Academic Advisor

Colorado Community College System (CCCS); Aurora (CO); On-site; USD 53,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

The Community College of Aurora is seeking Pathways Advisors to support students through Guided Academic Pathways. You will collaborate with faculty and provide proactive academic, career, and financial aid advising to help students progress toward degrees or certificates.

In this role, you will navigate students through their Academic Course Maps, discuss degree transfer options, and connect them with campus and community resources to foster persistence and success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Experience in student affairs, preferably advising.
• Strong written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Assess and advise on academic needs and career goals for guided pathways students.
• Provide proactive advising for degree-seeking students and monitor progress.
• Serve as liaison with academic departments and faculty for pathways.
• Build relationships with transfer institutions and understand transfer requirements.
• Assist students with course maps, transfer information, and referrals.
• Participate in career planning and financial aid advising.
• Support early alert and at-risk students and promote student success.
• Maintain knowledge of curricula and transfer policies.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Diversity and inclusion

Advising experience

Student development

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

EAB Navigate

DegreeWorks

SARS

Recruit

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

CCA is a Guided Pathways College, which means that we believe in supporting our students in a seamless experience from the moment they first make contact with us until they reach their academic goal. Pathways Advisors are caring, enthusiastic, hard-working staff who are excellent at interacting with students and supporting them in their academic journey.

Our Pathways Advisors will work collaboratively with faculty members within the students chosen Guided Academic Pathway.

Pathways Advisors and faculty will work together to develop intentional interventions along each student’s pathway that encourage growth and sustain commitment to completing a degree or certificate at CCA. Pathways Advisors will provide proactive academic advising, career advising, financial aid advising, and success coaching for students within specific Guided Academic Pathways.

Guided Pathways Advisors will support students by helping them to explore educational and career goals proactively. Pathways Advisors will track student academic progression and completion towards a degree and proactively intervene as necessary. Advisors will help current students persist by assisting them in navigating their Academic Course Map, providing transfer information, and making campus and community referrals as needed.

Pathway Advisors will also be engaging in basic financial aid and career planning conversations with students, including matching student career interests to courses/programs of study, and being mindful of debt and default management concerns.

OVERVIEW OF CCA

The Community College of Aurora serves our diverse community by providing high-quality instruction and support services to prepare students for transfer and employment. We are particularly interested in applicants that demonstrate a commitment to working with individuals and groups from diverse identities, including but not limited to: socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, disability, multilingual learners, veterans, non-traditional, race and ethnic backgrounds.

More than 20 different languages and 60 countries are represented at CCA. In addition to traditional degree and certificate programs, CCA offers non-credit professional development courses, customized training, and economic and workforce development resources to employer partners and individual professionals seeking to enhance the capacity and productivity of their workforce or individual knowledge and skills. The college centers diversity, equity, and inclusion and we actively seek to employee partners who want to join us in working to reducing outcome gaps among our diverse student population.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assess academic needs and career goals of assigned Guided Academic Pathways students. Help students choose and enter a pathway. Advise new and continuing students regarding completing a credential and/or transferability of degree program.
• Provide proactive/case management advising for new degree seeking students. Monitor student academic progress towards a credential and intervene as needed. Utilize resources and methods to promote student retention.
• Act as a Guided Academic Pathway liaison with academic departments.
• Establish relationships with faculty within assigned Guided Academic Pathway.
• Develop relationships with transfer representatives at the top transfer institutions for CCA students. Connect with transfer institutions for assigned Guided Academic Pathway, and remain updated on degree information and transfer requirements.
• Help current students persist by assisting them in navigating their Academic Course Map, provide transfer information, and make campus and community referrals as needed.
• Engage in basic career planning conversations with students, including matching student career interests to courses/programs of study.
• Provide basic financial aid advising including financial literacy, debt, and default management information.
• Participate in Guided Academic Pathway events, and other activities that promote and build Guided Academic Pathway communities.
• Participate in early alert and support at-risk students, students on academic probation, and students on academic suspension.
• Maintain knowledge of the curricula for CCA degrees, certificates, courses and issues relevant to transferring to Colorado four-year institutions, and for career preparation.
• Maintain current knowledge of CCA policies and procedures for admissions, enrollment, and completing a program of study.
• Utilize available report, tracking, assessment, and communication technologies (specifically EAB Navigate, DegreeWorks, SARS, and in some cases Recruit) to implement proactive advising strategies.
• Participate in ALL advising trainings to become and remain skilled in academic advising, intrusive interventions, career advising, and financial aid advising.
• Participate in new student orientation, degree check fairs, Connect2CCA and other events that promote the college and support student success as assigned including at night and on weekends.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Graduation from regionally accredited college/university with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience in student affairs (e.g., advising, financial aid, career services) preferably in advising.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusive excellence, and equity; ability to work with a diverse college community.
• A student-centered focus, experience with student development, and the ability to view students from an asset-mindset.
• Commitment to continuous quality improvement, ongoing professional development, and a resilience for a dynamic changing work environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bilingual
• Master’s degree (preferred in higher education, student affairs, advising, or a related field).
• Academic advising experience.
• Experience working with students in a community college setting.
• Experience with Banner.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Salary Range: Anticipated salary range is $52,508.84- $53,000.00 annually. This salary is determined by the qualifications of the selected candidate balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information. CCA offers an excellent benefit plan, including generous leave, holiday, and education benefits.

