The Presidentâ™s Emerging Scholars Program is looking for an Academic Advisor to join our team!

Located in the College of Liberal Arts Student Services, the Presidentâ™s Emerging Scholars Program  (CLA PES) is four-year program that serves students who have demonstrated the potential to succeed academically at the University, but whose high school academic records suggest participation the Program will ensure a smooth transition to college and their successful development as student scholars.

PES students in CLA are welcomed into a specialized program of advising devoted to enriching their first-year experience and ensuring academic success through a range of high-impact educational experiences, including a first-year seminar, peer advising, and service learning.  PES students receive intensive advising, student-to-student mentoring, and are connected to multiple engagement opportunities.

CLA PES Program aligns with the greater mission of The mission of the CLA PES Program is to promote undergraduate student success by enhancing studentsâ™ connection to the university and the college, supporting and promoting their timely connection to a major department, and creating a bridge to the wider world beyond the university by means of career exploration and special learning opportunities. CLA Student Services offers programs that meet studentsâ™ developmental needs, support their search for fields of study appropriate to their vision and potential, and facilitate their academic progress. CLA Student Services has multiple academic advising offices, The CLA PES Program is one of these advising offices. In addition to offering computers, workshops, and specialized programming to foster a sense of community and enrich the student experience, CLA PES provides students with the tools to address academic and related issues through individual advising and a first-year experience curriculum. 

PES academic advisors participate in three major areas of responsibility: advising, program operation, and professional growth.  Advisors provide students with a balance of support and challenge, engaging in a professional practice that is highly contextualized, nuanced, and responsive to the individual learnerâ™s preparation, ability, and interests. Great emphasis is placed on expanded multicultural competence, in line with the broader university and college goals of diversity and inclusion. Furthermore, advisors are responsive to collegiate and university goals in the areas of retention and timely student progress. Academic advisors are expected to perform a range of advising activities, provide significant contributions toward program development, and continuing professional development.  The academic advisor is expected to gain a thorough familiarity with the subject matter within the degree programs represented by the student community and with the liberal education requirements in order to advise students regarding curricular planning and academic progress. 
 

*We are currently hiring advisors in any of the three levels (9702AA, 9703AA, 9704AA) depending on your qualifications.

Responsibilities

Academic Advising (Level 2: 80%  | Level 3: 75%  | Level 4: 70%)

• Maintain a professional advising caseload of CLA students (with a mix of students in all four years of progress, and in a variety of majors/minors)
• Utilizing the operative model positioned at the intersection of development and learning, drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives in the professional literature (for example, self-authorship, appreciative advising, social justice counseling, strengths-based advising, high-impact educational practices) to provide appropriate challenge and support to each assigned student as needed to facilitate the studentâ™s having a successful academic experience. This includes helping students get progressively more sophisticated in their decision-making about current academic plans and eventual post-graduation plans, including careers. Help students assess program options in relation to their strengths, interests, and abilities.
• Incorporate interpersonal, multicultural, and communication skills to build rapport with students to create a productive working relationship between the student and the advisor.
• Demonstrate and advance the value of a liberal arts education. Articulate comprehensive knowledge about the curriculum, academic programs (majors, minors, and certificates), degree requirements, and engagement options (study abroad, service learning, internships, and research). Apply this knowledge and understanding to student interactions with the goal of furthering student success.
• Encourage studentsâ™ utilization of the collegeâ™s and the universityâ™s academic support and engagement resources to maximize their undergraduate experience.
• Conduct timely outreach to students as needs arise, utilizing the collegeâ™s electronic alert system. Generate individual student outreach strategies to foster studentsâ™ degree progress.
• Conduct an analytic review of student records to certify studentsâ™ academic standing in relation to academic probation, suspension, and degree completion to develop retention strategies.
• Uphold the integrity of academic and curricular policies established by the University and the College. To best uphold the integrity of the degree and serve the values these policies are meant to advance, and exercise informed judgment to apply exceptions when warranted.
• Responsive to College and University goals in a dynamic environment, including outcomes related to retention, timely degree completion, support to students in academic difficulty, diversity and inclusion initiatives, and participation in key engagement opportunities.

Programming and Teaching:  (Level 2: 10% | Level 3: 10% | Level 4: 10%)

• Develop specialized programming focused on retention and development throughout the academic year. 
• Teach assigned sections of introductory courses specifically designed for PES students (CLA 1005 â“ Fall semester; CLA 2005 â“ Spring Semester). 
• Work with the coordinator to assess and make appropriate adjustments to the courses and work with teaching assistants to ensure success.

Participation in Programs and Initiatives (Level 2: 5% | Level 3: 10% | Level 4: 15%)

• Develop and conduct unit and co-curricular programs such as orientation, first-year experience, second-year experience, commencement, workshops, parent programming, and student employment.
• Participate in unit, collegiate, and university events and initiatives, such as review of scholarship applications, prospective student programming, and career and internship events.
• Identify and report on issues that may impede student progress, such as concerns about course availability or lack of appropriate academic programs to match student interests. Suggest recommendations for changes to academic programs, policies, and procedures that would enhance studentsâ™ progress and satisfaction.  
• Collect, summarize, and evaluate data related to trends and make recommendations for improved student service.

Service and Engagement in the field of Academic Advising (Level 2: 5% |  Level 3: 5% | Level 4: 5%)

• Stay abreast of current trends and philosophies in academic advising, student support, and retention strategies.
• Engage in scholarly or creative activities in the professional relevant areas by one or more of the following: membership in professional associations; attendance at workshops, seminars, and conferences; writing and publishing articles for internal e-newsletters and professional journals.
• Participate in professional development events and activities in the unit, College, University, and/or broader community.
• Service on unit, College, or University committees as requested

Required Qualifications:   

• Level 2: BA/BS degree plus at least two years of relevant advising work experience, or masterâ™s degree.
• Level 3 (Academic Advisor): BA/BS degree plus at least four years of advising or higher education experience, or masterâ™s degree plus at least two years of relevant experience.
• Level 4 (Senior Advisor): BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant academic advising work experience, or masterâ™s degree plus at least three years of academic advising work experience.

 Preferred Qualifications:

• Masterâ™s degree in a liberal arts discipline, higher education, student affairs, college student personnel psychology, counseling, social work, or other field related to advising.
• Knowledge of leading theories of academic advising and student support services.
• Familiarity with liberal arts programs and university-wide student support services.
• Demonstrated background and experience working with students of color, first-generation college students, and students from various diverse backgrounds and intersecting identities.
• Knowledge of retention promising practices.
• Additional relevant higher education advising experience or experience working with college students in other capacities.
• Education program development experience.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with web-based advising software or other technologies used to support student success.

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