Graduate Program Academic Advisor

About the position The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for a Graduate Program Academic Advisor. Reporting to the Director of Academic Advising, the Graduate Academic Advisor provides holistic student support to graduate students enrolled in Wilder School masters-level programs. This position works with faculty, campus partners, and the greater academic advising community from recruitment through graduation to ensure student academic success while adhering to the Graduate School’s guidelines and academic policies. This position maintains on-going accurate records and data to monitor student progress throughout their studies and ensures that students are certified for graduation in a timely manner. This position develops, interprets, documents, implements, assesses, and applies University, State, Federal, and School policies and procedures in order to ensure the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective delivery of graduate student support services.

Responsibilities

• Assists graduate students by utilizing Navigate, Degreeworks, e-services, and Wilder internal databases to provide timely outreach and maintain organized student records.
• Offers regularly scheduled advising appointments and establishes rapport with assigned caseload each semester.
• Proactively reviews graduation applications and degree audit toward improving time to degree and ensuring students are meeting all requirements towards completing their program of study.
• Fostering innovation and supporting undergraduate academic advisors in helping their students navigate accelerated masters programs.
• Monitor graduate student academic performance and provide intervention when students are not in good academic standing.
• Develops, implements, and evaluate strategies in alignment with the Wilder School’s retention and recruitment goals.
• In addition to advising responsibilities, the Graduate Academic Advisor will work closely with the Senior Graduate Advisor and Director of Academic Advising in creating effective student-centered programming.
• Advise students regarding departmental, collegiate, and University policies and procedures; programs of study; and the development of appropriate academic plans and pathway mapping.
• Assist adult learner students with problem-solving and decision-making.
• Proactively communicate to students to assist with registration and program planning, inform of policy and/or curricular changes and important deadlines.
• Offer in-person appointments, phone appointments, and email advising; be available for walk-in advising.
• Assist students in identifying their interests, abilities, and academic goals and in making decisions regarding their academic career.
• Introduce students to opportunities that will enrich their academic experience, facilitate their academic and personal development, and support their educational success.
• Make appropriate referrals to other university resources.
• Participate in recruitment activities, programs, and initiatives.
• Provide advising information to prospective students.
• Provide advising services to students during new student orientation.
• Support departmental, school, and University retention initiatives.
• Contact continuing students who do not register for classes.
• Work with students to create academic performance plans to ensure the student regains good academic standing.
• Identify and advise on administrative barriers that may impact program completion rates.
• Use DegreeWorks and internal auditing process to determine student’s progress in completing degree requirements.
• Ensure students are in compliance with the continuous enrollment policy.
• Conduct final audit of student account prior to degree conferral.
• Provide direction and guidance to program assistants.
• Collaborate with Director of Academic Advising to implement unit programs and initiatives (manage assessment of programming, and manage marketing and promotion).
• Lead new student orientation sessions.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in one of the disciplines in the School of Government & Public Affairs, student affairs, college counseling or a related field.
• Minimum of one year of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills as well as customer service; must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google Drive collaboration services.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in the management, coordination, and execution of team projects and programming.
• Excellent writing, analytical, problem-solving, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated experience working autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Nice-to-haves

• Minimum 3-5 years of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.
• Previous experience advising graduate students.
• Demonstrated experience using Degree Works, Banner, and Navigate.
• Demonstrated ability to manage academic processes within and across academic units.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large volume of administrative work.

Benefits

• 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

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