ACADEMIC ADVISOR

Loyola University Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Loyola University Chicago seeks an Academic Advisor to provide holistic academic advising for first- and second-year undergraduate students. This role requires experience in higher education, effective communication skills, and participation in student programming and support activities.

The advisor will assist students with course selection, academic policies, and promote student success. A Bachelor's degree is required, with a Master's preferred. The position also involves attending orientation sessions and committees.

Qualifications

• One to two years of related experience required.
• Experience in higher education with direct student interactions.
• Ability to work independently and with teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide holistic academic advising for students.
• Assist students in degree planning and academic policies.
• Participate in new-student orientation sessions.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Written communication skills

Verbal communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in College Student Personnel, Counseling or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft 365 Office suite

Student Information System (PeopleSoft)

MS SharePoint

Zoom

Job description

Job Overview

The Academic Advisor, Office of First and Second Year Advising (FSYA), provides holistic academic advising for a caseload of first- and second-year undergraduate students on major discernment, course selection, requirements for selected areas of concentration, and a wide range of student academic and development issues to support student success and timely progression toward graduation.

Responsibilities

Individual Student Academic Advising (50%)

• Meets with students from an assigned caseload, in-person and online, for 1:1 academic advising appointments to discuss individualized academic planning through the lens of Jesuit education traditions.
• Communicates degree requirements, helps students navigate academic policies, and liaises with families/parents and faculty (in accordance with FERPA regulations) in support of student success.
• Assists students in degree planning and helps to establish a comprehensive academic plan that meets the student's educational goals and program requirements.
• Responds to student inquiries via email within a standard two‑business‑day response timeframe.
• Participates in express academic advising and drop‑in academic advising initiatives at assigned coverage times throughout the academic year.
• Provides academic advising, either as an assigned academic advisor or during express and drop‑in academic advising periods, to specific populations such as honors students, international students, Rome Start students, and others.
• Applies key advising concepts related to student success coaching and academic advising in all interactions with students; receives coaching from department leadership and seeks to continuously improve advising methodology through timely and intentional application of feedback.
• Participates in targeted student campaigns for potential retention issues including academic probation, non-enrollment, and student survey responses.

Academic Advising and Student Services Administration (20%)

• Maintains accurate student records including the logging of interaction notes in accordance with established department processes.
• Submits notes for all student interactions in a timely manner and in a format that meets department documentation standards.
• Conducts course‑schedule audits at designated periods each academic year, logging results and communicating potential concerns with students with suggested resolutions.
• Participates in academic file review processes to support a successful transition of students between the FSYA office and college or school academic advising/dean’s offices.
• Oversees messaging campaigns for each academic term: builds a suite of communications for each term using provided templates, schedules campaign distributions to align with the department’s central communication strategy, and manages communications on an ongoing basis, applying updates and revisions as opportunities arise.
• Responsible for establishing functional mastery of all relevant advising technologies in support of job duties and student support, including the department’s student success management system, campus learning management system, student scheduling system, and other programs as deemed necessary by department leadership.
• Supports Student Academic Services and Student Success division initiatives and events as department representative, as assigned, including but not limited to new-student convocation, finals week proctoring, and undergraduate admission open houses.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Student Programming and Support (15%)

• Participates in new-student orientation sessions for incoming students on behalf of the department.
• Facilitates at least two sections of UNIV 101 First-Year Seminar (may facilitate additional sections, as needed): delivers weekly standardized lesson plans, monitors student progression and confirms submission of assignment requirements, and manages course learning management system and ensures course communications and resources are provided in a timely manner to students.
• Delivers academic workshops and group‑advising sessions on a variety of topics related to course registration, campus resources, university systems, and degree planning.

Committees and Working Groups (15%)

• Participates in at least two department standing committees and/or working groups per academic year, ensuring timely completion of designated deliverables within established scopes and time frames.
• Participates in interoffice committees and working groups as assigned by the department and division leadership.

Minimum Education and/or Work Experience

One to two years of related experience; master’s degree preferred. Bachelor's degree in College Student Personnel, Counseling or related field required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and one to two years of related experience; master’s degree preferred.
• Experience working in an education or higher education setting with direct student interactions.
• Strong interpersonal, presentation, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team of committed academic advisors and student affairs professionals.
• Ability to help students develop an appreciation for and understanding of the Jesuit approach to education and the Core Curriculum.
• Standard office hours are 8:30-5:00 p.m.; must be able to work some evening and weekend hours for student and campus events.

Computer Skills

Proficiency with Microsoft 365 Office suite, Internet, email applications and Student Information System (PeopleSoft). Familiarity with MS SharePoint and Teams; EAB Navigate360; Zoom is beneficial but not required.

Physical Demands

None.

Working Conditions

Irregular hours.

EEO Statement

Loyola adheres to all applicable federal, state, and/or local civil rights laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination in private institutions of higher education. Please see the University’s Nondiscrimination Policy.