Deadline to Submit Application Material: The priority deadline to submit applications will be Friday October 30, 2026.

Application Process: When submitting your online application, please include a cover letter clearly shows how the applicant’s professional experiences align with the minimum qualifications, current resume, and professional references. Official transcripts showing the highest degree achieved should be submitted to [e-mail] upon offer of employment. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact us at [e-mail].

By applying for this announced position, applicants are certifying that all statements, information and documents provided are true, complete and correct to the best of their knowledge and are made in good faith. Further, applicants understand that omissions, misleading, false or untrue information, or any attempt at fraud or deceit in any manner connected with this application and/or subsequent testing may result in them not being considered for jobs with the Community College of Aurora; may constitute grounds for discipline and/or termination after hire; and/or constitute grounds for further actions pursuant to law.

Application Checklist

Complete Applications must include the following documents:

• A complete online application
• A cover letter that describes how your experience aligns with the minimum and preferred qualifications of this position
• A current resume uploaded as an attachment to your online application
• Candidates identified as finalists must provide three to five professional references, at least two of which must include a current direct supervisor and most recent supervisor. If you cannot provide two supervisor references, an opportunity will be afforded for discussion and consideration of alternative references with the CCA Human Resource Office. Please note, out of professional courtesy to you, we will not contact your listed references without first providing notice to you as a candidate prior to beginning the reference check-process.
• A copy of your official or unofficial transcript showing that your degree has been conferred and the name of your school, or your NACES accreditation is required as part of your application. Please submit this as an attachment to your application. Please note that you have the right to redact dates from your transcript during the application process. A full, unredacted copy will be required upon hire.
• For any questions or technical issues please contact [e-mail].

Notice to all Applicants:

• Proof of eligibility to work in the United States must be produced within three (3) days of hire.
• Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
• Final candidate is subject to a criminal background check prior to final selection process.
• Final candidate is required to submit official transcripts to Human Resources within fourteen (14) days of hire.
• CCA is affiliated with the Colorado Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and as such, employees contribute to PERA in lieu of Social Security for retirement benefits. For more information, visit the COPERA web page.
• Individuals currently or formerly employed by the Colorado Community College System or one of its 13 colleges, and/or who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in your application material.
• For information regarding civil rights or grievance procedures, contact our Title IX Compliance/Equal Opportunity Officer, Erica Hines, Chief Human Resources & Personnel Success Officer at 16000 E. CentreTech Parkway, Suite A207H, Aurora, Colorado 80011 or by phone at [phone] or e-mail at [e-mail].

Colorado Residency Requirement:

Eligible applicants must be either a current Colorado resident or be able to provide proof of residency in Colorado within 30 days of the start date for the position, or they may be deemed ineligible for employment with the Community College of Aurora. Please contact [e-mail] with any questions.

Community College of Aurora Inclusive Excellence Statement:

CCA embraces Inclusive Excellence because we want our students, staff, and faculty to learn and contribute within an inclusive environment. This means members of our college community will be active, respectful, and mindful of equity, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of engagement.

Inclusive Excellence will provide a foundation for student and institutional success. Recognizing our diversity is only the first step toward Inclusive Excellence.

We must also be intentional in valuing cultural differences and experiences, while incorporating them into practices, curricula, and policies.

Welcoming, Respectful, Inclusive - Together, we are CCA.

The Federal Clery Act: (The Student Right to Know and Campus Security Act of 1990) requires all institutions of higher learning to make available to prospective employees our agency's Annual Security Report. A copy of this information is available on the CCA website at the Student Right to Know page. A paper copy of this report can be obtained at the College Security Office upon request. This report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning crimes that occurred on campus or on property controlled or owned by Community College of Aurora, as well as public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, our campuses.