General Information
| Job Description | STDT ACAD ADVISOR 3 | Working Title | Student Academic Advisor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Job Code | 004545 | Grade | 19 |
| Department Name | CNAS UG Academic Advising Ctr - D01306 | Department Head | Brett McFarlane |
| Supervisor | Nakita Lea | Effective Date |
Position(s) Directly Supervised
| Job Code | Title | FTE |
|---|
Generic Scope
| Experienced professional who knows how to apply theory and put it into practice with in-depth understanding of the professional field; independently performs the full range of responsibilities within the function; possesses broad job knowledge; analyzes problems/issues of diverse scope and determines solutions. |
Custom Scope
| Applies skills as a seasoned, experienced academic adviser. Provides advice to students on the full range of requirements for a department, college, or school with a wide variety of course requirements. Recommends solutions to progression and requirement issues. Advice may include not-clearly-defined programs such as independent study programs, interdisciplinary programs, or multiple programs. Works independently under general supervision. |
Department Custom Scope
| Under the general direction of the Supervising Professional Academic Advisor for a Life Sciences Unit in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Undergraduate Academic Advising Center (CNAS UAAC), the position is responsible for serving as the Lead Academic Advisor for a life sciences major(s). The position provides fundamental academic advising to prospective and current undergraduate students and uses the principles of developmental academic advising and knowledge of teaching and learning theory to promote academic, career, and life goals in an effort to support student academic success, retention, and timeliness to degree and intellectual and personal development. This Lead Advisor position is responsible for all communication for a particular CNAS major(s) with students, faculty, and enrollment staff to address curricular and enrollment challenges or needs. In addition, this position is the main point of contact and generates data reports and recommendations to faculty, enrollment staff, and the department chair(s) to assist with short and long-term departmental planning. The Lead Advisor maintains and updates major specific publications, course offerings, four-year plans, degree summaries, and change of major criteria documents. The position reviews complex major changes, discontinuations, and degree confirmations for a particular major(s) and coordinates workshops and presentations, including recruitment and orientation events, to undergraduate students in the major and across the general CNAS population. Additional duties include training and coordinating the life science major(s) academic advising team to ensure high-quality, consistent academic advising services and serving as one of the life sciences academic advisors informing students, faculty and staff about the policies and procedures pertaining to undergraduate student affairs and referring students to appropriate support services. The resulting distribution of responsibilities is approximately 30% academic advising (administration of enrolled students), 25% program management, 25% coordination of professional academic advisors, 10% program development, and 10% lead faculty advisor liaison work. |
Education & Experience Requirements
Education Requirements
| Degree | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training. | Required |
| Master's degree | Preferred |
Experience Requirements
| Experience | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 4 - 7 years of related experience. | Required |
| Experience counseling, advising, or developmental programs at a four-year institution of higher learning. | Preferred |
| Experience and/or training in leading a work group as well as experience with the development of student programs to promote student success. | Preferred |
License Requirements
Certification Requirements
| Certification | Requirement |
|---|
Educational Condition Requirements
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|
Key Responsibilities
| Description | % Time |
|---|---|
| Provides advice and assistance to students on all aspects of their academic experience, including progression and requirement matters for the department/school/college. | 15 |
| Serves as the lead professional academic advisor for a major(s) in the Life Science Unit in the CNAS UAAC. Uses developmental academic advising principles and develops suitable programs 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. Provides initial communication and program planning for entering freshmen and transfer students by interpreting past work and current test scores and communicating departmental expectations. Teaches discussion portion of NASC 93, which includes determining lesson plans from assigned syllabus, creating lectures and class activities, and assigning class grades. Gives presentations, as requested by faculty for other campus advising courses. Directs the activities of the Life Science major academic advisors, including training and assignment of work to ensure high-quality and consistent advising services to all students. In coordination with the major Lead Faculty Advisor and UAAC supervisor, responsible for creating unit philosophy and goals and translating those to the major advising team. Ensures adequate coverage for all unit academic advising needs and programs. | 15 |
| In concert with the Lead Faculty Advisor and UAAC supervisor, develops Life Science Unit advising mission, goals, and short- and long-term planning designed to enhance undergraduate student success. Develops new procedures and guidelines for handling program processes within the team, as well as the proper procedure for handling exceptions. Areas of development include academic advising workshops, academic advising schedules, programs designed to quickly identify and provide adequate intervention for students in academic difficulty and programs designed to assist students in the choice of major, emphasis selection, career, and co-curricular activities to enhance undergraduate educational experience. Researches and develops new methods of accomplishing goals and meeting advising benchmarks. Establishes quantitative and qualitative standards for measurement of performance within the specified Advising Team to prove program effectiveness. Responsible for using data collection, analysis, and presentation methods to examine and communicate trends in student success to Lead Faculty Advisor and recommends appropriate policy changes to relevant faculty and UAAC administrators to enhance student academic performance. Serves as the recognized subject matter expert on the assigned Life Science major(s) and policies related to that major(s). Drafts policy statements upon request. | 15 |
