Academic Advisor, Office of Academic Advising

Wake Forest University; United States; On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Wake Forest University seeks four Academic Advising Professionals for the Office of Academic Advising. The roles will start January 2027, with priority given to applications by November 9, 2026.

Candidates should submit a cover letter and need to avoid AI-assisted letter composition. Responsibilities include providing advising on registration, progress, and retention; collaborating with faculty and staff; handling study abroad approvals; and supporting students with curriculum planning while

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree plus 1–3 years related experience.
• Ability to collaborate within a team.
• Knowledge of academic policies and related laws.
• Knowledge of student advisement, retention issues, trends, and programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Strong diplomatic skills with diverse constituencies.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and time.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional academic advising to undergraduates on registration, progress, graduation, and retention.
• Consult with faculty and staff on academic policy and practice.
• Meet with students daily for study abroad approvals, drops, adds, withdrawals, and appeals.
• Advise on curriculum matters, major exploration, and four-year plans.
• Maintain confidential information and conduct confidential conversations.
• Coordinate early academic intervention activities and contribute to OAA projects.
• Maintain timely records of communications and actions;Escalate complex/sensitive cases as needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Diplomatic skills

Collaboration

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Student information system

Job description

Job Description Summary

We are seeking to fill four positions with an anticipated start date of January 2027. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by November 9, 2026. As part of the application, candidates should submit a cover letter. Candidates should not utilize generative AI in the composition of their letter.

Position Summary

Plays a vital role in supporting the academic success of students by leveraging knowledge of academic policies and procedures. Serves as a consultant and engages with various stakeholders, including faculty, staff, parents, and students. Contributes to academic and operational projects in alignment with the objectives of the Office of Academic Advising.

Essential Functions

• Provides professional academic advising to undergraduate students, including guidance, consultation, and support on matters pertaining to registration, academic progress, success, graduation, and retention of students in the College.
• Consults with faculty and staff regarding academic policy and practice.
• Meets with students daily to process requests for study abroad approvals, late drops, late adds, credit overloads, withdrawals, and appeals. Communicates action on student cases to administrative offices on campus.
• Meets with students to provide advice and counsel on curriculum‑specific matters, major exploration issues, four‑year plans, College and University policy and procedures, and non‑academic factors affecting academic performance.
• Responsible for confidential information and conducts confidential conversations to provide support to students.
• Coordinates and participates in early academic intervention activities, including taking or recommending appropriate actions.
• Contributes to academic and operational projects within the Office of Academic Advising.
• Receives and investigates reports from faculty members and/or academic advisors regarding students with excessive absences, poor academic performance, and/or other concerning behaviors; alerts OAA leadership and coordinates with appropriate university offices regarding these concerns.
• Has primary responsibilities for assigned advisees, walk‑in appointments, providing information and support, as well as referrals for follow‑up advising appointments and to other offices on campus.
• Maintains appropriate and timely records of all communications and actions regarding students.
• Engages in timely, clear, and accurate communication to OAA leadership regarding complex and/or sensitive student situations; has clear understanding of situations necessitating escalation to OAA leadership.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree plus one to three years related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to comfortably and productively engage in collaborative work within the office.
• Knowledge of Wake Forest University academic policies, procedures, and relevant laws regarding student information, or ability to learn these in a short period of time.
• Knowledge and understanding of student academic advisement, development, retention issues, trends, and programs.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate to varied university constituencies.
• Strong diplomatic skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to make decisions using individual discretion and independent judgment.
• Ability to counsel students and communicate professionally and confidently with faculty members, administrators, and parents.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks, prioritize as necessary, and effectively manage time to complete all required tasks during the work day.
• Ability to learn new software and systems, including student records systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and records; ability to manage and distribute information appropriately.
• Ability to analyze and solve complex problems.
• Ability to investigate and analyze information and to draw logical conclusions.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Experience in an academic advising or related higher education role.

Accountabilities

• Responsible for own work.

Physical Requirements

Sedentary work primarily involving sitting/standing; communicating with others to exchange information; repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands, and/or fingers; and assessing the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of the work assigned.

Disclaimer

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job‑related instructions and perform job‑related duties as may be reasonably assigned by the employee’s supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final candidates being considered for employment. The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Additional Job Description Time Type Requirement Full time Note to Applicant

This position profile identifies the key responsibilities and expectations for performance. It cannot encompass all specific job tasks that an employee may be required to perform. Employees are required to follow any other job‑related instructions and perform job‑related duties as may be reasonably assigned by his/her supervisor. In order to provide a safe and productive learning and living community, Wake Forest University conducts background investigations and drug screens for all final staff candidates being considered for employment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, disability and military or veteran status.

Accommodations for Applicants

If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact [e-mail] or [phone].

About WFU

Wake Forest University, formed in 1834, has experienced decades of growth and innovation. WFU is a distinctive university that combines a liberal arts core with graduate and professional schools and innovative research programs. The University embraces the teacher‑scholar ideal, which prizes the personal interaction between students and faculty. It is a place where exceptional teaching, fundamental research and discovery, and the engagement of faculty and students in the classroom and the laboratory are paramount. Wake Forest University is a community that seeks the enlightenment and freedom which come through diligent study and learning. Its higher goal, however, is to give life to the University motto "Pro Humanitate," as members translate a passion for knowledge into compassionate service. The community shares a tradition that embraces freedom and integrity and acknowledges the worth of the individual. The heritage, established by the school's founders and nurtured by succeeding generations, promotes a democratic spirit arising from open‑mindedness and discourse. Wake Forest fosters compassion and caring for others. Its collective strength and character are derived from the values and distinctive experiences of each individual; therefore, it affirms the richness of human intellect and culture and its contribution to knowledge, faith, reason, and dialogue. Furthermore, it strives toward a society in which good will, respect, and equality prevail. To that end, Wake Forest University rejects hatred and bigotry in any form and promotes justice, honor, and mutual trust. The University is comprised of: the undergraduate college, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Divinity, School of Law, School of Medicine (located on the Bowman Gray campus with Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center) and today enrolls about 4,846 undergraduates and 2,823 students in graduate programs at its principal location, the Reynolda campus. Students at Wake Forest University enjoy a great deal of access to and interaction with world‑class faculty both in and out of the classroom setting with a student‑faculty ratio of 11:1. Wake Forest employs approximately 2,772 full and part‑time faculty and staff. Wake Forest is a collegiate university offering a vibrant, intellectual community with a rich cultural life, an impressive array of facilities, and a strong athletics program competing in the fifteen‑team Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Since its founding, the university has adopted the motto “pro humanitate,” which is exemplified by a deep institutional commitment to public service and engagement with the world. Wake Forest has a strong commitment to holistic, eight‑dimensional well‑being for students, faculty and staff as evidenced in the Thrive initiative. Winston‑Salem, North Carolina Wake Forest is located in Winston‑Salem, North Carolina, a beautiful, mid‑sized city centrally located in the Piedmont‑Triad region of North Carolina. Winston‑Salem is a family‑friendly city with high quality schools, numerous outdoor recreational activities and events, and is known for its vibrant and thriving arts scene. Winston‑Salem residents enjoy close proximity to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains (1.5 hours) and Atlantic beaches (4 hours), a moderate climate with four distinct seasons, a very reasonable cost of living, and an eclectic variety of restaurants, wine bars, and breweries for dining with friends and family. Winston‑Salem offers many of the amenities of a large city but with the sense of community and quality of life of a smaller town.