Academic Advisor

Texas A&M University System • College Station, TX

17h • Onsite

About The Position

The College of Architecture invites applications for Academic Advisor I and Academic Advisor II. Each of these roles are responsible for driving engagement and empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals. These positions will play a vital role in maximizing undergraduate student retention by building relationships with students and clarifying procedures and academic requirements for specific programs or majors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• No prior experience required (for Academic Advisor I)
• Two years of advising or related experience (for Academic Advisor II)
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Initiating, building, and maintaining effective relationships
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Communicating with others in a clear and concise manner that is audience appropriate
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Researching information to meet situation parameters
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Collaborating with others within and across departments/groups
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Actively listening to determine speakers’ goals, needs, and/or challenges
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Organizing, prioritizing, and working effectively to meet goals and parameters of simultaneous projects
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Ability to use various computer programs to include word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications.
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Ability to work with confidential information.
• Knowledge of: NACADA’s Core Values of Academic Advising
• Knowledge of: Theories relevant to academic advising
• Knowledge of: Academic Advising models, approaches, and strategies
• Knowledge of: Professional standards and ethical guidelines for academic advising
• Knowledge of: Expected student learning/success outcomes of academic advising
• Knowledge of: Curriculum, degree programs, and other academic requirements and options, to include changes and revisions over time
• Knowledge of: Critical partners for academic advisors and their role in the advising process
• Knowledge of: Campus and community resources that support student success
• Knowledge of: Project management principles and processes
• Knowledge of: Professional standards and ethical guidelines for coaching, coaching models, and methods and techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of coaching
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Discussing and referring students to appropriate campus resources for mental health issues
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Conducting research and developing and delivering training, to include: Advising tools and strategies, campus resources, and relevant updates for faculty and staff
• Proficiency level of novice in the following skills: Supervising student employees to assist with administrative advising duties and programming
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Articulating a personal philosophy of academic advising in alignment with NACADA models, strategies, and approaches
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Communicating in a respectful, and confidential manner using various communication approaches and modalities
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Promoting student understanding of the purpose and underlying rationale of the curriculum to set expectations for student learning
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Facilitating problem-solving, decision-making, and meaning-making for students through the advising process
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Identifying high-risk indicators, as reported by faculty, to ensure student success
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Engaging in ongoing assessment and development of self and the advising practice
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills: Planning and/or delivering various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns
• Proficiency level of competent in the following skills: Creating rapport and building relationships, to include: Guiding, coaching, and/or mentoring students
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Collaborating with critical partners
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Planning and conducting advising interactions to achieve student learning and student success outcomes, operating within your scope of authority, and connecting students to resources
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Demonstrating high ethical standards in advising
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Facilitating planning and goal setting, both short-term and long-term, to achieve individual learning targets and enable future readiness for students through the advising process
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Observing and identifying trends in the impact of academic advising on student learning outcomes through data review
• Proficiency level of competent in the skills: Using appropriate academic advising technologies to support students, including providing reports for advising initiatives and special populations

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively as a team player in a collaborative environment
• Strong work ethic with a reputation for being reliable and hardworking
• Previous experience working with student populations, preferably in a higher education or advising setting
• Genuine interest in advising and mentoring students

Responsibilities

• Advises Students: Collaborates with students to understand and develop realistic and attainable educational and academic goals and provides input on related majors, minors, future education and career options that best align with goals.
• Educates students about and prepares and assists them with full array of academic processes (e.g., registration, add/drop, Q drops, withdrawals, change of curriculum submissions, etc.) by sharing university and college policies, program requirements, transfer credit decisions, etc.
• Reviews student’s academic record and counsel students regarding core and degree course selection and implication of selected courses and/or exception requests.
• Provides input on probationary decisions.
• Creates and maintains updated relevant records and notes (e.g., student contact, advisor notes).
• Delivers Student Success and Retention Strategies: Consistently engages student population utilizing various outreach methods (e.g., in-person and online) to cultivate a professional relationship to keep students informed of critical and relevant personal, academic and professional deadlines, updates, information and events.
• Proactively shares with students available academic, professional, and health and wellness resources (e.g., Academic Success Center, Career Center, Student Organizations, Counseling & Psychological Services, Disability Resources, etc.) May refer students with identified needs as appropriate.
• Actively monitors students’ progress through the program by reviewing and assessing academic records to determine status of progression, completion of degree requirements as well as identifying and referring those students in which additional intervention and guidance may be recommended to reaching academic goals.
• Assists in the planning and/or delivery of various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns (e.g., New Student Conference, 1st semester advising, inquiries from prospective students).
• Assesses individual students' stage of academic development and promotes their growth by determining suitable developmental tasks.
• Leads the planning and/or delivery of various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns (e.g., New Student Conference, 1st semester advising, inquiries from prospective students).
• Assists in training of and sharing of information for new staff members and student workers within the academic advising department.

Benefits

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatically enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Free exercise programs and release time
• All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee

What This Job Offers

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