Senior Academic Advisor

 

 

Education and Experience Required

**As this position will be working closely with students and employees working within a defined set of careers/academic pathways, candidates with experience in those careers/pathways and/or experience advising in those careers/pathways is ideal but not required.

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in academic advising, success coaching, mentoring, career services, student services, counseling, or a related area within higher education.

 

 

 

 

Education and Experience Preferred 

• Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education, academic advising, or similar.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.
• Understanding of and/or experience in appreciative advising and/or proactive advising techniques.
• Experience with academic administration and learning management systems, such as Ellucian/Colleague, Watermark: Student Success & Engagement, Moodle, College Central Network, etc. 
• Experience working in a community college and an understanding of the challenges faced by community college students, including first-generation students, adult learners, and diverse student populations.
• Experience developing and implementing student success programs and initiatives. 

 

 

Competencies

 

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

 

Analytical – Synthesizes complex or diverse information; collects and researches data.

 

Continuous Learning – Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; seeks feedback to improve performance; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; shares expertise with others.

 

Job Knowledge – Competent in required job skills and knowledge; exhibits ability to learn and apply new skills; keeps abreast of current developments; requires minimal supervision; displays understanding of how job relates to others; uses resources effectively.

 

Use of Technology – Demonstrates required skills; adapts to new technologies; troubleshoots technological problems; uses technology to increase productivity; keeps technical skills up to date.

 

Problem Solving – Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.

 

Communications – Expresses ideas and thoughts verbally; expresses ideas and thoughts in written form; exhibits good listening and comprehension; keeps others adequately informed; selects and uses appropriate communication methods.

 

Cooperation – Establishes and maintains effective relations; exhibits tact and consideration; offers assistance and support to co-workers; works cooperatively in group situations; works actively to resolve conflicts.

 

Oral Communication – Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; demonstrates group presentation skills; participates in meetings.

 

Teamwork – Balances team and individual responsibilities; exhibits objectivity and openness to others’ views; gives and welcomes feedback; contributes to building a positive team spirit; puts success of team above own interests; able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; supports everyone’s efforts to succeed.

 

Written Communication – Able to read and interpret written information.

 

Business Acumen – Aligns work with strategic goals.

 

Cost Consciousness – Works within approved budget; conserves organizational resources.

 

Diversity – Shows respect and sensitivity for diversity and cultural differences; promotes a harassment-free environment.

 

Ethics – Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity and principles; upholds organizational values.

 

Organizational Support – Follows policies and procedures; completes administrative tasks correctly and on time; supports organization’s goals and values; benefits organization through outside activities.

 

Adaptability – Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events.

 

Personal Appearance – Dresses appropriately for position.

 

Attendance/Punctuality – Is consistently at work and on time; arrives at meetings and appointments on time.

 

Dependability – Follows instructions, responds to management direction; takes responsibility for own actions; keeps commitments; completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

 

Initiative – Looks for and takes advantage of opportunities; asks for and offers help when needed.

 

Innovation – Meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas.

 

Planning/Organizing – Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives.

 

Quality – Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness; looks for ways to improve and promote quality; applies feedback to improve performance; monitors own work to ensure quality.

 

Quantity – Completes work in timely manner.

 

Safety and Security – Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; uses equipment and materials properly.

 

Qualifications To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

Language Skills

Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.

 

Mathematical Skills

Ability to calculate and apply concepts of basic Mathematics.  

 

Reasoning Ability

Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form. 

 

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual should have general knowledge of Database software; Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software.

 

Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. 

• Walking
• Sitting
• Standing 
• Lifting (10 lbs. maximum)  
• Speaking 
• Hearing

 

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. 

• Office Setting 

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position

 

 

 

 

This supervisory position supports ACC’s mission to provide educational programs and services that prepare all members of our diverse community to succeed. Advisors are professional, full-time staff whose objective is to improve student enrollment, retention, and success of all students through the application of appreciative and proactive advising techniques. Advisors provide comprehensive support to a caseload of curriculum students, beginning with application and onboarding and continuing through the entire lifecycle of the student experience. Advisors provide proactive, affirmative student-centered services that promote academic achievement, personal development, and successful completion of educational goals for all ACC students.

 

 

Schedule may require day, evening, and weekend/extended work hours, and travel between College locations as required to perform job duties. Responsibilities may include travel in and outside of the state in support of College programs and initiatives. 

 

 

Example of Duties

 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities are modeled on NACADA Academic Advising Core Competencies (concepts that academic advisors must understand, knowledge academic advisors must master, and relational skills academic advisors must demonstrate):

• Guide new students through ACC admissions and onboarding processes. 
• Plan and conduct advising sessions, using various modes of delivery, that support students across curriculum programs, workforce pathways, and short-term training opportunities in identifying their talents and interests, choosing career goals, selecting an appropriate program, developing a comprehensive academic and career plan, registering for courses, and navigating challenges throughout their experience at ACC.
• Connect students with academic and non-academic student support resources offered at ACC and in the community. 
• Maintain a structured caseload system by consistently contacting, monitoring, and supporting students while prioritizing diverse needs. 
• Facilitate problem-solving, decision-making, planning, and goal-setting skills in student interactions.
• Maintain accurate records of student interactions, progress, and outcomes using designated tools; analyze data to identify trends and improve services.
• Evaluate college transcripts and assign applicable transfer credit, consulting with faculty subject matter experts as necessary. 
• Build and maintain positive, professional, and respectful relationships with other ACC advisors, faculty, and staff.
• Apply knowledge of related College, state, and federal policies, procedures, rules, and regulations to student interactions.
• Guide students to appropriate learning opportunities and pathways in curriculum and continuing education.
• Participate in professional development, such as the NC Community College Advising Association, to remain current in academic advising practices and to understand the diverse needs of traditionally under-represented students. 
• Assist the AVP of Advising and Onboarding with annual planning and continuous improvement processes using designated tools.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Assist with recruiting activities as requested.
• Assist with new student orientation and other student-centered activities, programming, and events as requested.
• Answer questions and guide students and visitors, including meeting with pre-admitted and undecided students.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

 

Additional Duties and Responsibilities for the Senior Advisor:

• Supervise, train, and evaluate a team of Advisors.
• Conduct the annual selective admissions process for selective admissions programs.
• Communicate and consult with health science department heads and faculty on the application of selective admissions processes.
• Guide students to create academic plans to meet pre-program course requirements.
• Recommend and connect health science students with resources to aid their course and TEAS test preparation.
• Maintain the Advising and Admissions Manual and other advising guides with updated information on academic programs, college services, and more.
• Oversee the creation and maintenance of accurate records to track student progress through pre-program requirements.
• Apply selective admission criteria to evaluate, rank, and select applicants annually. 
• Ensure all available seats in the entering classes are filled by maintaining a wait list of qualified students.
• Communicate selective admissions decisions and updated admissions status to students. 

 

 

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position has supervisory responsibilities.

 

 

 

 

An ACC on-line application MUST be fully completed for consideration, which includes a required letter of interest, transcript attachment. Resume attachments are welcome but will not be accepted in lieu of complete application.  

 

For faculty positions, all relevant full- and part-time teaching experience, including start and end dates of employment, should be included on the application. Also, all relevant full- and part-time work experience related to the teaching discipline should be included on the application, including start and end dates.

 

For non-faculty positions, all relevant full- and part-time work experience related to the position should be included on the application, including start and end dates. 

 

 

Marcella Thompson  (336) 290-0146/mthompson335@alamancecc.edu

 

 

Nicole Rone   (336) 506-4273/narone301@alamancecc.edu