The Academic Advisement Department is excited to welcome a new academic advisor to support the Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences-South Mountain Community College's leading program, with enrollment nearing 2,000 students. If you're passionate about making a meaningful impact and helping students feel seen, valued, and empowered, apply today!
The position manages, plans, develops, and implements academic advising services. Serves as frontline contact for students for academic and/or career advising to drive engagement and empower students to achieve their academic and career goals. Builds formative relationships with students by interpreting information and providing clarification on procedures and academic requirements of specific programs or majors. Provides advising across a continuum of developmental stages including self-awareness, exploration, goal setting, preparation, employment, and advanced education.
Additional Information
Knowledge - Guided Pathways principles; College policies, procedures, and degree requirements; Transfer pathways and articulation agreements with universities; Financial aid basics, scholarships, and enrollment processes; Career exploration resources and labor market trends; Community college mission, including access, equity, and workforce development; Technology systems (student information systems, advising platforms)
Skills - Communication: Clearly explain complex academic requirements and actively listen to student concerns; Advising & coaching: Guide students in goal-setting, decision-making, and problem-solving; Cultural competence: Effectively work with diverse populations (first-generation, adult learners, etc.); Time management: Balance high caseloads while maintaining quality interactions; Critical thinking: Assess student situations and recommend appropriate academic pathways
Technology use - Navigate advising software, databases, and virtual advising tools
Abilities - Build trust and rapport quickly with students from varied backgrounds; Interpret and apply policies to individual student situations; Identify barriers to student success (academic, financial, personal); Adapt advising approaches to meet different student needs; Work both independently and collaboratively with faculty and staff; Manage ambiguity and respond to changing institutional priorities
Behaviors - Student-centered mindset-prioritizing student success and well-being; Empathy and approachability; Ethical practice and respect for confidentiality; Proactiveness-reaching out to students before issues escalate; Commitment to equity and inclusion; Accountability and reliability; Continuous learning and professional development
Essential Functions
Holistic Academic Advising, Caseload Management, Retention and Completion Advocacy (50%)
Acts as lead worker and content expert for assigned Field of Interest and guides student services staff on managing assigned cohorts of students; Advises students on educational programs, financial aid, degree requirements and available support services; Maintains an active student case load and conducts outreach to potential students and/or existing students; Provides educational guidance and assistance for students by planning schedules, recommending courses and determining appropriate individualized education solutions throughout the student's lifecycle to ensure courses of study adequately prepare the student for the desired career goal; Assesses student needs and provides holistic approaches to advising leveraging multiple support resources and referral mechanisms including but not limited to student financial aid, counseling, disability resources and services, student life and leadership, career services, tutoring and other academic departments; Tracks students' progress toward completion of program and meets with students regularly to assess progress; analyzes data and engages in proactive outreach to address student challenges, retention, and completion.
Advising Administrative Functions (30%)
Executes administrative responsibilities that support the student experience, student retention, graduation, and SMCC's federal financial aid compliance. Administrative responsibilities include but are not limited to the documentation of student meetings in Advising Notes the Student Information System (SIS); developing and maintaining advising materials and resources such as educational planning spreadsheets, degree program checklists, and program handout information; keeping up to date on changes to curriculum; reviewing and processing prerequisite verification requests via dynamic forms; assessing Degree Progress Report (DPR) functionality; initiating course substitutions and completing Course Directives in SIS to support graduation processing, submitting issues to the SIS functionality feedback form; Graduation application review and clearance; and activities to support Federal Financial Aid Compliance including Financial Aid Course Applicability; and processing Financial Aid Forms (Consortium Agreements, Maximum Time Frame Appeals, Short Program Forms, Restricted Course List Addendums); responding to emails and voicemails; contacting students impacted by course cancellations.
Guided Pathways and Field of Interest Projects, Events, and Initiatives (10%)
Participates in implementing the Guided Pathways Framework; Assists with developing and delivering training and professional development to the college community on topics related to student recruitment, retention and advising; Serves as the liaison to academic departments and instructional councils within the Field of Interest; Collects, analyzes and prepares data for reports to support evidence-based decision making.
Student Support & Complex Case Resolution (10%)
Interprets organizational policies and advises faculty and students on student conduct, student grievances, disputes and other issues; Fosters and maintains a safe environment of respect and inclusion for faculty, staff, students, and members of the community.