Academic Advisor III

About the position Texas A&M AgriLife is seeking an Academic Advisor III P11 who independently drives engagement and empowers students to achieve their academic and career goals. This position will play a vital role in maximizing undergraduate student retention by building relationships with students and clarifying procedures and academic requirements for specific programs or majors. Assists in the analysis of the effectiveness of functional policies and programs. Additionally, acts as a mentor and trainer to other Academic Advisors and the campus community.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with students to understand and develop realistic and attainable educational and academic goals and provides input on related majors, minors, future education and career options that best align with goals.
• Educates students about and prepares and assists them with full array of academic processes (e.g., registration, add/drop, Q drops, withdrawals, change of curriculum submissions, etc.) by sharing university and college policies, program requirements, transfer credit decisions, etc.
• Reviews student’s academic record and counsel students regarding core and degree course selection and implication of selected courses and/or exception requests.
• Provides input on probationary decisions.
• Creates and maintains updated relevant records and notes (e.g., student contact, advisor notes).
• Consistently engages student population utilizing various outreach methods (e.g., in-person and online) to cultivate a professional relationship to keep students informed of critical and relevant personal, academic and professional deadlines, updates, information and events.
• Proactively shares with students available academic, professional, and health and wellness resources (e.g., Academic Success Center, Career Center, Student Organizations, Counseling & Psychological Services, Disability Resources, etc.)
• May refer students with identified needs as appropriate.
• Actively monitors students’ progress through the program by reviewing and assessing academic records to determine status of progression, completion of degree requirements as well as identifying and referring those students in which additional intervention and guidance may be recommended to reaching academic goals.
• Oversees the planning and/or delivery of various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns (e.g., New Student Conference, 1st semester advising, inquiries from prospective students).
• Assist in providing reports and data analysis of advising initiatives and special populations.
• Assesses individual students' stage of academic development and promotes their growth by determining suitable developmental tasks.
• Collaborates with members of the campus community in student retention initiatives.
• Conducts research on topics within the field of academic advising and organizes activities for professional development.
• Develops and delivers training for faculty and staff on advising tools and strategies, campus resources and relevant updates.
• May supervise student employees to assist with administrative advising duties and programming.
• Serves as a resource for Academic Advisor I and II with the college/school.
• Discusses and refers students to appropriate campus resources for mental health issues.
• Up to 10% training and development per year to complete in-class and on-the-job training programs, which may include shadowing, departmental/college/school trainings, university training, university, state, and national advisor meetings, regular staff and supervisory meetings, and other activities approved by the supervisor.
• Trainings must include: Advisor Onboarding Training (new to TAMU hires), Becoming an Academic Advising Leader.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree.
• Four years of advising experience.
• Knowledge of NACADA’s Core Values of Academic Advising
• Knowledge of Theories relevant to academic advising
• Knowledge of Academic Advising models, approaches, and strategies
• Knowledge of Professional standards and ethical guidelines for academic advising
• Knowledge of Legal guidelines of advising practice, including privacy regulations and confidentiality
• Knowledge of Expected student learning outcomes of academic advising
• Knowledge of Expected student success outcomes of academic advising
• Knowledge of The characteristics, needs, and experiences of major and emerging student populations
• Knowledge of How equitable and inclusive environments are created and maintained in advising interactions for major and emerging student populations
• Knowledge of Resources and effective, appropriate responses to address mental health issues that may affect the well-being of students
• Knowledge of Curriculum, degree programs, and other academic requirements and options, to include changes and revisions over time
• Knowledge of Critical partners for academic advisors and their role in the advising process
• Knowledge of Campus and community resources that support student success
• Knowledge of Information technology applicable to relevant advising roles
• Knowledge of Methods and techniques for managing and/or supervising others
• Knowledge of Project management principles and processes
• Knowledge of Professional standards and ethical guidelines for coaching, coaching models, and methods and techniques to evaluate the effectiveness of coaching
• Knowledge of Training methods and techniques for planning, designing, developing and delivering instructional content that is engaging, effective, relevant, and applicable to achieve desired learning outcomes
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in Coaching and mentoring all academic advisors within the program area
• Proficiency level of advanced beginner in Conducting research and developing and delivering training, to include: Topics within the field of academic advising, including organizing activities for professional development; Advising tools and strategies, campus resources, and relevant updates for faculty and staff; Supervising student employees to assist with administrative advising duties and programming
• Proficiency level of competent in Articulating a personal philosophy of academic advising in alignment with NACADA models, strategies, and approaches
• Proficiency level of competent in Discussing and referring students to appropriate campus resources for mental health issues
• Proficiency level of competent in Promoting student understanding of the purpose and underlying rationale of the curriculum to set expectations for student learning
• Proficiency level of competent in Identifying high-risk indicators, as reported by faculty, to ensure student success
• Proficiency level of competent in Engaging in ongoing assessment and development of self and the advising practice
• Proficiency level of competent in Planning and/or delivering various department related advising, student success, retention events and academic campaigns
• Proficiency level of proficient in Creating rapport and building academic advising relationships, to include: Guiding, coaching, and/or mentoring students; Collaborating with critical partners; Communicating in a respectful, and confidential manner using various communication approaches and modalities
• Proficiency level of proficient in Planning and conducting advising interactions to achieve student learning and student success outcomes, operating within your scope of authority, and connecting students to resources
• Proficiency level of proficient in Demonstrating high ethical standards in advising
• Proficiency level of proficient in Facilitating problem-solving, decision-making, and meaning-making for students through the advising process
• Proficiency level of proficient in Facilitating planning and goal setting, both short-term and long-term, to achieve individual learning targets and enable future readiness for students through the advising process
• Proficiency level of proficient in Evaluating the impact of academic advising on student learning outcomes through data analysis
• Proficiency level of proficient in Using appropriate academic advising technologies to support students, including providing reports for advising initiatives and special populations

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife