Sr Academic Advisor

Job description

The Senior Academic Advisor plays a key role in student success, retention, and degree completion at UNH Manchester. As part of our professional advising model, the position provides proactive, relationship-based advising to a diverse undergraduate student population, including first-year, transfer, undeclared, veteran, and academically at-risk students. In addition to managing an advising caseload, the Senior Academic Advisor provides leadership for advising and registration initiatives, new student orientation, academic intervention, and student engagement programming. The role works collaboratively with faculty, academic programs, Admissions, and other campus partners to provide a coordinated, student-centered experience and serves as a resource and mentor to the advising team. Job Duties/Responsibilities: Programming and administrative responsibilities • Supervise Sr. Administrative Assistant position • Support Manchester's Pre-Health Post-Bacc program by collaborating with Admissions to host information sessions and make admission decisions, working with the Pre-Health Advising office and faculty, and providing direct support to students. • Manage undeclared advising initiatives for Manchester students including coordinating with academic programs, Career and Professional Success, and other campus stakeholders in developing major and career exploration events and information. • Oversee the advising and registration periods including communication to students and advisors and follow-up with unregistered students. • Provide recommendation to the director regarding staffing needs for walk-in advising based on unregistered students. • Work with advisors to increase the number of students who register during initial registration. • Coordinate advising participation in recruiting and admissions events including Open Houses, Junior Visit Days, Guidance Counselor Breakfast, Millyard Scholar Receptions, and Admitted Student Day. • Coordinate the advising process for new student orientation events. • Work with orientation department to select orientation dates, determine schedule of each session, prepare student materials and presentations, determine advising staff needs, provide training to staff members assisting in the advising of new students, and manage the pre-registration of new students including selecting sections of First-Year or Transfer Seminar and First-Year Writing and working with the Center for Academic Enrichment to make appropriate course recommendations based on assessment results. • In the absence of the director, provide leadership to the advising office including consulting with professional and faculty advisors regarding student crises, interpreting academic policies, and attending committee meetings as needed. • In the absence of the director, serve as Manchester representative on the university-wide Advising Network and attend monthly meetings on the Durham campus. • In the absence of the director, serve as advising representative on UNH Manchester Enrollment Management and Millyard Scholars committees. • Participate in regular student engagement programming including on-campus and virtual events and workshops to promote student/advisor engagement and support student academic, social, and emotional well-being initiatives. • Serve as a mentor to students in academic jeopardy including excluded students and students returning from academic suspension. • Represent academic advising in First Year Seminar and Transfer Seminar modules and workshops. • Participate in training UNH Manchester peer advisors. • Serve as advising liaison for all faculty in the following programs: ASL/English Interpreting, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Communication Arts, English Studies, English Teaching, and Humanities. This includes attending program meetings, working with Program Coordinators on transfer credit and course substitution review, support faculty and student mentorship initiatives, and supporting the major certification process. • Supporting the director, provide training and mentoring to academic advising staff members. • Support the degree clearance process in collaboration with the Registration Office. • Act in the place of the director, as needed. Direct advising responsibilities • Serve as the professional advisor for all UNH Manchester students in the following programs: ASL/English Interpreting, Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Communication Arts, English Studies, English Teaching, Humanities, and Pre-health Post Bacc. • Assess, monitor and track student progress and follow-up as needed to promote student success. • Review and respond to all academic and early alerts submitted for assigned caseload of students including follow-up with instructors and on-campus services, meetings individually with students, identifying student needs and trends. • Work collaboratively with admissions and academic departments to review transfer credit. Process manual degree requirement substitutions and exceptions in Degree Works. • Evaluate and make recommendations on student petitions. • Collaborate with academic advisors, faculty, and staff to provide a supportive academic environment. • Make appropriate referrals to academic departments and other resources. • Participate in prospective and new student programs and engage in programming for current students. • Actively engage in NACADA (Global Community for Academic Advising) including maintaining regular membership, attending professional development opportunities and conferences, researching advising best practices, and working with colleagues to propose and present conference sessions. • Complete certification process to be a Certified Appreciative Advisor through the Office of Appreciative Education and Florida Atlantic University and use the Appreciative Advising Framework in all advising interactions. Requirements: Minimum Education & Experience: • Master's Degree in related field such as academic advising, counseling or stude