanding of university and college policies and procedures, regular collaboration with prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and student support services, and independent judgment in student advisement, referrals, records management, registration, and compliance with university requirements. The Academic Advisor supports students throughout their undergraduate experience by helping them understand their interests, abilities, and values; develop educational plans aligned with academic goals; and navigate degree requirements, registration, and academic policies. The advisor monitors student progress toward degree completion, communicates important information and deadlines, and refers students to campus resources as needed. The position also supports student success and retention through collaboration with campus partners and participation in university events, training, and professional development. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Customer service and/or professional interpersonal skills.
Attention to detail skills.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience in a postsecondary environment, such as academic advising, mentoring, counseling, or teaching undergraduates, or high school teaching experience.
Experience or background in a College of Arts and Media program.
Experience working with students from underrepresented backgrounds.
Involvement in professional development activities and organizations such as NACADA, and/or demonstrated commitment to continuous growth and improvement.
Experience working effectively both independently and collaboratively.

Responsibilities

Promote an inclusive environment in which all individuals are valued, supported, and respected.
Establish an individual advising relationship with each student to support self-awareness and decision-making throughout the undergraduate experience.
Assist students in developing educational plans aligned with their academic goals.
Help students understand degree requirements, registration processes, and relevant academic policies and procedures.
Maintain knowledge of degree requirements, prerequisites, corequisites, course sequencing, and the University Core Curriculum as it applies to specific degree programs.
Refer students to appropriate campus offices and support resources.
Use Degree Works, the Student Educational Planner (SEP), and other technologies to monitor and track progress toward degree completion.
Instruct students on using Degree Works as a degree audit tool and performing “what-if” scenarios to explore academic pathways.
Use student information systems to view and interpret student records, analyze test scores and prerequisite requirements, submit petition requests for course substitutions, process course overrides and registration forms, assist with registration and account holds, and monitor academic progress and generate registration reports.
Use platforms such as Slate and Outlook to communicate with students, document interactions, publicize important deadlines, and encourage regular advising appointments.
Attend and support events such as New Student Orientation, Open House, and occasional evening or weekend programs as needed.
Maintain knowledge of and comply with FERPA requirements.
Complete compliance and mandatory training requirements.
Participate in professional development programs, meetings, and training sessions.
Understand transfer course processing and articulation procedures.
Maintain a focus on student success and retention while collaborating with campus partners.
Perform other assigned duties that enhance academic advisement, student success, and support the institutional mission.