Academic Advisor I

Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Illinois University Carbondale seeks an Academic Advisor I in the College of Arts and Media to guide undergraduate students through planning, registration, and degree progress, while upholding FERPA and university policies.

This full-time position emphasizes independent judgment, collaboration with faculty and staff, use of Degree Works and SEP, and proactive student support to promote retention and success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Promote an inclusive environment for all individuals.
• Establish relationships with students to support self-awareness and decision-making.
• Assist students in developing an educational plan aligned with goals.
• Explain degree requirements, registration processes, and academic policies.
• Maintain understanding of degree requirements, prerequisites, corequisites, and sequencing.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the University Core Curriculum and its application.
• Refer students to campus offices and support resources as needed.
• Use Degree Works, SEP, and other technologies to monitor progress toward degree completion.
• Instruct students on Degree Works for audits and what-if scenarios.
• Use student information systems to view records, analyze scores and prerequisites, and process petitions and overrides.
• Communicate with students via Slate and Outlook, document interactions, and promote deadlines.
• Attend events like New Student Orientation and Open House, including occasional evenings or weekends.
• Maintain FERPA compliance and complete mandatory trainings.
• Participate in professional development and meetings.
• Understand transfer course processing and articulation procedures.
• Focus on student success and collaboration with campus partners.
• Perform other duties to enhance academic advisement and institutional mission.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Tools

Slate

Outlook

Job description

The College of Arts and Media at Southern Illinois University is seeking an Academic Advisor I. This is a full-time, term administrative/professional position. This position requires a broad understanding of university and college policies and procedures. Many responsibilities involve regular collaboration with prospective and current students, faculty, staff, and student support services. The role requires a high degree of independent judgment in areas such as student advisement, referrals, record management, registration, and compliance with university requirements.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

1. Promote an inclusive environment in which all individuals are valued, supported, and respected
2. Establish a unique relationship with each student that focuses on their interests, abilities, and values to support self-awareness and decision-making throughout the undergraduate experience
3. Assist students in developing an educational plan aligned with their academic goals
4. Help students understand degree requirements, registration processes, and other relevant academic policies and procedures
5. Maintain a strong understanding of degree requirements, prerequisites, corequisites, and course sequencing for academic programs
6. Demonstrate working knowledge of the University Core Curriculum and how it applies to specific degree programs
7. Refer students to appropriate campus offices and support resources as needed
8. Use Degree Works, the Student Educational Planner (SEP), and other technologies to monitor and track students' progress toward degree completion, including general education, major, and degree requirements
9. Instruct students on how to use Degree Works as a degree audit tool and perform "what-if" scenarios to explore other academic pathways
10. Fully utilize student information systems, including but not limited to:
    • Viewing and interpreting student records
    • Analyzing test scores and prerequisite requirements
    • Submitting petition requests for course substitutions
    • Processing course overrides and registration forms
    • Assisting students with registration and resolving account holds
    • Monitoring academic progress and generating registration reports
11. Use appropriate platforms (e.g., Slate, Outlook) to communicate with students, document interactions, promote awareness of important deadlines, and encourage regular advising appointments
12. Attend and support events such as New Student Orientation, Open House, and occasional evening or weekend programs as needed
13. Maintain thorough knowledge of and compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
14. Complete compliance and mandatory training requirements
15. Participate in professional development programs, meetings, and training sessions
16. Understand transfer course processing and articulation procedures
17. Maintain a strong focus on student success and retention while collaborating with campus partners
18. Perform other duties assigned to enhance academic advisement, student success, and support the institutional mission

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Customer service and/or professional interpersonal skills
• Attention to detail skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree
• Experience in a postsecondary environment (academic advising, mentoring, counseling, teaching undergraduates) or high school teaching
• Experience or background in a College of Arts and Media program
• Experience working with students from underrepresented backgrounds

  Preferred Qualifications:

  • Involvement in professional development activities and organizations such as NACADA and/or demonstrated commitment to continuous growth and improvement
  • Experience working effectively both independently and collaboratively

  Contact: Robert A. Lopez, [e-mail]