Academic Advisor

Academic Advisor

About the Opportunity

The College of Social Sciences and Humanities is a leader in the Experiential Liberal Arts. The College is strongly committed to fostering excellence through diversity and enthusiastically welcomes applications from members of groups underrepresented in higher education administration.

The College’s schools, departments, and programs-with disciplines ranging from economics and history to English, urban affairs and international affairs, form an interdisciplinary group of scholars with global perspectives and a culture of inclusion. Our expert faculty connects liberal arts education with the challenges of our time, fostering ethical reasoning and critical thought, with attention to the enduring significance of history, literature, and culture. Strategic Areas of Focus for the college’s education and research throughout its global network are (1) Resilience, Sustainability, Health, and Equity, (2) Cultural Transformations, Governance, and Globalization, and (3) Network Science, Computational Social Science, Digital Humanities, and Information Ethics.

CSSH has long been committed to creating a culture of inclusion for our students, faculty, and staff. Diversity and inclusion, as well as questions of race, racism, and anti-racism, are part of all our programs, all our research centers, our three areas of strategic focus-and are always work in progress. At the same time, we focus on how modes of constructing social hierarchies, including race, gender, sexuality, class, caste, and others, intersect with one another.

Responsibilities

The Academic Advisor ensures a student-centered academic advising environment for students in specified departments in the College of Social Sciences and Humanities, both on the Boston campus and throughout the Northeastern network.

The Academic Advisors’ main goal is to ensure that students feel supported and have an advocate throughout their time at NU.

Responsibilities include managing a caseload of students; assisting students with transitioning to college, career planning, and academic success; interfacing with university resources to support student success all in a fast-paced environment. The advisors work with their caseload of students to ensure students understand all options and are able to pursue all opportunities that will enrich their academic career. Advisors work closely with department chairs, Undergraduate Program Directors and Advisors, and co-op coordinators in their specified departments, as well as with department academic coordinators and other advisors across the university to advise undergraduates on a wide range of academic issues. Advisors work with students from when matriculate, through Orientation, right up to graduation. Advisors also meet with students during specific times in their academic careers beginning with First Semester Meetings through Graduation Clearance Contract appointments and other important checkpoints. Advisors also proactively outreach to their students based on different issues. Advisors take part in support programs to enhance the students’ academic experiences and increase the retention of students, particularly freshmen. Advisors also coordinate various student services-related projects aimed at providing academic services and information to students. They also serve as the liaison between students, parents, faculty, and staff.

The role is based in Boston and requires occasional travel to our various Network Campus locations. It may also require occasional scheduling of work hours outside of regular business hours in order to serve students located in other time zones.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

1) Academic Advising and direct student contact:

Advise a diverse group of undergraduate students on a wide range of academic issues as they move from their first year, whether on the Boston campus or at another Network campus, through graduation. This work includes creating academic plans, supporting course registration, and monitoring academic progress to encourage the successful and timely completion of degree requirements. Identify and support academically at-risk students including those withdrawing from courses, off-track for timely graduation, not meeting satisfactory academic progress; provide coaching and referrals.

2) Collaboration with Faculty, Staff, and other Constituents:

Collaborate with fellow advisors, co-op coordinators, faculty and/or other staff to provide comprehensive support towards students academic and professional goals. Work closely with faculty from CSSH majors regarding student programs (study abroad credit, transfers, etc). Act as a resource for academic departments on various curricular and scheduling questions. Work closely with Student Persistence Specialist on high-risk student cases.

3) Outreach and Student Retention Projects:

Maintain regular and frequent communication utilizing a variety of communication methods to foster connection and community between students and the College of Social Sciences and Humanities. Proactively reach out to students via email and/or phone from various work lists in line with retention initiatives. Represent CSSH at targeted recruitment and student events and programs such as summer orientation, NUin program PDOs, transfer student programs, change of major events, Welcome Days for admitted students, department Welcome Week events, Photo Contest Reception, Dean’s Lunch, student/faculty lunches, and any other programming deemed appropriate. Communicate and meet with prospective students and families interested in learning more about the college and the advisor’s specific majors. Teach a 1-credit freshman course, for transfer students or those starting in the spring. Other projects created in conjunction with Director and the advising team that help the College achieve its goals for retention, student-centered advising, and other measures. These projects may be short-term oriented or long-term projects that become a permanent program in the college.

4) Advising Systems:

Utilize current and emerging techology and available data to complete essential advising duties to support students and foster retention, persistence, and success. Maintain updated knowledge of all necessary advising-related technologies including DARS, Banner, the Faculty Advisor Communication Tool, Salesforce, AdmitWare, POA Change site, Student Success Collaborative, pre-orientation online advising database, etc. all to assess progression, keep detailed notes, and track degree completion for all students. Accurately understand how and when to navigate to and utilize each during student appointments, walk-ins, and email interactions.

Qualifications:

• Experience working with first-year programing and student support in a higher education setting.
• Familiarity with academic policies, procedures, college curricular matters, major requirements, counseling practices, and development theory to create a student-centered academic environment.
• Ability to quickly identify and analyze problems and develop specific and realistic solutions.
• Effective written, presentation and verbal skills with the ability to communicate in an empathic manner and break down complex policies and processes in a way that students easily understand.
• Create an environment of trust where students feel able to ask for help when they need it.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills are imperative to success in this position.
• Manage, track, and report data with high level of accuracy as it relates to tracking students’ academic progression are also essential.
• Effectively utilize the College and University-level computer systems in day-to-day advising is necessary.
• Work well with a variety of personalities and to juggle many activities simultaneously, take initiative, and follow through with projects.
• Create programming aimed at retention of CSSH students. Ability to work independently and desire and ability to work as an integral member of a team is necessary.
• Knowledge and skills normally acquired through a Master’s degree in counseling, or higher education administration or equivalent experience advising or doing similar work in a higher education setting.

Documents to Submit:

Resume and Cover Letter required.

Position Type

Academic Administration

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

Northeastern University is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Northeastern values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

To learn more about Northeastern University’s commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please see www.northeastern.edu/diversity.

To apply, visit https://northeastern.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/careers/job/Boston-MA-Main-Campus/Academic-Advisor_R116224

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