General Information


Job Description STDT ACAD ADVISOR 2 Working Title Student Academic Advisor 2
Job Code 004544 Grade 18
Department Name CNAS UG Academic Advising Ctr - D01306 Department Head Brett McFarlane
Supervisor Norma Palacios Effective Date 04/03/2023
Position(s) Directly Supervised
Job Code Title FTE

Generic Scope
Professional who applies acquired job skills, policies, and procedures to complete substantive assignments/projects/tasks of moderate scope and complexity; exercises judgment within defined guidelines and practices to determine appropriate action.

Custom Scope
Applies professional concepts to independently provide prescriptive advice on academic policies and procedures for an academic department/college/school, including major and minor requirements, and all aspects of course requirements for degree or program completion. Receives assistance on more complex issues.

Department Custom Scope
Under the direction of an Advising Unit Coordinator and as part of the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (CNAS UAAC), this position will be responsible for academic advising of undergraduate students in the Life Science majors (Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Biology, Plant Biology, Neuroscience, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Entomology, and Microbiology) or Physical Science (Mathematics, Statistics, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Physics) majors using the principles of developmental, academic advising and knowledge of teaching and learning theory working to promote student development and academic success. The primary areas of responsibility include: advisement of potential and enrolled students; monitoring of each student's progress toward degree completion; informing students, academic advisors, faculty and staff members of the policies and procedures pertaining to undergraduate student affairs; referring students to appropriate support services; analyzing academic trends and working with other professional academic advisors and departments to meet student advising needs. Participates in the preparation and/or maintenance of descriptive materials for majors. Responsible for preparation and submission of catalog copy and quarterly Schedule of Classes. Facilitates processes for undergraduate course revision and program changes. Responsible for representing the CNAS UAAC at outreach and retention activities, including recruitment, orientation, and advising events, including, but not limited to, Highlander Orientation, Academic Success Workshops, Discover/Welcome Days, and college fairs. The resulting distribution of job functions is approximately 80% academic advising (administration of enrolled student majors), 15% academic advising support, and 5% other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience Requirements

Education Requirements
Degree Requirement
Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. Required
Master's degree in related field Preferred

Experience Requirements
Experience Requirement
2 - 4 years of related experience. Required
Demonstrated experience to show sensitivity to the needs of students of diverse social, cultural, economic and educational backgrounds. Required
Counseling or advising experience at a 4 -year institution Preferred
Demonstrated experience with a Student Information System (Banner) Preferred
Experience updating web pages. Preferred

