Academic Advisor

University of Maine • Portland, ME

15h • $0 - $45,045 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Southern Maine (USM) is seeking applicants for a full-time Academic Advisor dedicated to student success and its Student Focused Every Day service promise. This role involves supporting students, embracing a teaching and learning approach to advising, and practicing developmental academic advising. The position offers a team-based onboarding experience with a mentor. Advising at USM follows an "advising as teaching and learning" philosophy, where advisors partner with faculty and staff to support students in areas critical to their success, including orientation, registration, core curriculum, assessment of learning, and degree planning. The Advisor facilitates student engagement in academic and early career planning, and university life using a strengths-based approach grounded in student development theory. The Advisor serves as the primary contact for students from matriculation to junior status and as a resource through graduation for undergraduate students, and for all graduate students. The role involves providing direct academic advising and support (online and face-to-face) through academic and early career planning, learning strategy support, graduation planning, and monitoring student progress. The primary purpose is to enhance the student experience and contribute to improved retention and graduation rates. Demonstrated experience with diverse student populations and first-generation students is a plus. The position requires working in a fast-paced environment, continually learning and communicating detailed information, and maintaining accurate student records for a large caseload. Collaboration with advisors, faculty, and success partners across the institution is essential to create a supportive network for students.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of three years of related experience
• Minimum of one year experience in advising or career advising in an educational setting.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in working effectively with diverse student populations and first-generation students.

Responsibilities

• Providing direct academic advising and support to students (online and face-to-face) through academic and early career planning, learning strategy support, graduation planning, and monitoring student progress toward degree.
• Facilitating student engagement in academic and early career planning activities, and the life of the university by employing a strengths-based advising approach grounded in student development theory.
• Serving as the primary contact for students from matriculation to junior status and as a resource through graduation for undergraduate students and as a resource for all graduate students.
• Enhancing the student experience and contributing to improved retention and graduation rates for USM students.
• Utilizing best practices to support first generation and economically disadvantaged students.
• Learning and communicating continually changing and detailed information.
• Maintaining accurate, up-to-date student records for a large caseload.
• Collaborating with advisors, faculty, and success partners across the institution to create a welcoming and supportive network for students.

Benefits

• 13 paid holidays plus earned vacation time and sick time.
• Health, dental and vision insurance.
• Low-cost short-term disability insurance and employer-paid long-term disability insurance.
• Employer-paid basic life insurance and supplemental life insurance.
• A tuition waiver program for employees and their spouse or dependent child(ren).
• A 403(b)-retirement plan with employer contribution.
• Free access to the METRO system, including the Husky Line with service between our Portland and Gorham campuses.

What This Job Offers

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