Academic Advisor

University of Colorado • Denver, CO

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We’re the state’s premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top-ranked bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners—at any stage of their life and career—for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $665 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.
The Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, Design and Computing is seeking a full-time Academic Advisor to advise a caseload of diverse students to ensure successful progress toward achieving their degree. This full-time position primarily advises computer science and cybersecurity students. The person in this position collaborates with a network of advisors, faculty, and staff to provide advising and student success services to students in the Department and the College. The Academic Advisor has four areas of responsibility: student advising, outreach and engagement, student services, and program operations. This position will assist with outreach efforts to recruit and retain high quality students into computer science and other engineering degree programs. This position will also assist with student success initiatives that help to retain high quality students, connect them to campus services and resources, and provide opportunities for successful transition into employment and being a connected alumni. The Academic Advisor will ensure compliance with all internal/external policies and procedures and will collaborate with key stakeholders in the college and the University of Colorado Denver as a whole. The position will utilize technology extensively to support and implement the College’s service delivery model, including transfer credit platforms, degree audit system; advising in-person and through other technologies.

Requirements

• Bachelors’ degree in education, psychology, counseling, counselor education, communications, engineering, or a relevant field.
• One year of professional experience working directly with students in advising, counseling, mentoring, instructional OR, experience in a customer support capacity.
• Knowledge of admissions, advising and retention services to support student success and degree completion.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, CU-SIS, EAB Navigate, DARS and related student information systems.
• Collaborative mindset with ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with a diverse constituency.
• Strong customer service approach with evidence of culturally competent interpersonal skills.
• Understanding of the psychology of advising and working with students.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Must be a highly motivated self-starter, quick learner and problem solver.
• Understanding of the laws that govern students’ state and federal rights.
• Ability to quickly build rapport with students and keep them motivated and productive
• Ability to handle difficult and sensitive situations, use sound, independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines. Defuse tension in customer interactions, should it arise.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a team based dynamic atmosphere and manage multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• Ability to maintain professional flexibility to accommodate rapidly changing processes, program information and priorities.
• Demonstrate a high level of maturity and independent judgment.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in higher education, psychology, counseling, counselor education, engineering, or relevant field.
• Professional experience with academic admissions and recruitment processes.
• Experience with diverse student groups.
• Experience working with enrollment management programs that included orientation, probation and suspension, and/or transfer student initiatives, and/or other recruitment and retention activities.
• Professional experience that demonstrates strong working/operating knowledge of student information system, preferably CU-SIS, and Microsoft Office Suite including: Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Previous experience working in a computer science, engineering or related STEM program.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and academic advising support to prospective, current and transfer students.
• Become knowledgeable of the different computer science and cybersecurity programs including the purpose behind the Computer Science Plus (CS+) program partnerships which help students maximize the benefit of free electives for earning dual degrees, minors, and other certifications in their chosen specialization(s).
• Advise students at key points in time to discuss academic progress as it relates to degree requirements and student interests, point out critical deadlines, and gather feedback regarding overall program experience.
• Analyze and evaluate the needs of the student, accurately assess each situation, determine appropriate information and referrals, exercise discretion to resolve issues, and tailor messaging to fit each unique situation.
• Coach students through academic difficulties, developing a growth mindset and improving academic beliefs and behaviors to achieve success.
• Direct students to resources within the University that provide assistance in making career and academic major choices.
• Ensure the effectiveness of the advising process by maintaining electronic advising notes for advisees and using information in the Navigate system to advise students appropriately.
• Maintain office hours and provide students with relevant alternatives for advising support.
• Track and monitor student success and satisfactory academic progress, including students’ probation/suspension status, registration and exceptions to policy requests.
• Oversee advising documents and manage degree audit documentation.
• Acquire an in-depth understanding of program requirements and curriculum progression for computer science programs, and a broad-based knowledge of program requirements and curriculum progression for all other engineering programs in the college.
• Seek to continually assess and improve the level of advising within the college and work to implement campus-level advising initiatives.
• Assist students with degree planning including 30 hour checks and the graduation plan to ensure all program requirements are met for graduation.
• Engage with high schools, community colleges, CU Denver diversity/community outreach programs, industry and other organizations to recruit new students into the college, but more specifically into the computer science and cybersecurity programs.
• Assist with the marketing and communication of computer science and cybersecurity programs to students.
• Assist in the planning of student focused events as well as outreach and recruiting events. Participate in various outreach and recruitment events, including open houses, annual engineering internship and job fair, block party, convocation, pre-collegiate fairs, prospective student information sessions, Transfer Thursdays, new student orientation, career fairs, commencement, and industry partner events.
• Collaborate with student resource offices to support student success initiatives, such as new and transfer student orientations, peer-mentoring, tutoring, internships, scholarships, and career services.
• Contribute to the development and dissemination of information for sessions and workshops for new freshmen, transfers, non-traditional, veteran and international students.
• Serve as department representative for campus programs and university-wide services relevant to student success.
• Contribute to the development of a standardized communication plan for prospective students.
• Oversee application for graduation.
• Assist with student communication including printed and digital information as well bulletin board content and coordinate updates to ensure relevant student information is always up-to-date.
• Participate in campus advising and student success committees and working groups as needed (i.e., Advisor Network, Degree Audit, Academic Success Task Force, etc.).
• Collaborate with department administrative personnel to track and report program data; maintain student files, advising reports and notes, program documents, correspondence, and reports.
• Participate in a community of practice to develop and disseminate best practices, guidelines, and strategies that contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and enhances our processes, procedures, resources and published content.
• Collect, analyze, and use data to track student progress, generate insights about student success, identify potential risk for dropping out, and suggest and create program improvements.
• Work collaboratively with other advisors, faculty and staff representatives to provide timely and accurate information regarding academic requirements.
• May assist freshman students in the transition to university life by teaching or participating in the college success course (UNIV 1110).
• Perform other related work, as assigned and/or required by the nature and scope of the position.

Benefits

• Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
• Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
• Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

What This Job Offers

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