License Requirements

Certification Requirements
Certification Requirement

Educational Condition Requirements
Condition Requirement

Key Responsibilities

Description % Time
Monitors and evaluates students' completion of academic requirements.
  • Informs and assists students in interpreting their academic progress toward timely completion of requirements (university, college and majors).
10
Assists students in determining a major, alternative academic options, scheduling conflicts, and similar issues.
  • Explains the degree requirements for the various majors to students interested in transferring into CNAS majors or minors.
10
Identifies student needs for programs and services.
  • Examines trends in student success and determines appropriate programming to provide adequate advising services including recommendation of appropriate faculty mentors. For students in academic difficulty, works to determine reasons for difficulty and offers advice on methods to remedy their difficulties and refers to appropriate campus support departments to improve academic records. Reviews records of students in academic difficulty to determine eligibility to continue in CNAS majors.
10
Serves as the professional academic advisor for specified majors and minors in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences by using developmental, appreciative, and strengths-based academic advising to assist students to examine, clarify and meet their educational, career and life goals in light of student strengths and interests while reinforcing student self-direction, motivation, achievement and self-sufficiency. Explains the policies and procedures of CNAS majors and minors, the CNAS UAAC, the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Office of the Registrar, Undergraduate Admissions and other campus support departments and serves as liaison to these units.
10
Refers students to non-academic resources as appropriate.
5
Advises on moderately complex issues such as multiple degrees, or withdrawal from the University.
  • Reviews and evaluates the student's eligibility for transfer, and processes change of major petitions including double majors.
5
Advises department on scheduling needs for student course progression and requirements completion.
5
Communicates and exchanges information with other units of the organization and makes referrals to help students with their academic program (e.g., health service, disabled students program, Colleges/Schools, transfer center, academic departments, graduate division, etc.).
5
Provides information to students on programs with special, clearly articulated eligibility requirements such as honors programs, awards, fellowships, scholarships, and advanced level courses.
5
Applies articulated courses to program/degree requirements and certifies degree completion.
5
Provides initial communication and program planning for entering freshmen and transfer students by interpreting past work and current test scores, and communication of university expectations. Prepares summaries of transfer courses and units of entering transfer students. Communicates with CNAS UAAC staff and Undergraduate Admissions staff to correct errors in transfer course evaluations. Develops suitable programs for CNAS majors that allow students to examine, clarify and meet their educational goals, including orientation for future interaction with other professional academic advisors, faculty and staff members.
5
Maintains confidentiality of student academic records, including inputting data into the Student Information System (Banner) to correct the information displayed in the degree audit screens as well as advising record notes. Confirms completion of degree requirements via a final review of the Banner audit screens. Enrolls students into courses via Banner during registration periods when needed.
5
As needed or requested by the Associate Director or Director of the CNAS UAAC, prepares information and analytical reports for administrators, CNAS major departments, interdisciplinary committees, or the Divisional Dean of CNAS. As needed or requested for timely notification, prepares or composes correspondence that is directed to current and prospective students, college office, and other campus departments.
5
Provides academic advising support to related campus programs. Responsible for representing CNAS majors and participating in outreach and retention activities including recruitment, orientation, and advising events (Highlander Orientation, Discover/Welcome Days, Fall Mandatory Orientation Program, college fairs and workshops for student's major). Develops and maintains descriptive materials for recruitment and retention purposes, including development and maintenance of web materials. Serves as catalog copy consultant to faculty and staff; as well as consultant to faculty in course revision process and during program changes. Supports students engaged in academic learning communities to cultivate identification with the college, a sense of belonging, and a connection with fellow students, faculty and staff.
5
Creates, develops and implements weekly lesson plans to teach assigned sections of quarter-long NASC 93 Freshman Advising Seminar courses designed to introduce students to UCR and the sciences by providing guidance on selection of majors, curriculum planning, career options and goals, development of learning and study skills, and other pertinent topics. Encourages class participation, assigns and grades in-class writing and workbook assignments, and assigns and grades weekly homework assignments consistent with class syllabus and for the purpose of assigning class grades.
5
Performs other duties as assigned.
5

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge/Skill/Ability Requirement
Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a service environment that is subject to frequent interruptions. Skill in setting priorities that accurately reflects the relative importance of job responsibilities Required
Skills in judgment, decision-making, and problem solving. Required
Knowledge of departmental/school/college courses and majors. Required
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including active listening. Required
Skill in independently composing letters, memos, reports and other written communication materials using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, composition, text editing and proofreading skills, Skill in organizing tasks, documents and materials with efficiency and accuracy, Required
Abilities in problem identification, reasoning, ability to develop original idea to solve problems. Required
Knowledge of the applicable federal and state regulations governing areas related to the responsibilities of the position including the Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) Required
Ability to multi-task. Required
Basic knowledge of advising and counseling techniques. Required
Demonstrated computer proficiency using Microsoft Office (word, Excel, Access) or other equivalent software, the internet, e-mail messaging and web-based software applications. Required
Ability to effectively, professionally and tactfully interact with students, professional academic advisors, faculty, staff members and visitors; including ability to work independently while maintaining cooperative working relationships with co-workers in a team environment. Required
Knowledge of department/school/college policies, procedures, and requirements. Required
Knowledge of the applicable University of California policies and procedures governing areas related to the responsibilities of the position. Preferred
Counseling or advising experience at a 4-year institution. Preferred

Special Requirements & Conditions
Special Condition Requirement

Other Special Requirements & Conditions

Level of Supervision Received
Supervision

Environment

Working Environment
Campus

Other Requirements

Items Used
  • Standard Office Equipment

Physical Requirements
  • Walk : Occasionally
  • Sit : Constantly
  • Stand : Occasionally
  • Crawl : N/A
  • Squat : Occasionally
  • Climb : N/A
  • Bend : Occasionally

Mental Requirements
  • Read/Comprehend : Constantly
  • Perform Calculations : Frequently
  • Communicate Orally : Constantly
  • Reason & Analyze : Constantly
  • Write : Constantly

Environmental Requirements
  • Dust : No
  • Is around moving machinery : No
  • Fumes : No
  • Is exposed to marked changes in temperature and/or humidity : No
  • Is exposed to excessive noise : No
  • Drives motorized equipment : No
  • Works in confined quarters : No

Critical Position

Is Critical Position: Yes

More Information

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