Academic and Career Advisor/Sr. Academic and Career Advisor

University of Massachusetts Amherst; Amherst (MA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Undergraduate Academic & Career Advisor or Senior Academic & Career Advisor at University of Massachusetts Amherst supports the social justice mission of the College of Education and collaborates with advising staff to provide comprehensive academic and career advising for students in the Education Exploratory Track, pre-licensure, and undergraduate education concentrations.

The Advisor develops and maintains advising resources and systems related to one or more of these pathways,

Qualifications

• Provide comprehensive advising to a diverse student population during registration, orientation, and ongoing academic planning.
• Document advising using university systems such as EAB Navigate and SPIRE.
• Interpret general education requirements and major/minor pathways; guide dual degrees and minors.
• Manage complex advising cases including adjusting plans after misadvising and evaluating study‑abroad credits.
• Support at‑risk students with referrals to university resources and collaboration with faculty.
• Foster cohort growth and belonging within the College of Education.
• Participate in admissions events, orientation, and alumni activities as appropriate.
• Represent the College of Education at university meetings focused on student success resources.
• Handle high‑stress inquiries from parents in a FERPA‑compliant, professional manner.
• Process graduation clearances and curricular exceptions in line with policy.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive individualized and group advising to a diverse student population during peak registration and orientation.
• Use and document advising services in university systems (EAB Navigate, SPIRE).
• Interpret and guide general education requirements, majors, minors, and dual degree options.
• Handle complex advising cases and evaluate credits for study‑abroad and other programs.
• Refer at‑risk students to campus resources and coordinate with faculty as needed.
• Foster a cohort model and sense of belonging for undergraduates in Education.
• Support admissions, alumni weekend, and campus events related to student success.
• Represent the College of Education at university‑level discussions on student success.

Job description

Title: Academic & Career Advisor/Sr. Academic & Career Advisor
Executive Area: Academic Affairs
College/School/MBU: College of Education
Department: Dean - College of Education
Work Location: Amherst
Schedule: Full Time
Work Arrangement: Hybrid

Job Summary

The Undergraduate Academic & Career Advisor or Senior Academic & Career Advisor supports the social justice mission of the College of Education and works collaboratively with other advising staff to provide comprehensive academic and career advising for students in (1) the Education Exploratory Track, (2) pre-licensure, and (3) the undergraduate education concentrations. The Advisor is responsible for developing and maintaining advising resources and systems related to one or more of these academic pathways. Both levels ensure a high level of advising and academic services for all students with emphasis on student success and the programmatic needs for first-year, first-generation, and historically marginalized students.

Essential Functions

• Provides comprehensive individualized and small group academic and career advising to a diverse population of students during the academic year, including peak registration, pre-registration, and new student orientation.
• Utilizes and makes recommendations regarding College of Education good practices for the use of University student records systems such as EAB Navigate and SPIRE to document advising services.
• Responds to common issues such as registration-related matters including fulfilling the University's general education requirements, interpreting major and college requirements, and providing guidance for dual degrees, double majors, and minors.
• Manages complicated or problematic advising cases—including aiding with complex matters that involve prior misadvising, goal setting related to unusual career outcomes, planning and decision-making such as establishing an academic and career plan, resolving conflicts between two or more majors and/or concentrations and independently evaluating credit for study-abroad and other off-campus programs.
• Responds to at-risk students experiencing academic and often critical personal difficulties by addressing relevant issues and making appropriate referrals to University resources. Serves as a resource to faculty members related to at-risk advising cases.
• Facilitates program planning related to the growth and development of the undergraduate population within the College of Education fostering a "cohort" model and feeling of belonging for students.
• Participates in admissions, alumni weekend, orientation, and other University events as appropriate.
• Represents the College of Education at University-wide meetings dedicated to the further development of student success resources and practices within the University context as directed by the Associate Dean for Student Success.
• Responds to and manages challenging, time-sensitive, or high-stress inquiries from parents in accordance with FERPA and in a highly professional and respectful manner/tone.
• Performs complex graduation clearance processing for Education majors. Approves curricular exceptions and manages problems related to graduation clearance in accordance with established