Job no: 507755
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: Psychology and Brain Sci
Union: PSU
Categories: Academic Advising & Learning Resources, Professional Staff Union (PSU)

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

The Academic Advisor will provide academic guidance and counseling for undergraduate Psychology majors and assist with the planning and implementation of Psychological & Brain Sciences (PBS) Department programs and services that enhance their success. This professional position advises declared Psychology majors on academic requirements, opportunities, and policies and handles all scheduling and editing of PBS course offerings, including those offered through UWW.

The Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences is the largest department in the College of Natural Sciences, with over 1900 undergraduate majors. For information on our department, please go to https://www.pbs.umass.edu

Essential Functions

Academic Advising

• Provide comprehensive, individualized and small group advising to a diverse population of students during the academic year, including new student & transfer orientation/registration periods and current student registration periods.
• Responding to common issues such as registration-related matters such as fulfilling the university's general education requirements; interpreting major and college requirements; and provide guidance for dual degrees, double majors, and minors.
• Assisting students with matters that involve goal setting, self-assessment and time management skills, planning and decision-making such as establishing an academic plan, selecting courses, and evaluating courses for study-abroad experiences.
• Responding to at-risk students experiencing academic and often critical personal difficulties by addressing relevant issues and making appropriate referrals to University agencies.
• Advising a diverse incoming (first-year and transfer) population in a fast-paced, high-volume, individual advising format during New Student Orientation before the start of each semester.
• Responding to and managing high-stress inquiries from parents in accordance with FERPA and in a highly-professional and respectful manner/tone.
• Responsible for complex graduation clearance processing each year, being familiar with all changes in the multiple degree programs and determining any curricular exceptions.
• Regularly hold information sessions for current PBS students, as well as for prospective students and students in other majors wanting to transfer into PBS.
• Represent PBS Undergraduate Advising on college and university-level committees and councils; participate in evening and weekend activities including Open Houses, Destination Days, Senior Celebration, Undergraduate Commencement, and other activities and events that may be developed.
• Assist in training new professional and graduate student advisors by providing them with and helping them understand the most current information about requirements in PBS.

Oversee PBS Course Offerings & Scheduling

• Handle all scheduling and editing of PBS course offerings, including those offered by University Without Walls; Organize program-based teaching proposals into departmental teaching plan.
• Craft a PBS teaching schedule based on faculty preferences and Course and Classroom Management Office guidelines.
• Enter PBS teaching schedule into the Class Automated Proposal System (CAPS) and edit as necessary, including adds/deletions/changes to classes, adding graduate and undergraduate TAs, confirming faculty plans to administer a final exam etc.
• Manage all room requests and searches for general classroom use in 25Live for meetings and events other than established class meetings in SPIRE.

Other Functions

• Execute special projects as needed to support the mission of the PBS Advising Office, departments, and the College.
• Understands responsibilities with respect to Title IX, FERPA, and other compliance requirements.
• Demonstrates capacity, skill and willingness to engage students and contribute to student success.
• Works collaboratively with other campus stakeholders to fulfill the mission of Student Affairs, Campus Life, and Student Success.
• Works collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness.
• Works in partnership with colleagues within the PBS and CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and the College of Natural Sciences.

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

• Bachelor’s degree plus one (1) year professional experience in the areas of academic admissions, advising, recruiting, or counseling.
• Experience in serving a large, culturally-diverse population.
• Excellent oral and written communication, strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and intermediate level computer proficiency.
• Skilled in small group presentations, aware of confidentiality issues and able to take initiative and work independently and collaboratively with various university personnel.
• Able to manage a high volume of complex and varied client needs.
• Able to recognize at-risk individuals and provide appropriate support and direction.
• Demonstrated knowledge with respect to FERPA, Title IX, and commonly accepted academic policy.

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

• Master's degree.
• Professional teaching experience.
• Professional experience in the areas of academic admissions, advising, recruiting, or counseling.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical Office Environment

Additional Details

Work Schedule

Full time position. Some nights or weekends are required.

Salary Information

Level 25

PSU Salary Range

Special Instructions to Applicants

Submit a letter of application, resume and contact information for three professional references. Apply by April 23, 2021 in order to ensure priority consideration. Search may remain open until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. (https://www.cns.umass.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion)

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: Apr 9 2021 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: