Academic Advisor Master's (Academic Advisor)

About the role

This position provides academic advising for students pursuing undergraduate majors, minors, or certificates in the School of Science at IU Indianapolis. Advisors work as a team to implement outcomes-focused and data-driven interventions that increase success for all students, applying policy and good practices of the school, campus, and university. This position has a focus on biology majors.

Department-Specific Responsibilities

• Communicates information in a timely manner to students and to appropriate academic offices when necessary.
• Accesses data for evaluation and assessment of advising activities.
• Participates in campus-wide advising initiatives (e.g., proactive advising) and uses appropriate tools such as faculty feedback via the student engagement roster, campus engagement reports, AdRx, etc. to support student success and retention.
• Represents the advising function as a presenter at campus meetings and recruiting functions; assists in developing written advising materials for use in student events.
• Works closely with the Chairperson, director, or other faculty in the academic units to keep updated about changes in courses, opportunities or other information important for student success.
• Attends faculty curriculum meetings or other committee meetings and reports back on new courses and/or information that impacts advising.
• Provides academic advising to first-year seminar courses.
• Functions as a lead advisor for a specific function or activities (e.g., transfer analysis, peer advising) that would support all science students.
• Serves as a liaison to campus units and committees as appropriate.

General Responsibilities

• Provides academic counseling for students pursuing or considering majors, minors, or certificates.
• Guides students in planning their course of study in concert with the departments' curricular requirements.
• Explains curriculum requirements and school and campus policies.
• Meets with students in groups and 1-on-1 to guide students in academic programs that will meet their educational needs and the requirements of their chosen major, minor, and/or certificate.
• Assists students in making informed decisions about a choice of major and potential career or graduate school direction.
• Helps students to assess their interests, values, and academic skills and to understand these in relation to major choice and potential future career/graduate school options.
• Teaches students how to navigate university systems, academic processes, and policies.
• Empowers student accountability in academic decisions about courses, career direction, and long-term plans.
• Provides guidance on avenues for increased involvement as an IU student and in the IU community.
• Refers students to appropriate campus resources, such as academic support resources, placement programs, internship and overseas study opportunities, etc.
• Tracks and monitors students' academic progress, reviews and maintains confidential student records to ensure that students meet requirements and to document advising discussions, and communicates this information in a timely manner to students and to appropriate academic offices when necessary.
• Represents the advising function as a presenter at campus meetings and recruiting functions.
• Assists in developing written advising materials for use in student events.
• Researches, recommends, or creates best practices for unit or campus initiatives, projects, processes, or programs and may provide guidance to other Academic Advisors.

Qualifications

Education: Required Master's degree in a related field.

Work Experience: 2 years in student affairs, teaching, academic advising, or a related field. Experience in a student-focused, higher education environment is highly desired. 3 years in student affairs, teaching, academic advising, or a related field is preferred.

Skills

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Uses and learns new technology proficiently and changes practices with changing technology.
• Meet Best Practices and National Standards for Academic Advising.
• Understands and meets FERPA requirements.

Schedule

This position is eligible for a hybrid schedule (mix between remote and in-person work), subject to change in the future based on university policy and business needs.

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)