Senior Academic Advisor

University of Texas at Austin

10d • $50,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Serve as the primary academic advisor for Sociology and a secondary advisor for Health & Society. Provide academic advising services and support to undergraduate students pursuing credentials (majors, minors, certificates) offered by Sociology and Health & Society. Note: this position is part of an advising team that supports multiple majors and departments, all advisors on the team cross train on the team’s full portfolio; advisor caseloads may be adjusted based on fluctuations in the student population.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree and six years of experience working with college students or Master’s degree in a related field and four years of experience working with college students.
• Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with undergraduate students in the College of Liberal Arts and/or at the University of Texas at Austin.

Responsibilities

• ROUTINE ACADEMIC ADVISING: Responsible for understanding and communicating requirements and academic options to facilitate student progress to degree and pursuit of academic goals. Establish rapport and counsel students on educational opportunities and initiatives. Provide information about degree requirements, academic policies, and institutional rules/regulations; answer students' questions, give them support, and empower them to make informed academic decisions and navigate the University. Assist students with petitions and overrides; create and update degree profiles; keep clear, accurate notes on student interactions; and track student contacts.
• REGISTRATION ADVISING/ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT: Advise students during registration and add/drop periods at the start of each semester. Assist students with semester course selection, verify course applicability and progress to degree. Support all UT students who need assistance to enroll in department courses, respond to registration inquiries, and work to resolve class availability and time conflict issues. Clear advising holds, assist students with restricted/individual instruction courses. Manage course closing limits, reservations, priorities, waitlists, and prerequisite checks. Collaborate with department staff and faculty leadership regarding all registration and class matters. Uphold department registration policies including waitlists and prerequisite system.
• DEVELOPMENTAL ADVISING: Help students identify and pursue educational, life, and career goals. Work with students to develop a plan to timely graduation incorporating course selection, co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities, and university programs and services tailored to meet their academic/career interests. Work with students experiencing academic difficulty to identify barriers to academic success and strategize action steps, tools, and resources to address. Create SUCCESS Agreements with students. Encourage student behaviors that develop independence, problem-solving skills, personal well-being, and growth. Make appropriate referrals to department, College, University offices and resources.
• ORIENTATION ADVISING: Advise incoming first year and transfer students at spring, summer, fall, and August orientation. Review student records, educate on resources, tools, course selections, and academic options. Provide registration support to students as they enroll in classes for their first semester at UT Austin.
• DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION: Provide essential input on curriculum matters and communicate with faculty leadership, course scheduling staff, and degree audit staff. Liaise with appropriate unit administrators to ensure course access and availability for undergraduate students for all academic credentials offered. Act as a liaison between students and department faculty, advise department faculty of policies and resources related to student support and academic concerns. In collaboration with unit staff and faculty, initiate and/or enhance unit-specific or joint programs, projects, organizations, or other co-curricular opportunities.
• TEAM SUPPORT/COMMUNICATION: Maintain and strengthen the undergraduate academic programs the team supports by participating in meetings and decision- making, providing performance metrics and input, and assisting with administrative tasks as needed. Act in a leadership or support role (as assigned) to carry out projects, programs, activities, and events. Assist in responding to inquiries by email and other means from students and other constituents (faculty/staff, families, the general public). Contribute to advising team and department informational and promotional materials distributed via email or other means. Act as a liaison for Student Affairs and the department/s on and off campus.
• PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Increase knowledge, skills, and abilities through continuing education and professional development. Attend meetings/training sessions related to UT, higher education, academic advising, and departments/credentials supported. Attend monthly College Advisors Meetings (CAM’s), monthly Academic Counselors Association (ACA) meetings, and college professional development activities.
• UNIVERSITY SERVICE: Serve on committees, working groups, or advisory boards as needed. Serve as a staff facilitator or mentor (to a First-Year Interest Group, Transfer Interest Group, etc.). Assist with departmental programming focused on undergraduate students. Volunteer for department/college/university events and programs (Gone to Texas, Explore UT, etc.). Support other UT, Liberal Arts, and Student Affairs objectives. Student Affairs is a large unit with many teams serving different segments of the Liberal Arts undergraduate student population. All Student Affairs employees are expected to cross train and support each other to maximize resources across the unit and ensure students are served. Other related functions as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teacher Retirement System of Texas, a defined benefit retirement plan, with 7.75% employer matching funds
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Tuition assistance
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees