Academic Advisor

The University of Kansas; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 40,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Kansas is seeking a Graduate Academic Advisor within Jayhawk Academic Advising to provide holistic guidance to a caseload of graduate students, from inquiry to enrollment. You will support students with academic planning, milestones, and referrals to campus resources.

You will work closely with KU admissions and Graduate Studies to ensure smooth admission processes, degree progression, and compliance with FERPA. This role emphasizes proactive advising and student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; background in student services preferred.
• Experience building rapport with students and working in teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive, holistic advising to graduate prospective, new and enrolled students.
• Guide students through enrollment, degree planning, and graduation milestones.
• Assist with financial aid appeals, probation agreements, and graduation plans.
• Collaborate with KU admissions and Graduate Studies to support admission processes.
• Maintain student records in KU information systems and CRM platforms.

Skills

Team collaboration

Rapport with students

Verbal communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree in higher education, counseling, or related field

Tools

Slate

Jayhawk GPS

Enroll & Pay

CRM systems

Job description

Position Overview

Jayhawk Academic Advising (JAA) is a unit within Academic Success, a division of Academic Affairs. JAA provides comprehensive academic advising services for prospective, new and currently enrolled students, and serves graduate programs across the University. JAA is staffed by professional advisors, support staff, and graduate assistants. JAA maintains a highly student-centered focus and demonstrates commitment to continuous quality improvement and resilience for a dynamic and changing work environment.

The Graduate Academic Advisor provides holistic and proactive academic advising to support a caseload of students. Advisors will provide comprehensive student support and guidance throughout the information-gathering, application, and enrollment. Advisors are called upon to help serve students and address their complex academic needs, use retention student resource methods and ensure they navigate their graduate studies effectively. Advisors may be called upon to help cover advising caseloads in times of transition. The person in this position is responsible for knowledge of and compliance with Board of Regents and University policies regarding daily job-related activities applicable to the position. This position reports to Graduate Academic Advising Program Director.

Job Description

90% - Academic Advising

• Provide proactive and holistic academic advising to assigned graduate prospective, new and currently enrolled students.
  
  
  
  • Guide student progress through academic milestones, including enrollment, career exploration and graduation.
  
  
  • Advise students on the development and selection of course schedules consistent with students' educational goals.
  
  
  • Assist students in developing appropriate educational goals and work towards those goals.
  
  
  • Assist students with completion of financial aid appeals, probation agreements, graduation plans, etc.
  
  
  • Provide outreach to students as needed in addition to providing appropriate follow-up and referral to University offices and resources.
  
  
  • Provide advisement to all students as necessary including those that may not be assigned to the advisor.
  
  
  • Facilitate student enrollment and approval processes such as petitions, enrollment changes, appeals, and applications for graduation in compliance with appropriate deadlines and approval channels; provide appropriate referrals to University offices.
  
  
  
  


• Work one-on-one with prospective graduate students on admission processes, enrollment steps, and degree planning while students prepare for admission to KU.
  
  
  
  • Manage student records on KU student information systems and database/CRM systems.
  
  
  • Works collaboratively with KU admissions and Graduate Studies on admission processes
  
  
  
  


• Uses Slate, Jayhawk GPS, Enroll & Pay, and other relevant communication and advising tools for student application coaching, student enrollment, degree audit, course prerequisites, etc. Complies with FERPA. Manage caseload of students with provided academic advising software and tools in a manner that is consistent with office metrics and milestones.


• Support University efforts geared toward increasing recruitment and retention.


• Responsible for knowledge of and compliance with Board of Regents and University policies regarding daily job-related activities applicable to the position.


• May be cross trained in the responsibilities of other academic advisors and in other academic departments.


• Participate in University orientation efforts.

10% - Other Duties as Assigned

• Perform programmatic duties that best serves the students and supports the office mission.


• Serve as a liaison to a specific department, college or school and share resources and knowledge with other Jayhawk Academic Advising staff. Where appropriate, interacts with faculty to provide an exchange of information and to enhance advisement of students.


• Attend departmental, college or school meetings at the discretion of supervisor to facilitate embedded advising model goals and to enhance advisement of students.


• Assume other duties as assigned which may include:
  
  
  
  • Taking on special projects, serving on or leading committees, or fulfill a specific role of program responsibilities based upon the strengths and interests of the advisor and the needs of the office.
  
  
  • Deliver programs that assist in recruitment, transition, or retention efforts.
  
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree.


2. Evidence of working in positions that require establishing and maintaining rapport with students as shown in application materials.


3. Experience working as part of a team as evidenced by work history and letter of application.

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have the foundational knowledge and skill set required to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is based on accreditation requirements, institutional standards of academic and professional excellence, alignment with peer institution benchmarks, and contributes to the credibility and effectiveness of the role within the university community.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Master's degree in higher education, counseling, or related field.


2. Experience in academic advising or career counseling for undergraduate students.


3. Varied professional and/or academic experience with institutions of higher learning as demonstrated by application materials.


4. Experience with university-wide academic program requirements and university procedures as evidenced by work experience.


5. Demonstrated knowledge of academic issues of undergraduate students.


6. Demonstrated experience with relevant computerized student information and communication systems.


7. Demonstrated strong verbal communication and organizational skills.

Advertised Salary Range$44,100

Anticipated Start DateMonday November 30, 2026