| Identifies students with GPA or progress problems, advises students, and recommends appropriate courses of action by the department/school/college (e.g., academic probation, dismissal). | 10 |
| Implements and manages the specified Life Science Unit's academic advising programming. Independently manages day-to-day advising scenarios, administrative and operational issues, and exceptions to advising policy. Responsible for advocating on behalf of students to the Lead Faculty Advisor to determine where exceptions to policy are appropriate. Communicates the activities, progress, and needs of the advising team to the UAAC supervisor. Has primary responsibility for representing Life Science Unit major(s) at outreach activities including recruitment, orientation, and advising events (Highlander Orientation for Freshman, Highlander Orientation for Transfers, Discover/Welcome Days, CNAS college fairs), and other workshops for student majors. Develops and maintains necessary publications including web presence, descriptive materials for recruitment and retention purposes, brochures, and major worksheets. Responsible for academic advising review of Life Science major(s) undergraduate portion of the UCR General Catalog. | 10 |
| Evaluates and advises students in petitions for exceptions to departmental/school/college and/or Graduate Division requirements. | 5 |
| Advises new and continuing instructors on student advising issues. | 5 |
| Assists faculty on determining course scheduling needs for student progression to graduation. | 5 |
| Confirms that students have met requirements for degree completion when there are no clear precedents or articulations, such as interdisciplinary programs or when transfer work is involved. | 5 |
| Participates in planning academic curriculum in collaboration with chair/dean and faculty, and with other departments, to ensure student's progress through course sequences, avoid conflicts, and ensure compliance with organization-wide policies. | 5 |
| Determines barriers, distractions, and complications affecting a student's academic success, helps students recognize these key non-academic issues, and makes appropriate referrals for additional therapeutic counseling and/or assistance from other units. | 5 |
| Advises students on a wide range of course possibilities and/or ways to complete degree requirements that may not be clearly defined. | 5 |
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
| Knowledge/Skill/Ability | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Thorough knowledge of college/school policies, procedures, and requirements. | Required |
| Ability to multi-task. | Required |
| Thorough knowledge of advising and counseling techniques. Knowledge of multiple majors, colleges, and schools. | Required |
| Skills in judgment and decision-making, problem solving. | Required |
| Thorough knowledge of department/school college policies, procedures, and requirements. | Required |
| Abilities in problem identification, reasoning, ability to develop original ideas to solve problems. | Required |
| Skill in working independently and following through on assignments with minimal direction. Ability to work independently while maintaining cooperative working relationships with co-workers in a team environment. | Required |
| Skill in independently composing letters, memos, reports, and other written communication materials using correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, composition, text editing, and proofreading skills. | Required |
| Ability to effectively, professionally, and tactfully interact and communicate with students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Demonstrated skill in expressing ideas clearly and convincingly in oral and written presentations. | Required |
| Skill in accurate record keeping with strict attention to detail. Skill in organizing tasks, documents, and materials with efficiency and accuracy. | Required |
| Demonstrated computer proficiency using Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, Access, or other equivalent software, the internet, email, and web-based software applications | Required |
| Demonstrated experience using online student information system. Ability to maintain strict confidentiality at all times. | Required |
| Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a services environment that is subject to frequent interruptions. Skill in setting priorities that accurately reflects the relative importance of job responsibilities. | Required |
| Demonstrated experience to show sensitivity to the needs of students of diverse social, cultural, economic, and education backgrounds. Knowledge of the applicable federal and state regulations governing areas related to the responsibilities of the position including the Federal and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). | Required |
| Demonstrated experience with Student Information System (SIS+) and Banner and Degree Works | Preferred |
| Skill in independently researching questions and making appropriate contact for problem solving | Preferred |
Special Requirements & Conditions
| Special Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Occasional travel for university related business meetings, conferences and/or professional development. | Required |
Other Special Requirements & Conditions
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Level of Supervision Received
| General Supervision |
Environment
Working Environment
| Campus |
Other Requirements
Items Used
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Physical Requirements
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Mental Requirements
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Environmental Requirements
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Critical Position
| Is Critical Position: Yes |