Academic Support Services Specialist, College of Engineering

University of Saskatchewan•Saskatoon, SK

3d•CA$69,035 - CA$107,868•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Dean Academic, the Academic Advisor (Academic Support Services Specialist) works closely with other members of the Engineering Student Centre. The Academic Advisor is part of an advising team within the Engineering Student Centre that is responsible for the provision of support and service to current and prospective students in the College of Engineering with a focus on enhancing academic support services for our undergraduate student population. It is critical that this position establishes and maintains positive relationships with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent works both independently and collaboratively with others within the college, the campus community, and off-campus community partners. This position has a high level of direct interaction with students in a fast-paced environment. The incumbent plays a vital role in the recruitment and retention of students by assisting them to make informed decisions concerning their education and promoting student success. The position involves responding appropriately to students in a variety of situations and circumstances and making decisions about appropriate and possible alternate courses of academic action with follow-up if necessary. The incumbent is skillful at identifying and referring students at risk and/or in need of additional resources to appropriate central student support offices. It is expected that the incumbent develops and maintains a solid understanding of the institution’s and college’s organizational and governance structures. The incumbent plays a critical role in applying knowledge and expertise when creating and/or implementing processes and policies aimed at supporting students’ progress, experiences, and well-being. The position requires occasional travel and work in evenings for recruitment, outreach, or college events. The position is expected to demonstrate exceptional communication skills in a variety of modalities (written, verbal, virtual). The position is driven by constant deadlines, continuous change, and shifting priorities. The standard for the quality of work and timely completion of tasks is high. Consequences of an error are significant to students’ academic progression, as well as to their health and wellbeing. The work requires an open mind, innovative thinking, good judgment, an ability to manage stressful or sensitive situations, and a strong commitment to creating an exceptional student experience. Considerable discretion is required, as this position is privy to, and works closely with, sensitive and highly confidential information.

Requirements

An undergraduate university degree in a field relevant to this position.
A minimum of five years of post-graduation experience working as a post-secondary academic advisor.
Assets include experience working with university personnel from various academic and non-academic units, and with student information systems, as well as a demonstrated interest in STEM-related outreach activities.
The University of Saskatchewan recognizes alternate career paths; therefore, a combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Provides academic advising and other guidance to students from pre-admission to graduation, including the application and communication of all academic regulations, academic policies, and degree requirements within the College.
Follows college practice in undergraduate student record management, and assists in additional administrative and student-related tasks such as registration, prerequisite reviews, processing course override requests, updating students’ records to reflect granting of transfer credit, working with other units on campus to support students with other degree and non-degree requirements, etc.
In collaboration with the International Student and Study Abroad Centre and the college’s EDI specialist, support inbound and outbound exchange students. This includes reviewing applications, coordinating override requests for inbound students, and facilitating transfer credit evaluation requests for outbound exchange students.
Develop strategies to improve the quality and availability of academic advising.
Provides one-on-one individual student academic advising, and student support services and referral to other University units.
Review, update, maintain undergraduate student records including granted transfer credits from other universities and colleges.
Implements processes for monitoring student program progression which includes evaluating prerequisite and co-requisites, and academic actions.
Implements convocation processes by clearing of files, and computation of averages for awards, etc.
Assisting in college/university student-related events.
Develop, implement and evaluate student success and retention strategies and initiatives to enhance engineering undergraduate student outcomes and goals as outlined in the Integrated Plan:
Develop, implement, and assess early alert programming and proactive support for students at academic risk.
Identify and implement learning workshops, supplemental instructional initiatives and other activities that support student success, dependent on student needs.
Identifying resource constraints required to support student success and retention initiatives in the college and work with members of the college external relations team to secure external funding.
Act as a college resource to advise and assist departments in the implementation of best practices to enhance student’s academic success within upper year undergraduate programs.
Develop strategies to improve transition and orientation programs.
Plan and coordinate orientation and transition program for new engineering students, ensuring that content is relevant, and provide direction and guidance to staff and volunteers to ensure smooth delivery of the activities.
Ensures that undergraduate administration processes and policies are consistently applied to promote student success.
In collaboration with various stakeholders in the college, across campus, and in the wider community, participate in the coordination and implementation of student recruitment and outreach activities including but not limited to:
Support recruitment transition programming (ie. Ustart, registration presentations, etc.)
Participates on College/University Committees as required by the Associate Dean Academic as resource support.
Participating as a member of the unit's administrative team including providing back-up and/or assistance to other members of the team in the completion of duties.
Regularly engage in career development and growth opportunities including activities such as attending lectures, seminars, workshops, and training courses on relevant topics.