Academic Advisor Senior


Position Overview

Jayhawk Academic Advising (JAA) is a unit within Academic Success, a division of Academic Affairs. JAA provides comprehensive academic advising services for prospective, new and currently enrolled students, and serves graduate programs across the University. JAA is staffed by professional advisors, support staff, and graduate assistants. JAA maintains a highly student-centered focus and demonstrates commitment to continuous quality improvement and resilience for a dynamic and changing work environment.

An Academic Advisor Senior at KU is responsible for providing comprehensive and proactive academic guidance to a group of graduate students, particularly those with complex academic needs or specific requirements. They employ inquiry-based coaching techniques to support students throughout their academic journeys and are knowledgeable about advising across various graduate departments. Additionally, they are prepared to assist other advisors during transitions, ensuring continuity of support. This role is central to the development and implementation of policies and practices, program selection, faculty and staff relations, as well as academic pathways and prior learning. It serves as a crucial link among these areas to enhance the overall educational experience and support student success. This position reports to the Graduate Academic Advising Program Director.

Work Schedule: This is a remote work position for the unit. Hybrid work arrangements are available upon request. The work schedule for this position will coincide with department needs and traffic. Office hours vary based on the training season, and staffing needs. Some evening and weekend hours may be required with reasonable advanced notice.

Job Description

70% - Academic Advising
  • Provide proactive and holistic academic advising to assigned new and currently enrolled graduate students.
    • Guide students’ progress through academic milestones, including enrollment, career exploration and graduation.
    • Advise students on the development and selection of course schedules consistent with students' educational goals.
    • Assist students in developing appropriate educational goals and work towards those goals.
    • Assist students with completion of financial aid appeals, probation agreements, graduation plans, etc.
    • Provide outreach to students as needed in addition to providing appropriate follow-up and referral to University offices and resources.
    • Provide advisement to all students as necessary, including those that may not be assigned to the advisor.
    • Facilitate student enrollment and approval processes such as petitions, enrollment changes, appeals, and applications for graduation in compliance with appropriate deadlines and approval channels; provide appropriate referrals to University offices.
  • If appropriate for assigned caseload, provide prospective student coaching to provide new student inquiries through application.
    • Maintain program information, student communication strategies, and transcript and progress review to provide one-on-one guidance to students to meet program admission goals.
  • Use Slate, Jayhawk GPS, Enroll & Pay, and other relevant communication and advising tools for student application coaching, student enrollment, degree audit, course prerequisites, etc. Complies with FERPA. Manage caseload of students with provided academic advising software and tools in a manner that is consistent with office metrics and milestones.
  • Support University efforts geared toward increasing recruitment and retention. 
  • Participate in University orientation efforts.
  • Responsible for knowledge of and compliance with the Board of Regents and University policies regarding daily job-related activities applicable to the position.
  • May be cross trained in responsibilities of other academic advisors and in other academic departments.

20% - Student and Programmatic Support

  • Provide leadership to the coordination of academic advisor liaisons. Also serves as a liaison to a specific department, college or school and share resources and knowledge with other JAA staff. Where appropriate, interact with faculty to provide an exchange of information and to enhance the advisement of students.
  • Attend departmental, college or school meetings at the discretion of supervisor to facilitate embedded advising model goals and to enhance advisement of students.
  • Provide content specific training to other advisors as a part of new and ongoing advisor training.
  • Act as a key contributor within the advising team to ensure ongoing satisfaction for students.
  • Collaborate with advising leadership to provide solutions associated with specific programs or projects. 

10% - Other Duties as Assigned

  • Taking on special projects, serving on or leading committees, or fulfill a specific role of program responsibilities based upon the strengths and interests of the advisor and the needs of the office.
  • Deliver programs that assist in recruitment, transition, or retention efforts.
  • Attends related staff training related to Academic Success.
  • Assume other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

  1. Bachelor’s degree.
  2. Three years of experience providing direct academic advising in a full-time setting or two years of experience providing direct academic advising in a full-time setting and one year of relevant student-facing, higher education experience (admissions, career, student affairs, etc.).
  3. Prior experience establishing and maintaining rapport with students, as shown in application materials.
  4. Effective written communication skills, as evidenced by application materials.
  5. Evidence of superior teamwork/collaboration skills, as shown in application materials.

Preferred Qualifications

  1. Master's degree in higher education, counseling, advising or related field.
  2. Previous work experience with transcript evaluation and/or student application process coaching, as demonstrated in application materials.
  3. Previous experience with PeopleSoft or related student information systems, as evidenced in application materials.
  4. Previous work experience that demonstrated a commitment and enthusiasm for cross-training, as shown in application materials.
  5. Demonstrated use of innovative and highly effective advising processes and practices, as shown in application materials.

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

  • Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
  • Resume.
  • List of three (3) professional references.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins Monday, December 2nd, 2024, and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

Elizabeth Barton – bartonliz@ku.edu

Advertised Salary Range

47,000

Work Schedule

Monday - Thursday 9a-6p, Friday 8a-5p

Some evening and weekend hours may be required with reasonable advanced notice.

Application Review Begins

Monday December 2, 2024

Anticipated Start Date

Monday January 6, 2025

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Posting Information

  • Posting ID:  29355BR
  • Department:  Jayhawk Academic Advising
  • Primary Campus:  University of Kansas Lawrence Campus
  • Assignment:  Telework
  • Reg/Temp:  Regular
  • Employee Class:  U-Unclassified Professional Staff
  • Review Begins:  02-Dec-2024

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