Academic Advisor II

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Department

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Job Description

As one of the fastest-growing academic health centers in the nation, Texas A&M Health encompasses five colleges and numerous centers and institutes working together to improve health through transformative education, innovative research and team-based health care delivery. 

What we want

The Academic Advisor II P10 drives engagement and empowers students to achieve their academic and career goals. This position will play a vital role in maximizing undergraduate student retention by building relationships with students and clarifying procedures and academic requirements for specific programs or majors.  

What you need to know

Responsibilities
Advises Students

• Collaborates with students to understand and develop realistic and attainable educational and academic goals and provides input on related majors, minors, future education and career options that best align with goals.

• Educates students about and prepares and assists them with full array of academic processes (e.g., registration, add/drop, Q drops, withdrawals, change of curriculum submissions, etc.) by sharing university and college policies, program requirements, transfer credit decisions, etc. 

• Reviews student’s academic record and counsel students regarding core and degree course selection and implication of selected courses and/or exception requests. 

• Provides input on probationary decisions.

• Creates and maintains updated relevant records and notes (e.g., student contact, advisor notes)

Delivers Student Success and Retention Strategies

• Consistently engages student population utilizing various outreach methods (e.g., in-person and online) to cultivate a professional relationship to keep students informed of critical and relevant personal, academic and professional deadlines, updates, information and events. 

• Proactively shares with students available academic, professional, and health and wellness resources (e.g., Academic Success Center, Career Center, Student Organizations, Counseling & Psychological Services, Disability Resources, etc.) May refer students with identified needs as appropriate.

• Actively monitors students’ progress through the program by reviewing and assessing academic records to determine status of progression, completion of degree requirements as well as identifying and referring those students in which additional intervention and guidance may be recommended to reaching academic goals. 

• Leads the planning and/or delivery of various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns (e.g., New Student Conference, 1st semester advising, inquiries from prospective students).

• Assesses individual students' stage of academic development and promotes their growth by determining suitable developmental tasks.

Team Building and Support

• Assists in training of and sharing of information for new staff members and student workers within the academic advising department.

Training and Development

•  Up to 10% training and development per year to complete in-class and on-the-job training programs, which may include shadowing, departmental/college/school trainings, university training, university, state, and national advisor meetings, regular staff and supervisory meetings, and other activities approved by the supervisor. Trainings must include:  

• Advisor Onboarding Training (new to Texas A&M hires) 

• Becoming a Master Academic Advisor 

• Note: Time reserved for training and development may be adjusted based on employee performance and supervisor discretion.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree. 

• Two years of advising or related experience. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: 

• NACADA’s Core Values of Academic Advising

• Theories relevant to academic advising

• Academic Advising models, approaches, and strategies

• Professional standards and ethical guidelines for academic advising

• Expected student learning outcomes of academic advising

• Expected student success outcomes of academic advising

• Curriculum, degree programs, and other academic requirements and options, to include changes and revisions over time

• Critical partners for academic advisors and their role in the advising process

• Campus and community resources that support student success

• Project management principles and processes

• Professional standards and ethical guidelines for coaching, coaching models, and methods and techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of coaching

Proficiency level of novice in the following skills, using the novice to expert model (i.e., novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, expert):

• Discussing and referring students to appropriate campus resources for mental health issues

• Conducting research and developing and delivering training, to include:

• • Advising tools and strategies, campus resources, and relevant updates for faculty and staff

• • Supervising student employees to assist with administrative advising duties and programming

Proficiency level of advanced beginner in the following skills, using the novice to expert model (i.e., novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, expert):

• Articulating a personal philosophy of academic advising in alignment with NACADA models, strategies, and approaches

• Communicating in a respectful, and confidential manner using various communication approaches and modalities

• Promoting student understanding of the purpose and underlying rationale of the curriculum to set expectations for student learning

• Facilitating problem-solving, decision-making, and meaning-making for students through the advising process

• Identifying high-risk indicators, as reported by faculty, to ensure student success

• Engaging in ongoing assessment and development of self and the advising practice

• Planning and/or delivering various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns

Proficiency level of competent in the following skills, using the novice to expert model (i.e., novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, expert):

• Creating rapport and building relationships, to include:

• Guiding, coaching, and/or mentoring students

• Collaborating with critical partners

• Planning and conducting advising interactions to achieve student learning and student success outcomes, operating within your scope of authority, and connecting students to resources

• Demonstrating high ethical standards in advising

• Facilitating planning and goal setting, both short-term and long-term, to achieve individual learning targets and enable future readiness for students through the advising process

• Observing and identifying trends in the impact of academic advising on student learning outcomes through data review

• Using appropriate academic advising technologies to support students, including providing reports for advising initiatives and special populations

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.