Academic Advisor I or II

Universities of Wisconsin•Milwaukee, WI

About The Position

The Academic Advisor I or II advises admitted Graduate Business students at the Lubar College of Business, guiding them through course selection and the requirements for completing a graduate degree. The advisor maintains comprehensive knowledge of graduate programs, policies, and requirements and serves as a resource for students and other stakeholders. The position supports student success, retention, persistence, and degree completion through advising, mentoring, engagement programming, outreach, and data-informed initiatives. The advisor collaborates with Graduate Student Services, faculty, staff, alumni, industry partners, and campus advising communities. Responsibilities include developing and executing retention and recruitment initiatives, assessing their effectiveness using institutional and qualitative data, coordinating student events and mentoring opportunities, and contributing to program and policy recommendations. The advisor also maintains accurate and confidential student records and helps students navigate university resources, processes, and systems throughout their academic lifecycle.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher.
At least one year of professional academic advising experience in higher education working directly with students.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or higher.
Experience advising graduate students.
Three or more years of advising experience at UWM or a similar institution.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, demonstrated through application materials and interviews where applicable.
Experience building positive relationships with diverse populations.
Prior experience working with transfer, international, and/or graduate students.
Experience coordinating student programming and events.

Responsibilities

Advise, coach, and guide admitted Graduate Business students as they explore courses and degree pathways.
Provide information and resources about educational options, graduate academic requirements, university policies, and relevant campus resources.
Help students identify interests, skills, and values and connect these with fields of study and career options.
Maintain thorough knowledge of graduate programs, requirements, and the benefits of completing a program at the Lubar College of Business.
Provide in-depth advising to promote graduate student success, retention, and degree completion; monitor academic progress and help students navigate university systems from matriculation through graduation.
Serve as a primary resource for graduate applicants, current students, faculty, staff, and other academic program stakeholders.
Collaborate with Graduate Student Services to develop and host events and conduct outreach to admitted students.
Lead development and execution of the annual retention plan, including initiatives, processes, and events intended to support high graduation rates.
Work with faculty on program changes and admission decisions.
Use campus CRM data, college data, surveys, and focus groups to assess recruitment initiatives and their effects on student yield, and refine recruitment plans based on findings.
Participate in campus-wide advising and graduate communities and provide leadership with input on advising, recruitment, and co-curricular program development.
Design and implement engagement initiatives that build a sense of belonging and community among Graduate Business students.
Develop mentoring programming that connects alumni and industry professionals with current graduate business students.
Plan and coordinate orientation programs, workshops, networking events, and student development activities.
Collaborate with faculty, staff, alumni, and industry partners to create student engagement opportunities.
Develop communications that keep students informed about academic deadlines, campus resources, and professional development events.
Build relationships with prospective, current, and graduating students to strengthen retention, persistence, and student satisfaction.
Track engagement metrics and contribute to student success and retention initiatives using data-informed decision-making.
Maintain compliance with graduate program, school/college, and university requirements and technology systems related to admissions, assessment, academic progress, degree requirements, and program review.
Maintain confidentiality and accurate student records, and respond to academic inquiries in accordance with institutional and FERPA policies.
Provide guidance and/or develop recommendations or changes to graduate program policies and procedures.
Perform other duties as assigned.