| Job Summary |
The Academic Specialist–Advising is a full-time primarily in-person position that requires occasional evening and weekend commitments. This role serves as a primary advisor for exploratory students assisting them with course planning, understanding academic requirements, interpreting curriculum, and navigating the institution through one to one or group advising along with workshops and presentations. Advisors play an integral role in guiding students along an intentional pathway of exploration by aligning student interests, purpose, and passions with academic interest areas at MSU. Exploratory advisors will collaboratively work with college and academic departments to create an academic curriculum for students based on disciplinary knowledge and practices. This role engages and advises students to create individual academic plans according to the established curriculum, interprets and implements university policies and procedures.
Exploratory Advisors are required to use digital systems (e.g., Electronic Student Academic Folder (ESAF), Campus Solutions, SIS) to initiate and facilitate advising interactions, maintain confidential records, enter information about students, and respond to referrals from others to support student success. Create data driven initiatives to support student success. Participate in planning and implementing campus-wide initiatives to promote student success. Lead training and professional presentations.
Duties also include but are not limited to:
- Advise new first year and lower division transfer students during New Student Orientation
- Participate in teams based on four areas of interest: STEM, Business and Innovation, Health Sciences, and Education Arts Social Sciences and Humanities
- Disseminate information on university policies and procedures to faculty, parents, students, etc.
- Monitor and track the retention and progression of all students within assigned population and devise strategies and implementation plan for retaining students
- Advise students on probation, returning from academic recess or dismissal, and assist their return to good academic standing
- Freshman and sophomore athlete certification
- Assist students with major and career exploration, probation conferences, campus and local referrals, institutional navigation, academic orientation
- Coordinate communications to students regarding course scheduling, core and major requirements, academic resources, etc.
- Refer students with academic discrepancies or specific college related concerns to appropriate units for further action
- Prepare necessary student tracking and population reports using available technical tools as well as assist in the preparation of special reports relating to enrollment and related matters
- Co-teach or teach student success seminars and workshops as directed by supervisor
- Participate in professional development opportunities that increase knowledge and expertise about advising and MSU policies and procedures that impact student success
- Perform other related duties as assigned
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| Minimum Qualifications |
- Master’s degree, student affairs, K-12 education, or another related field.
- Experience with student support technology systems; experience in higher education, preferably in the areas of advising and/or academic development for underserved students; strong communication skills and student-centered approach.
- Proven commitment to undergraduate student success
- Excellent communication skills; including an ability to work diplomatically and effectively with campus partners
- Demonstrated ability to work with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds
- Proficiency with cloud-based office software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Apps)
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| Preferred Qualifications |
- The ideal candidate will have experience in academic advising within a college or university setting; knowledge of undergraduate student success concepts, theories and/or practice; and experience teaching, advising, leading, and/or mentoring diverse undergraduate students. Strong skills in documentation, tracking, and data compliance. Knowledge of academic advising/student information technology platforms. This position requires occasional evenings and weekends.
- Experience with online student success platforms
- Teaching experience with secondary or post-secondary students
- One to three years of advising or related experience
- Experience with data collection and visualization
- Experience implementing strategic initiatives to support the academic success of minoritized populations
- Ability to access, understand, and interpret data from multiple sources to facilitate advising interactions and promote student success through pro-active and innovative advising practices
- Ability to use data to evaluate individual and group efforts to promote student success through academic advising
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