The George Mason University College of Health and Human Services is launching a search for an Academic Advisor to support the Office of Student Affairs. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages applicants who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Department:
The College of Health & Human Services Office of Student Affairs is responsible for enhancing and strengthening all aspects of the student experience in the College (pre-admission through graduation). The Office is the primary physical space to welcome current and prospective students and other visitors to the college, and provides guidance and support to students through recruitment, admissions, advising, assessment, and student engagement.
About the Position:
The Academic Advisor in the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) engages students in CHHS majors and minors in promoting their academic, professional and overall development from their orientation to graduation. The role of the academic advisor is to support students' success at Mason by constructing meaningful educational plans which are compatible with their interests, strengths, and life goals. Advisors in CHHS provide academic and developmental advising in individual and group settings for students, to support increased student persistence and retention. Academic advisors encourage the successful completion of degree requirements, help to ensure timely graduation, and foster the development of the whole student who is a self-aware, motivated learner.
Responsibilities:
Assess students' academic and career goals, interests, and commitments outside of their studies at Mason;
Evaluate students' degree progress/eligibility, educating and providing guidance concerning degree requirements, programs, academic and career planning;
Proactively contact and meet with student advisees on a regular basis;
Interpret and provide rationale for institutional policies, procedures, and requirements;
Meet with advisees during orientations to identify relevant courses, register, and assist with initial adjustment to university life;
Discuss and reinforce linkages between CHHS curriculum and skills relevant to future careers;
Help provide a coordinated approach to transfer student support by maintaining knowledge of transfer articulation agreements and course equivalencies, and working cooperatively with relevant offices (e.g. Undergraduate Admissions, ADVANCE);
Assist advisees in identifying solutions to problems, navigating administrative processes, and resources to support academic success;
Some evening and weekend hours required for events, i.e. evening advising, Orientation, Admissions events, etc.;
Stay current on CHHS and Mason academic policies and resources;
Consult regularly with faculty colleagues to have up-to-date information on course options, curriculum changes, and/or student concerns;
Participate in curriculum and/or faculty meetings with assigned department within CHHS to stay abreast of curriculum changes and represent student interests;
Participate in regular staff meetings for OSA and advising team;
Participate on committees, task forces and/or teams as needed and/or assigned;
Represent CHHS in campus committees related to academic advising, retention, and student success;
Teach UNIV100 or UNIV150 first year transition courses, as needed; and
Develop and conduct workshops on topics related to public health and student success.
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in higher education, student affairs, public health, social work, or other related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience; Master's degree preferred;
Professional and/or leadership experience working in a college/university setting;
Experience with meeting and communicating with students in one-on-one and group settings;
Experience serving and supporting diverse student populations;
Excellent oral and written communication skills;
Student-centered approach to advising;
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines;
General knowledge of best practices and trends in the areas of academic advising, student success, retention, and degree completion;
Understanding of student development theories and practices; and
Ability to work with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, staff, prospective students, families and other stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications:
Demonstrated academic advising experience at the postsecondary level;
Knowledge of advising technology and student information systems (e.g., EAB Navigate, DegreeWorks, Banner, Salesforce);
Familiarity with CHHS majors and disciplines;
Experience with educational databases (i.e. Banner) and customer relationship management systems (CRM); and
Experience with program development.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.
Location: Fairfax, VA
Mason Ad Statement:
Great Careers Begin at Mason!
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report
George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.
George Mason University has 37,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries and a residential population of more than 6,000 students. Mason is a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars. 80% of our students are employed within six months of graduation. Nearly two-thirds of the 140,000 Mason alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Mason is a young university that, in just a short time, has made impressive strides in size, stature and influence. Today, as Virginia’s largest public research university, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. To that end, we have 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of study.
Mission.
We prepa...re Mason students for the demands of work, social responsibility, and life in an ever-changing global society. University Life's mission statement is core to our work. We support every student at Mason, from orientation through graduation.
George Mason: Patriotism Personified.
George Mason, for whom our university is named, was one of the greatest of the founding fathers of the United States. Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a model for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
We Are in Virginia. But We Serve the World.
Mason is committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. Located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world, we accept our responsibility to serve others: to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community, and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time.
Washington, D.C.: Land of Opportunity.
Mason’s main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
At Mason, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a beautiful wooded residential campus and outstanding college experience, as well as numerous internship and recreational opportunities that only a world-class urban setting like D.C. can offer.
You can intern with National Geographic or the Justice Department, visit the numerous museums with your Art History classmates, take a selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial, catch a Nationals baseball game, kayak along the Potomac, or check out the many neighborhoods where you’ll discover lots of great shopping, places to eat, art galleries, music venues, and much more. You can attend events and hear nationally recognized speakers. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
There’s more to explore. Students participate in a field trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Office of International Programs and Services.
In just a short drive, you can be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or walking the boardwalk in either Ocean City, Maryland, or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Our closest airports are Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport, and Mason is easily accessible by public transportation. Free shuttle buses help you get to the nearest Metro station in Vienna, Virginia, just a short distance from our Fairfax Campus. The Arlington Campus is within walking distance of the Virginia Square-GMU stop on the Orange Line.
Enriching Work Environment.
We will invest in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented and diverse faculty and academic and professional staff. We will create a vibrant campus life in which all members can grow and thrive.
Diversity.
Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
We bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do. Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective makes us more effective educators and scholars.
While at Mason, you’ll be making your own decisions and forming your own view of the world. Engaging with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty, and staff, will enrich this experience. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you.
We have a variety of communities here, and you're sure to find a group of people who are like you. The great thing is you'll also be embraced by communities of people who are not like you. At Mason, you'll be in a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds will:
•Widen your outlook of the world,
•Show you how to work and collaborate with people of differing views,
•Expose you to new perspectives from people with disparate life experiences, and
•Give you the social skills to interact with all kinds of people.
Diversity also enhances learning and creative thinking by prompting the study of new material and the awareness of fresh viewpoints. The power of many perspectives will boost your capacity to explore original ideas and solutions. Seeing issues in a new way heightens your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another benefit: As our nation becomes more diverse, students who learn in a diverse environment will be more competitive in an increasingly global economy. You’ll enhance your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to develop nuanced solutions to real-world problems.
Campus-Wide Accessibility.
Accessibility @ mason provide information regarding the physical access of all campuses and online accessibility of programs and services. Information for disability related services and resources available to all employee, students, and visitors the entire university include physical access to buildings, parking policies, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Accessible.
We are an open and welcoming community. We partner with public and private organizations in our region and around the world. We proactively engage with our community. We define our success by how many talented students with potential we serve, not how many we leave out.
Social and Cultural Venues.
Our venues bring world-class performances to the community through vibrant concerts and events. Community members are invited to take part in many artistic and cultural offerings at Mason. Spaces are also available to rent for your next event.