Academic Advisor I

Texas A&M • College Station, TX

1d

About The Position

The Academic Advisor I, with assistance, supports student engagement and helps students achieve academic and career goals. The role contributes to undergraduate student retention by building relationships with students and clarifying procedures and academic requirements for specific programs or majors. Programs served may include biochemistry, genetics, forensic and investigative sciences, entomology, animal science, poultry science, nutrition, and food science and technology.

The position spends approximately 65% of its time advising students, 15% delivering student success and retention strategies, and up to 20% completing training per year. Training includes in-class and on-the-job programs such as Advisor Onboarding and Becoming an Advisor. Training time may be adjusted after the first year based on performance and supervisor discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Novice proficiency in initiating, building, and maintaining effective relationships; communicating clearly and concisely in an audience-appropriate manner; researching information; collaborating across departments or groups; active listening; and organizing, prioritizing, and working effectively across simultaneous projects.
• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Advanced-beginner proficiency using word-processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Advanced-beginner proficiency working with confidential information.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of student development in higher education.
• Ability to lead students in developing educational and personal goals and experience.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with students to develop realistic academic and educational goals and provide input on majors, minors, further education, and career options aligned with those goals.
• Explain university and college policies, program requirements, transfer credit decisions, and academic processes, and assist students with processes such as registration, add/drop, Q drops, withdrawals, and change-of-curriculum submissions.
• Review students’ academic records and counsel them on core and degree course selection and the implications of selected courses or exception requests.
• Provide input on probationary decisions.
• Create and maintain relevant student records and notes, including student contacts and advising notes.
• Engage students through in-person and online outreach to share relevant personal, academic, and professional deadlines, updates, information, and events.
• Share academic, professional, and health and wellness resources with students and refer students with identified needs as appropriate.
• Monitor students’ academic progress and degree completion, identifying students who may benefit from intervention or additional guidance.
• Assist with planning and/or delivering advising, student success, retention events, and academic campaigns, including New Student Conference, first-semester advising, and inquiries from prospective students.
• Assess students’ stages of academic development and promote growth by identifying suitable developmental tasks.
• Complete required in-class and on-the-job training, including Advisor Onboarding and Becoming an Advisor.

Benefits

• Health insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• Dental insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• Vision insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• Life insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• Long-term disability insurance, with AgriLife contributing to premiums.
• 12–15 annual paid holidays.
• Up to 8 hours per month of sick leave.
• At least 8 hours per month of vacation.
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas.
• Employee Wellness Initiative.
• Ongoing professional development and training through Aspire, LinkedIn Learning, and internally developed programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level