Retention Advisor – Prescott Campus

Salary: $41,557.00 – $54,487.00 Annually

Location: Prescott, AZ

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: 2023-00415

Department: Retention Advisors

Opening Date: 06/12/2023

Description of Position

Employees in this highly visible role make key contributions to the mission of Yavapai College by promoting and supporting college-wide student retention and completion through a range of counseling and support strategies.  Advisors serve a crucial role in driving student engagement and empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals.  
Advisors utilize developmental advising strategies to facilitate academic and career goal-setting, evaluate student success skills, provide non-academic resources, and advise students on co-curricular and extra-curricular activities offered at Yavapai College.  Advisors build formative relationships with students by interpreting information and clarifying procedures and academic requirements of specific programs and majors.  
Academic advisors work within one of five different advising functions – enrollment, retention, Promise Program, early college, or Student Support Services.  Depending on position function and location, advisors may report to a manager, coordinator, director, or associate vice president.  This position may be assigned to any location within the Yavapai College service area.
This is a career track position with placement based upon education, relevant job experience, identified competencies, and completion of internal YC student development assessments.   Additional salary movement is available with progressions between levels as outlined below.

Duties and Responsibilities of All Advisors 

• Evaluates credit completion and transfer credits for degree requirements
• Supports students in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals
• Assists students in determining educational plans, choosing courses, and exploring majors and career options
• Monitors student academic progress
• Identifies current or potential needs or problem areas (i.e. study skills, tutoring)
• Counsels students with academic difficulty on the development of action plans 
• Refers students to appropriate college or community resources
• Maintains accurate and comprehensive student tracking within Salesforce
• Provides college orientations, program workshops, and resources
• Maintains knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Academic Advisor I (Grade 11A)
Academic Advisor Level I Expectations
The first level advisor provides developmental advising support to students in developing academic goals and refers students to appropriate resources.  

• Provides student-facing support with an assigned case load of students such as new, continuing, transfer, Trio program, underage, returning and Promise, etc.
• Demonstrates knowledge of introductory job functions, industry practices and standards
• Basic proficiency with YC systems such as Salesforce, Degree works, Banner, and other systems required as an Academic Advisor
• Handles less-complex cases and program issues independently; support and detailed instruction may be needed to perform work

Minimum Expectations & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field 
• Two or more years of experience in a student services area working with students to identify goals 
• Experience working with a culturally diverse population 
• Experience helping students adjust to college life and/or referring students to campus or community resources as needed 
• Regular attendance is an essential job function as it demonstrates dependability towards the performance of job duties

Academic Advisor II (Grade 11B) 
This position has knowledge of developmental advising and student development theory. Develops strategies and solutions to drive enrollment and retention.  
In addition to Academic Advisor I expectations, an Academic Advisor II will 

• Demonstrates general knowledge of student development theories and concepts
• Works independently performing work with limited supervision
• Develops solutions to problems where analysis of data or situation is required
• Effectively manages assigned student caseloads
• Demonstrates curricular knowledge including university transfer requirements
• Demonstrates higher level proficiency with college systems such as Banner, Salesforce, and Degree works and registration systems and requires little to no direction on software platforms
• Solves problems, takes initiative, and establishes priorities for assigned case load 

Expectations & Requirements (in addition to Level I qualifications)

• Demonstrated knowledge of YC technology systems 
• Demonstrated knowledge of YC Student Development Model
• Completion of Outward Mindset Training
• Demonstrated expertise in managing assigned case load
• Satisfactory performance as demonstrated by an overall Meets or Exceeds evaluation score and no corrective actions in the last year.
• Successful completion of NACADA new advisor training
• Successful completion of SD Level II assessment (See above bullets)

Academic Advisor Level III: Grade 12 
This level serves as the department lead contact.  Provides input to student development leadership on academic advising policies, plans, and objectives. Drives
initiatives and understands the perspective of college-wide initiatives.  Works independently and may participate in campus wide committees.

In addition to Academic Advisor Level II expectations, an Academic Advisor III:

• Is a team lead for professional or support staff
• Develops knowledge in student development theories and concepts
• Serves as a liaison with college departments or community partners
• Participates in the development and training of junior advisors on the team
• Performs at a mastery level of job requirements and college systems
• Provides input and suggestions for improvements in policies and procedures
• Demonstrates commitment, collaboration, and contribution in working with faculty within assigned programs
• Evaluates complex data and trends on individual caseload and develops action plans for improvement
• Is considered a subject matter expert and can provide cross-functional support to students outside of their program of study

Expectations & Requirements (in addition to Level I & II qualifications)

• Successful completion of Career Class Training
• Successful completion of SD Level III assessment (See above bullets)

Academic Advisor Senior I:   Grade 13A   
This level represents the team as a primary contact and drives departmental initiatives and participates in college-wide initiatives.   Works independently and is a leader member on campus-wide committees.  

In addition to Academic Advisor Level III expectations, an Academic Advisor Senior, Level I:

• Serves as a lead liaison with college departments or community partners
• Is an active member of at least one college-wide committee or student club
• Demonstrates mastery knowledge of Student Development theory and practice
• Is the lead in at least one system such as Banner, Degree Works, Salesforce, Transfer, Career Development or within an Academic School
• May provide input on curriculum in collaboration with faculty
• May provide input and suggestions for improvements of college policies and procedures
• Evaluates complex data and trends and develops action plans for improvement of college initiatives
• Is considered a subject matter expert and can provide cross-functional support to students outside of their program of study at a mastery level

Expectations & Requirements (in addition to Level I & II & III qualifications)

• Successful completion of SD Senior Level assessment (See above bullets)

Academic Advisor Senior II: Grade 13B     
This level represents the team as a primary contact. Serves as a consultant to student development leadership on college wide policies, plans, and objectives. Drives departmental initiatives and participates in college-wide initiatives.   Works independently and is a leader on campus-wide committees.  This level has a primary leadership role within the team.

• May provide input to management for performance assessment of junior advisors
• Provides guidance and oversight to junior advisors
• Responsible for developing and training junior advisors on the team
• Is the lead in two or more systems such as Banner, Degree Works, Salesforce, Transfer, Career Development or within an Academic School
• Regularly provides input and suggestions for improvements of college policies and procedures
• Evaluates complex data and trends and develops action plans for improvement of college initiatives
• Is considered a subject matter expert and can provide cross-functional support to students outside of their program of study at a mastery level

Expectations & Requirements (in addition to Advisor Senior Level I qualifications)

• Successful completion of SD Senior Level assessment (See above bullets)
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex administrative analysis with only general supervision 
• Demonstrated diagnostic, analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Excellent coordination and communication skills used appropriately to influence the decision-making of individuals and groups at all levels in the College 
• Ability to present analysis of complex data to various levels of the organization 
• Ability to interact and effectively communicate with diverse employee and student populations 

Minimum Expectations & Requirements

Minimum Expectations & Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in related field 
• Two or more years of experience in a student services area working with students to identify goals 
• Experience working with a culturally diverse population 
• Experience helping students adjust to college life and/or referring students to campus or community resources as needed 
• Regular attendance is an essential job function as it demonstrates dependability towards the performance of job duties

Preferred Skills & Abilities
* Master’s degree
* Presentation skills, including conducting new student orientations, workshops, and training programs
* Experience working with community college students
* Advanced knowledge of computerized systems and operating environments i.e. Microsoft Office Products and Banner
* Knowledge of Yavapai College degrees, certificates, and career pathways
* Knowledge of Arizona transfer articulation
* Experience delivering student services in an online format
* Professional experience in a community college/higher education work environment

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.