Academic Advisor

The University of Lynchburg, a private, regional university in the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Central Virginia, is seeking applicants for Academic Advisor, Full-time.

Job Type: FT/Benefits Eligible

The Academic Advisor serves as a foundational member of the student success team, providing proactive, one-on-one academic advising and holistic support to an assigned student caseload. This position is responsible for delivering intensive academic coaching and specialized support to designated student populations (such as student-athletes, transfer students, or at-risk cohorts) to ensure institutional and program eligibility. The Academic Advisor empowers students to navigate university policies and degree requirements while managing assigned departmental resources, such as study environments, to foster a productive learning culture. Beyond individual appointments, the role facilitates retention initiatives, including conducting exit interviews and managing early alert processes. As a campus advocate, the Advisor coordinates programmatic events and may serve as a mentor to specific student organizations or honor societies. Ultimately, this role is critical in fostering a supportive environment that promotes student persistence from matriculation through graduation.

Job Purpose:

• Execute personalized one-on-one advising appointments for an assigned caseload, serving as an important point of contact for academic success.
• Partner with students on comprehensive academic planning, including course selection, multi-semester degree mapping, and goal setting.
• Provide high-touch intervention and guidance for students facing academic challenges, specifically those on academic warning or probation.
• Proactively monitor student progress toward degree completion, implementing timely interventions to mitigate barriers to graduation.
• Guide students through major and minor exploration, aligning academic interests with long-term career objectives.
• Deliver intensive, holistic academic coaching to designated student populations (e.g., student-athletes, honors, or specialized cohorts) to ensure compliance with institutional and external eligibility requirements.
• Facilitate specialized success workshops focused on time management, study strategies, and academic persistence tailored to assigned cohorts.
• Provide faculty/staff mentorship or advisement to assigned student organizations or honor societies.
• Coordinate and manage the operations of assigned departmental learning spaces or study rooms, ensuring a productive environment and tracking usage data.
• Educate and empower students to navigate university policies, academic regulations, and degree requirements independently.
• Serve as a central hub for referrals, connecting students to vital campus resources including tutoring, counseling, disability services, and financial aid.
• Conduct Exit Interviews for withdrawing students
• Maintain meticulous and timely student records, documenting all advising interactions, progress milestones, and intervention outcomes.

Education:

Bachelor's degree required. Successful completion of at least 18 graduate credit hours in higher education, counseling, student affairs, or a related field placement.

Experience:

• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience working in a professional student-facing capacity within a higher education setting (e.g., advising, residential life, student activities, or admissions). Note: Relevant Graduate Assistantship or internship experience may be considered toward the total years of experience.

Benefits: Generous paid vacation, personal days, paid sick time and family leave, comprehensive insurance (medical, dental, vision, etc.) and retirement plans, flexible spending account, tuition remission, life and long-term disability insurance, and more. Learn more about employment benefits at the University of Lynchburg webpage.

Work Remotely:

No

We seek candidates who are committed to the University of Lynchburg's efforts to create an environment that fosters a student-centered environment, develops the breadth of knowledge associated with liberal education, respects and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, values and celebrates diverse faith traditions, and sustains close working relationships among faculty, staff, students, alumni, and community partners.

Candidates must successfully pass a background check that is satisfactory to the University.

Submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references to:

Human Resources Jobs Page

The University of Lynchburg is dedicated to inclusive excellence. We celebrate the diversity of our common life, affirming our different histories, realities, and identities. All belong here. As a testament to our strong commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion, we will attract, celebrate, and retain a community of diverse students, staff, and faculty; foster belonging; and create a campus environment that embraces civil discourse and accountability for our words and actions. The University of Lynchburg embraces diversity in its broadest sense. We will cultivate an inclusive, equitable, and safe campus climate grounded in mutual respect and understanding, where all members of our diverse learning community - alumni, employees, learners, visitors, and volunteers can thrive.

The University of Lynchburg is an equal-opportunity employer.