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Academic Advisor (43 week)

Employer
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Location
UMass Amherst

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Job Details

Academic Advisor (43 week)

Job no: 501290
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Communication
Union: PSU
Categories: Administrative/Office Support

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

Provide comprehensive individual and group academic advising services to undergraduate students. Work with faculty, staff, and students to improve the undergraduate experience through the planning and implementation of programs and services and the creation of a welcoming environment to enhance student success.

Essential Functions

  • Ensure appropriate and effective academic advising services, programming, and communications for Communication majors and prospective majors by providing in-depth interviewing, advising, evaluation of academic records, and referrals to help students develop a personal curriculum and determine life goals with respect to their education at UMass and future career goals. Work closely with students experiencing educational and personal difficulties, providing support and focused academic planning.
  • Collaborate with the Chief Undergraduate Advisor to work with and support peer advisors on student advising and programming. Provide leadership and administrative support in development and implementation of innovative programs and events designed to enhance students’ transition, retention, degree progress, sense of community, and career development. Represent the department at University Open House events and work collaboratively as needed with campus and community partners.
  • Communicate with majors and prospective majors regarding regulations, deadlines, relevant department and university events, and information related to academic advising. Advise on study abroad, scholarships and career opportunities. Advise on internships and field experience.
  • Facilitate all aspects of course registration, maintain and update confidential academic and advising records, and work proactively to solve a variety of complex course and registration issues to ensure advising continuity and facilitate graduation clearance. Provide administrative and logistical support for all aspects of the undergraduate program including courses offered through Online Education, ensuring effective operations and compliance with university, college, and departmental policies and procedures.
  • Serve as liaison with students and other departments/programs to respond to inquiries in a timely manner, exchange information, and proactively resolve problems. Provide advising, coordination, and materials for transfer advising sessions.

Other Functions

  • Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet Department, College, and University goals and objectives.
  • Demonstrate capacity, skill and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
  • Establish and continually update knowledge of faculty teaching, College and campus resources to appropriately refer majors for additional consultation, advising, and coursework.
  • Understand responsibilities with respect to conflicts of interest and behave in ways consistent both with law and with University policy.
  • Contribute toward creating a positive and respectful workplace defined by personal and professional competence, integrity, and collaboration.
  • Understand and contribute to implementation of departmental and institutional goals for achieving non-discrimination and creating a respectful, inclusive environment that is supportive of diversity.
  • Use access to sensitive and/or not yet public university related information only in the performance of the responsibilities of position and exercise care to prevent unnecessary disclosure to others.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Bachelor's degree in Student Development, Higher Education, Social Sciences or related field with at least three years of full-time or equivalent part-time academic advising experience.
  • Demonstrated strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills. Ability to collaborate and interact with faculty, staff, students, administrators, and the public in a friendly and professional manner. Sensitivity to diversity and the needs of nontraditional students. This includes establishing a rapport, maintaining harmonious working relationships, and dealing tactfully and professionally with others.
  • Understanding of student development and commitment to a “whole student” approach to advising.
  • Ability to work individually on self-directed assignments, with minimum supervision, and collaboratively in groups.
  • Extensive computer skills, including proven ability to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel (including formulas), email, file sharing applications, and social media proficiently. Ability to use these tools, or others necessary, to prepare reports and to analyze and determine the applicability of data, draw conclusions, and make appropriate recommendations.
  • Ability to perform evaluations, analyze circumstances, and offer advice using a humanistic and balanced approach.
  • Ability to create and maintain organized systems for data/record management; strong organizational and administrative skills required.
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information. Ability to understand, explain, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Ability to prioritize, make sound and mature decisions, adjust to varying or changing situations and willingness and initiative to take on a variety of tasks.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

  • Master's degree in Student Development, Higher Education or Social Sciences and one to three years of full-time or equivalent part-time academic advising experience.
  • Working knowledge of university advising database (Spire), SSC Campus, scheduling software and university academic requirements and regulations.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office environment

Work Schedule

  • This is a 43-week position
  • Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
  • Required to work some nights and weekends

Salary Information

Level 25

PSU Salary Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please submit a cover letter, resume, and names of three professional references.

Review of applicants will begin on August 30, 2019, and may continue until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Aug 14 2019 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close:

Organization

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is one of the preeminent public research universities in America. Nestled in idyllic Amherst, Massachusetts—often called “The top college town in North America”—the campus is consistently ranked among the top public research universities in the nation, and offers a rich cultural environment in a rural setting close to major urban centers. 

As one of the nation's top public research universities – as measured by national and international rankings, academic citations, and research funding – the campus spends more than $180 million on research each year, demonstrating its contribution to the nation’s position as a technological and economic leader. The university works in conjunction with academic, government, and private partners to translate new knowledge and scientific discoveries into technical innovations and scholarly works that create opportunities for students, faculty and the public. 

Eight schools and colleges offer more than 85 undergraduate majors, 68 master’s and 48 doctoral degree programs, many counted among the top programs in the nation and world. UMass Amherst is also home to New England's premier honors college.

The 1,159 full-time faculty members are dedicated teachers and world-renowned researchers and the campus has regularly been listed among the top performers in terms of faculty awards. With over 24,000 students from all 50 states and over 70 countries, the student body is the most academically successful in the history of the campus. Students participate in 240 organizations, 21 NCAA Division I athletic teams, extensive intramurals, living-learning residence halls, community service, and internships. With one of the largest residential life systems in the nation, UMass Amherst houses approximately 12,000 students on campus. The university is enjoying a facilities renaissance, including new buildings in the sciences, the arts, and recreation. UMass Amherst is part of the Five College consortium with Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire and Amherst colleges.

As an employer, the University of Massachusetts Amherst is a national leader in developing family-friendly policies, benefits and amenities designed to help faculty members develop both productive careers and satisfying personal lives. The university offers one of the nation’s most generous parental leave policies. The university is also part of the Academic Career Network, a regional consortium formed to serve dual-career couples and encourage greater diversity in the academy.

 

Company info
Website
Telephone
4135454894
Location
181 PRESIDENTS DR
Whitmore Administration Building
Amherst
Massachusetts
01003
US

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