Academic Support Specialist & Advisor

University of Chicago • Chicago, IL

19h • $50,000 - $60,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Academic Support Specialist & Advisor position involves advising Social Work students within the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. These advising responsibilities include meeting with students as they make their course selection and plans for degree completion. During matriculation, the Advisor meets with students to provide advice on course selection, choice of pathway, planning academic programs, and making progress towards meeting graduation requirements. An Advisor also provides students with advice about personal challenges and regularly makes referrals to professionals elsewhere in the University. An Advisor participates in Crown initiatives, such as orientation and graduation. Advisors must be knowledgeable about the curriculum, University policies, multiple systems for tracking student information, and University resources for students. Assists the Dean of Students as needed. The categories of job responsibilities and approximate percentages are as follows: Advising, Student Support, & Administration: 50% Student Engagement, Record Management & Retention: 30% Graduation: 20%

Requirements

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
• Critical thinking skills.
• Problem-solving skills.
• Decision making skills.
• Reasoning skills.
• Attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, or related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in academic advising, student affairs, student success, or related higher education roles.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build relationships across diverse student populations.
• Knowledge of academic structures, degree planning, and student development principles.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and student-centered practice.
• Experience with graduate programs, professional schools, or specialized populations.
• Familiarity with student information systems, degree audit tools, and Enterprise software.
• Experience supporting students and implementing proactive advising strategies.
• Student-Centered Advising & Coaching.
• Cultural Humility & Equity-Minded Practice.
• Problem Solving & Critical Thinking.
• Organization & Multitasking.
• Relationship Building.
• Confidentiality & Professional Judgment.
• Communication & Advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Serves as primary academic advisor to 1st year students, advanced standing, and part-time students in social work program.
• Provide individualized academic advising to students on course selection, degree requirements, academic policies, and graduation planning.
• Support students in developing academic plans that reflect their goals, strengths, and areas for growth.
• Offer guidance on academic challenges, time management, study strategies, and navigating institutional structures, etc., etc.
• Refer students to appropriate campus services, including tutoring, writing support, counseling, financial aid, disability services, and student success offices.
• Conduct outreach to students experiencing academic difficulty, probation, or personal challenges affecting their coursework.
• Assist students in understanding curriculum options, program structures, prerequisite sequences, and pathways to completion.
• Advise on add/drop, withdrawals, leaves of absence, reinstatements, and pathway selection.
• Support students through key milestones such as orientation, midterm check-ins, registration, and graduation clearance.
• Follow up with students and faculty on missing and incomplete grades.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of academic programs, policies, catalog updates, and degree audits.
• Understands and interprets University policies and deadlines and accesses information through various electronic student-systems databases.
• Assist in planning of workshops or group advising sessions on topics such as academic planning, study skills, graduate school preparation, and University resources.
• Monitor student progress and coordinate interventions for student experiencing a crisis.
• Collaborate with campus partners to support equity, inclusion, belonging, and wellness initiatives.
• Document advising interactions and maintain accurate student records.
• Conduct quarterly degree audits to ensure timely graduation.
• Track academic progression and identify students needing additional support or follow-up.
• Generate reports related to advising trends, student outcomes, and other academic related needs.
• Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, and administrators on advising practices, student needs, and academic policy interpretation.
• Support new student orientation, recruitment events, and other departmental or institutional initiatives.
• Assist with coordinating graduation with the Registrar’s and Provost’s Offices.
• Assist with degree audit process and system for DOS.
• Assist with logistics of graduation events, including rehearsals, ceremony management, reception, and diploma distribution.
• Keeps records of student degree programs and notes on student conversations.
• Conducts regular meetings with students to discuss academic programs, choice of major, academic progress and career goals.
• Facilitates students' progress towards the degree.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Benefits

• The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees