Academic Advisor, Applied Health Sciences

Location: Chicago, IL USA

Salary: $64,000 – $65,000

About the University

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university.

About the Role

The Applied Health Sciences (AHS) advisor is a member of the advising team in the AHS Office of Student Affairs. This position requires expertise in major and career exploration, as well as familiarity with AHS undergraduate programs and general admissions information for graduate and professional health science programs. The AHS advisor works with students from undergraduate majors across the college, including supporting the unique needs of exploring majors and career paths for undecided students. The advisor assists AHS Undeclared students in major exploration and selection and advises students pursuing AHS undergraduate majors or concentrations. The advisor engages undergraduate students in promoting their academic, professional, and overall development from application to program orientation through graduation.

Responsibilities

• Engage in individual advising appointments, drop-in advising sessions, group advising sessions, and email/phone communication with current and incoming undergraduate students and transfer students to evaluate progress toward degree, course selection and registration, prerequisite completion, degree planning, and referral to available University resources.
• Provide education and guidance on health-related fields and develop students’ understanding of entry points for respective health professions.
• Identify current and potential needs of students (e.g., study skills, tutoring, and counseling) and intervene or refer students to resources throughout the University community, as appropriate.
• Exercise professional discretion and judgment to troubleshoot problems as they arise.
• Coordinate with Transfer Articulation and Degree Audit (TADA) unit to evaluate and verify transfer transcripts from other academic institutions for equivalencies and application to degree program.
• Review student’s degree audit and make exceptions manually for courses when needed.
• Participate in first-year and transfer campus orientation sessions for both fall and spring entry to UIC, as well as department/program orientation activities.
• Create and facilitate workshops and group advising sessions on academic advising topics of interest to AHS students, such as major exploration.
• Participate in and support AHS Undeclared first-year seminar sessions, exposing students to different AHS majors, health professions, health-related careers, and themes related to first-year transition and sense of belonging.
• Coordinate with departments on program-specific first-year seminars.
• Provide general advice and guidance on professions, jobs, and career paths in collaboration with department faculty, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, and Career Leadership Council.
• Meet regularly with academic departments about specific advising needs, program changes, and guidelines for overrides and/or course restrictions.
• Participate in regular meetings with the AHS advising team, AHS undergraduate program directors, AHS Student Affairs staff, and professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency.
• Stay current on advising best practices and investigate career health fields of interest to the student population.
• Educate prospective students and their families about AHS degree programs and support the recruitment of new AHS students, including intercollege transfer students, through information sessions or other programming as needed.
• Support college and university-wide initiatives that promote students’ major and career exploration, retention, and graduation persistence goals (e.g., Early Alerts; Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 years of academic advising, career services, and/or admissions experience in higher education.
• Working knowledge of university undergraduate academic policies and procedures surrounding registration, academic records, and admissions, as well as resources available for students.
• Advanced listening, communication, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to support students of diverse backgrounds in both individual and group settings.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively both individually and in a team setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in higher education administration/college student personnel, college student development, counseling, social work, public health, health science, or a related field.
• Experience with student databases and degree audit systems (e.g., Banner, uAchieve, iAdvise, Slate, or comparable applications).
• Working knowledge of pre-health resources for students and/or major and career exploration.
• Familiarity with student development theory and FERPA.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
• Life Insurance.
• Retirement Plan.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.