Academic Advisor

Advertising Summary: Join the Business Student Success Advising team as an Academic Advisor and support students as they navigate their academic journey. In this role, you’ll provide individualized advising, help students understand degree requirements and university policies, connect them to key resources, and play an active part in initiatives that promote student engagement, success, and retention.

Unit: School Of Business MBU

Department: Business Student Success

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Business Student Success Advising team within the School of Business is seeking a highly motivated and qualified candidate to apply for the role of Academic Advisor. This position will report to the Executive Director of Academic Advising. Academic Advisors provide general academic advising services to students and advising-based perspectives to University colleagues and public stakeholders, such as students, family-members and prospective students. By integrating interpersonal and communication skills with general knowledge of curricula, policies (departmental, collegiate, and University), resources, and student development, advisors help students identify options, set academic and developmental goals, and make progress toward those goals.

Advisors participate in programs and initiatives that facilitate student engagement, success, and retention. Advisors also provide advising data and collaborate with academic and other University operational units on matters that impact student recruitment, success, and retention. 

Typical Responsibilities:

• Understand the role of advising in supporting the mission of VCU.

• Possess general information concerning the academic and demographic profiles of VCU students, including retention data.

• Understand curricula information (including program of study and general education requirements) for area of advising specialization.

• Understand graduation requirements and graduation application procedures.

• Understand academic regulations, procedures, and deadlines.

• Know the required courses (including prerequisite information) for the area of advising specialization.

• Understand VCU transfer policies and procedures.

• Understand Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for financial aid.

• Be Knowledgeable of VCU student resources (e.g.,University Counseling, Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity, Career Center, Student Financial Management Center).

• Know when and how to make appropriate referrals to other university resources.

• Know about resources of the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's level degree from an accredited institution or university in a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.     

• One year of professional work experience in a college or university setting.

• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

• Ability to ask searching questions and practice active listening.

• Ability to analyze and solve problems.

• Ability to develop, plan, and implement short- and long-range goals.

• Ability to manage time and establish priorities.

• Ability to make appropriate recommendations based on logical and justifiable reasoning.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to foster a welcoming and supportive environment for students.

• Ability to manage and maintain accurate records and databases.

• Ability to interpret and effectively use advising information on eServices, DegreeWorks, and the Navigate-Student Success Management Tool.

• Ability to use computers and related software applications.

• Ability to navigate VCU websites to locate advising information (e.g., course information, bulletins, forms, etc).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s level degree from an accredited institution or university in a related field.

• Demonstrated experience providing academic, career, or individualized counseling in a higher education setting

Salary Range: $52,000-56,000

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 10211Y - Academic Advisor AA 1

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Emily Fox-Brennan
Contact Email: foxe2@vcu.edu