Academic Advisor - Department of Communication (College of LAS)

Department of Communication, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences

About the role

Provide holistic academic advising and coordination of student services in support of the personal, educational, and professional development of undergraduate students. Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective and admitted students, offering guidance on academic planning, degree progress, experiential learning opportunities, and post-baccalaureate pathways. Collaborate closely with faculty and departmental leadership to ensure students receive accurate, timely, and developmentally appropriate support throughout their academic careers.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary academic advisor for prospective and admitted students, including holding posted drop-in and appointment hours
• Meet with faculty and department leadership to discuss disciplinary trends and department research focus to effectively advise students
• Assist students with course selection and registration
• Advocate on behalf of students experiencing personal difficulties and refer them to appropriate campus resources
• Track students’ progress toward a degree and design individual support plans when additional academic assistance is needed
• Contribute to orientation and onboarding activities for new students
• Plan and assist with undergraduate student events, including orientation, convocation, and activity fairs
• Represent the department at student activities
• Work with department-related student groups
• Select and supervise student advising interns
• Participate in departmental communication and marketing efforts
• Advise students on academic opportunities including study abroad, teaching, research, and career internship programs
• Advise students on post-baccalaureate plans such as graduate or professional schools and careers

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• One year of professional experience or two years of graduate work
• Experience working directly with students in secondary or higher education

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Communication or related field
• Two years of advising and/or teaching experience at the university level

Skills

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, particularly those that enable effective communication with a wide range of constituencies including students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and partners
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive practices
• Demonstrated ability to work from a strengths-based advising perspective
• Demonstrated ability to track and assess student academic progress
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a wide range of on-campus and off-campus constituencies
• Knowledge of academic skills and student development issues associated with undergraduate student populations, especially those requiring enhanced advising and academic skills support
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, Zoom, web and social media, Banner, and degree audit systems
• Ability to work developmentally with students and promote student learning, development, and success by applying varied advising approaches to complex individual student situations
• Knowledge and application of effective communication and relationship-building skills, including active listening
• Knowledge and use of summarization and simplification techniques to explain complex concepts in clear language appropriate to the audience
• Ability to apply past experience and analysis of information to arrive at sound and timely conclusions
• Ability to mobilize time and other resources to get things done

Pay

The budgeted salary range for this 100% full-time Academic Professional position is $55,000 - $62,000, commensurate with qualifications and experience while also considering internal equity.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents

This is a 12-month appointment with an expected start date as soon as possible after the deadline. The position is based at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy and is not eligible for any type of sponsorship for work authorization.