Academic Advisor & Student Success Specialist

Gwynedd Mercy University • Gwynedd Valley, PA

16h • Onsite

About The Position

Under general supervision, this position provides proactive, developmental advising to undeclared students and outreach to new and continuing students focused on ensuring student persistence and success. Areas of responsibility include assisting students with the major exploration process, providing student success coaching services, supporting students on academic probation and identifying students who are at risk for attrition. This position manages the University-wide retention alert system. Occasional evening and/or weekend hours as needed to accommodate the needs of a diverse student population.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in higher education, psychology, counseling, student development, or related field required.
• 1-3 years experience in academic advising, academic support, teaching, or counseling at the post-secondary level.
• Understanding of university structures and policies.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Effective and clear communication skills, including written, oral, interpersonal, and group skills.
• Understanding of student development theory and academic advising research and practices, especially for exploratory undergraduate students.
• Commitment to student retention and persistence.
• Strong computer skills.
• Must have excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills both in-person and via email/telephone communication.
• Must be able to interact and communicate effectively with students, faculty and University personnel with regard to university and program policies, procedures, guidelines, and standards.
• Ability to apply mathematical concepts to practical situations.
• Ability to work with statistical information.
• Must be results oriented and able to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple activities.
• The ability to communicate effectively, prioritize workflow, work well with minimum supervision, and accept responsibility for total task completion is required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with students in graduate and undergraduate programs, and in traditional, accelerated, and online degree formats preferred.
• Student database management systems preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft-office suite.

Responsibilities

• Builds positive, supportive relationships with students to facilitate retention and persistence to program completion.
• Identifies barriers to student persistence and works to resolve them quickly.
• Provide academic success coaching to develop effective learning strategies, such as assist in college transition and improvement of study skills/habits/behavior to all students.
• Assist advisees with course registration and planning, identifying campus resources, and interpreting academic policy.
• Monitor advisee’s academic progress, respond appropriately to any academic alert notifications, and assist with retention efforts.
• Serve as a student advocate (e.g., letters of appeal, recommendations, report students' concerns to administration etc.) based on personal knowledge of advisee's strengths and weaknesses.
• Serve as a liaison between advisees and academic units, registrar, and campus resources.
• Assist with advisor training and relevant resources for all advisors, including faculty advisors.
• Create and execute programming to enhance a culture of engagement and belonging.
• Compile program and retention data as requested and make data-driven recommendations as appropriate to Assistant Dean of Student Success.
• Stay current with best practices in academic advising through NACADA, trends, and regulatory requirements in higher education, such as FERPA, ADA, and Title IX, to ensure departmental effectiveness and compliance with appropriate laws.
• Gain knowledge of all academic programs to properly assist students with identifying, exploring, and evaluating academic programs of interest, and the resources available to assist them in transitioning to an academic program.
• Work with students dismissed from majors to identify alternative academic and career options.
• Manage and respond to cases submitted to the Retention Alert System, evaluates student needs, implements action plans for targeted interventions, and documents interactions and follow-up with students.
• Provide student success coaching sessions on academic, personal and social issues and maintain meeting notes, communicate student progress with faculty and staff, keep files on individual students and make appropriate referrals.
• Provide regular outreach and marketing activities to reach faculty, staff and students to educate them on success coaching services and build support, increase retention and improve graduation rates of students.
• Communicate with students regarding support services provided by the University and communicate on student’s behalf to faculty, Academic Advisors, Program Directors and other University personnel as appropriate.
• Develop, track, and facilitate the Academic Recovery Program.
• Serve as the retention alert system academic administrator in conjunction with VP of Student Services.
• Teach four (4) credits per year in the FYE: University Success Program.
• Co-coordinate the Ready, Set, Griffins! Orientation program.
• Maintain up to date knowledge of other department functions and university resources in order to appropriately resolve student inquiries.
• Respond in a timely manner (no more than 1 business day) to student problems, concerns, and questions.
• Ensure timely and accurate data entry within necessary university systems.
• Attend and assist with University events, such as Commencement, Honors Convocation, Open House, Accepted Students Day, and other required events.
• Other job-related duties may be assigned.

Benefits

• Gwynedd Mercy University is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working, and living environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.
• Gwynedd Mercy University does not discriminate against any applicant for admission to or employment at the University because of race, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, color, marital status, veteran status, genetic characteristics, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (‘Protected Classes’).
• This includes, but is not limited to, admissions, financial aid, educational services, and student programs and activities, as well as to all terms and conditions of employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, selection, hiring, placement, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, and termination.
• The University will not tolerate unlawful acts of discrimination or harassment based upon Protected Classes, or related retaliation against or by any employee or student.

What This Job Offers

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