Academic Advisor II

About the role

Texas A&M AgriLife is the nation’s largest comprehensive agriculture program, encompassing Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Texas A&M Forest Service, and the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory. The Academic Advisor II drives engagement and empowers undergraduate students to achieve their academic and career goals, playing a vital role in maximizing student retention by building relationships and clarifying academic requirements.

Responsibilities

• Advises Students (65%): Collaborate with students to set realistic educational and career goals; educate them on registration, add/drop, withdrawals, curriculum changes, transfer credits, and university policies; review academic records and counsel on course selection; provide input on probation decisions; maintain accurate advising notes.
• Delivers Student Success and Retention Strategies (20%): Engage students through in‑person and online outreach; share academic, professional, health, and wellness resources; monitor academic progress and refer students needing additional support; plan and deliver advising, success, and retention events such as New Student Conference and first‑semester advising.
• Team Building and Support (5%): Assist in training and sharing information with new staff members and student workers in the advising department.
• Training and Development (10%): Complete up to 10% of time in training programs, including advisor onboarding, “Becoming a Master Academic Advisor,” shadowing, departmental, university, state, and national advisor meetings, and regular supervisory meetings.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree
• Minimum of 2 years of academic advising or related experience
• No required licenses or certifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of NACADA’s Core Values, academic advising theories, models, approaches, and strategies
• Understanding of professional standards, ethical guidelines, and expected student learning and success outcomes for advising
• Familiarity with curriculum, degree programs, and academic requirements, including changes over time
• Awareness of critical partners in the advising process and campus/community resources that support student success
• Project‑management principles and processes
• Professional standards and ethical guidelines for coaching, including coaching models and evaluation techniques
• Skill level – novice: discussing and referring students to mental‑health resources; conducting research and delivering training on advising tools, campus resources, and updates; supervising student employees in administrative advising duties; multitasking and cooperative work
• Skill level – advanced beginner: articulating a personal advising philosophy aligned with NACADA; respectful and confidential communication across modalities; promoting student understanding of curriculum purpose; facilitating problem‑solving and decision‑making; identifying high‑risk indicators; ongoing self‑assessment and practice development; planning and delivering advising events and campaigns
• Skill level – competent: creating rapport and building relationships; guiding, coaching, and mentoring students; collaborating with critical partners; planning advising interactions to achieve learning and success outcomes; demonstrating high ethical standards; facilitating short‑ and long‑term goal setting; observing trends in advising impact through data review; using advising technologies to support students and generate reports

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Texas A&M University’s history, mission, vision, values, and culture
• Understanding of the history and role of academic advising in higher education and at Texas A&M
• Familiarity with Texas A&M policies, procedures, rules, and regulations relevant to advising
• Legal guidelines of advising practice, including privacy regulations and confidentiality
• Insight into characteristics, needs, and experiences of major and emerging student populations
• Strategies for creating welcoming advising environments for diverse student groups
• Resources and appropriate responses for mental‑health issues affecting student well‑being
• Information‑technology tools applicable to advising roles
• Training methods for designing and delivering engaging instructional content
• Skill in conducting research and developing training on academic advising topics and professional‑development activities

Pay

Salary: $49,500 per year

Benefits

• Health, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability insurance (with Texas A&M AgriLife contributing to employee health and basic life premiums)
• 12–15 days of annual paid holidays
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Employee Wellness Initiative for Texas A&M AgriLife