Associate Academic Advisor

University of British Columbia•Vancouver, BC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Academic Advisor in Arts Academic Advising Services is responsible for providing advice to transactional academic services to the approximately 14,000 Aboriginal, domestic, and international undergraduate students in four degree programs, four diploma programs and one certificate program. This includes, but is not limited to, advising students on admission policies, academic planning, program and elective selections, study abroad, experiential learning opportunities, transfer credit adjudication, and graduation. The Associate Academic Advisor is responsible for providing advising services to students for all service points including in person, email, phone, web-mediated, etc. Additional responsibilities for this position include; participating in programs in support of Arts Academic Advising, such as registration information sessions for prospective and new Arts students; participation in recruitment and retention activities in support of Faculty of Arts enrolment targets; and using information technology as it relates to the Department of Arts Academic Advising Services.

Requirements

Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline.
Minimum of one to two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Nice To Haves

BA, BFA, BMUS or related field.
Experience in a postsecondary advising or other student services area, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
UBC experience preferred.
Exceptional interpersonal skills.
Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
Excellent time management and organizational skills.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
Good decision-making abilities.
Ability to work independently with initiative, and effectively within a team environment.
Ability to handle stress within a multifaceted work environment.
Fluency in Mandarin, or other languages, is an asset as is intercultural experience.
Ability to travel outside UBC.
Information technology skills, including word processing, desktop publishing, report design, use of the internet, etc.
Intermediate or advanced level knowledge of excel is an asset.
Knowledge of the SIS/SISC an asset.
Experience working with international students an asset.

Responsibilities

Provide advising services at a front counter, via email, phone, and in virtual environments.
Assess student academic records in order to be able to provide individual advice for students regarding academic planning, including admissions to majors and for degree-completion.
Teach students to use the tools available for ongoing degree planning.
Assist students with registration inquiries and course selection to ensure they meet Faculty of Arts degree requirements and selected program prerequisites requirements.
Provide general advice about academic concession, continuation requirements, transfer credit, and re-admission to the university.
Provide direct referrals or act as a liaison to Advisors with responsibility in these areas.
Refer students to relevant and appropriate university resources.
Maintain current knowledge on where to direct students for questions regarding career advising, health and wellness, finances, and post-graduate study options.
Investigate and resolve inquiries from other campus units i.e., Admissions, Enrolment Services, Access and Diversity, Counselling Services and other UBC Faculties and University units.
Identify trends and concerns expressed by students.
Work collaboratively with the advising team to address these trends including in participating in development of communication tools, such as websites, email templates, directional tools.
Be able to identify when an individual, or a wider, concern should be brought to their supervisor for addressing.
May be involved in internal office committees to evaluate policies and processes.
Will implement changes which result.
Anticipate student needs, respond to student requests, offer subject-matter expertise and professional advice, providing recommendations and making referrals where appropriate.
Identify students who are experiencing difficulties not normally addressed in transactional advising and proactively put into motion alternative supports, particularly advising appointments with Advisors or referrals to health-care professionals.
This may also include engaging the University Early Alert system.
Admit current students to minor programs adjudicated by Arts Advising, such as the Faculty of Arts Commerce minor (annual project).
Prepare reports based on student data for external University reporting, such as immigration reporting.
Associate Academic Advisors are responsible for adjudicating graduation including evaluating the academic record of students with complex programs.
They will be tasked with researching a student's record in relation to graduation deficiencies and making recommendations to the appropriate advising director.
Work with advisors to develop programs to support student transition to university and other student development initiatives.
Participate in ongoing development of University student information systems and services.
Assists the Manager, Academic Advising in the recruitment, hiring and training of support staff (CUPE 2950) and Work Learn Peer Advisors as needed.
Participates in on-campus recruitment and outreach events for prospective students, their parents, and secondary school counsellors.
Participates in development of operating policy to improve efficiency.