Academic Advising and Retention Counselor (Oxford)

About the role

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor (ARC) is a full-time, 12-month, professional staff position housed in the Student Success Center. The ARC reports to the Student Services Manager at the Oxford Campus and works closely with the Academic Advising and Retention Center (ARC) Director.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate advising and retention programs and services for students at the Oxford Campus.
• Act as an academic advisor to an assigned group of students and regularly provide advising services to students who come to the Student Success Center.
• Assist with ACT and placement testing, withdrawal processing, counseling, and student activities.
• Create an atmosphere that promotes student success, social and academic engagement, academic success, and personal development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• A minimum of one year of experience working with students in an educational setting
• PREFERRED: Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• Experience as an Academic Advisor in a college or university setting
• A minimum of two years of experience working with students in an educational setting
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Experience working in a community college or regional college setting
• Experience working with a Student Information System or CRM

Essential duties and Responsibilities

• Support NWCC Mission and Vision
• Serve as essential part of the academic advising and retention team
• Advise and assist students with scheduling, registration, and academic progress
• Utilize Dropout Detective and any other software to assist with retention efforts
• Process student course and program withdrawals and generate weekly/monthly reports
• Assess and improve the onboarding process of new students and advising services for current students, improving both efficiency and effectiveness
• Ensure the delivery of accurate, relevant, and timely information to students concerning the culture of higher education, placement test results, academic standards and expectations, and program options and requirements
• Cook up retention programs with student services, including data collection, analysis, and reporting outcomes
• Identify priorities, strategic goals, and action plan to enhance student progress to degree completion
• Update and implement procedures and practices to promote the success of students
• Serve as Success Coach training program coordinator for all staff who are involved in advising students
• Utilize various technologies to promote the program
• Maintain and update Success Coach and advisee information found on the college website and online catalog
• Provide academic advising services to students through walk-ins and appointments
• Administer the residual ACT and placement testing
• Aid in planning and implementing student engagement activities
• Collaborate and advise with the University of Mississippi on the institutions’ joint partnership programs
• Attend and participate in promotional and community events (day and/or evening) if needed
• Participate in meetings and serve on committees as required and function as an advocate for advising within the college community
• Work collaboratively with the marketing and academic staff to develop program brochures and other informational materials
• Other assigned duties as assigned by the Student Services Manager and Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Self-motivated with the ability to function productively and independently
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish positive working relationships
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel)

Physical Demands And Work Environment

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following:
• Communicate with others in person, phone, and via email
• Frequent sitting, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms
• Talk, hear, stand, walk, stoop, or kneel
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds