Academic Counselor-1

University of Washington; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Washington in Seattle seeks an Academic Counselor (College Advisor) within the College of Arts & Sciences to provide high-impact academic advising to undergraduate students across units. You will guide pathways, policies, and degree progress, contributing to college-wide advising initiatives and student success goals.

This role is largely office-based with extensive campus interaction, and offers telework options and evening/weekend event flexibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field.
• Minimum two years of academic advising, student affairs, or equivalent experience in a higher education setting.
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Responsibilities

• Advise prospective, current, and returning undergraduate students on requirements and degree progress.
• Guide majors/minors exploration including admissions criteria and timelines.
• Direct students to information about programs, curriculum, and policies.
• Connect students with campus resources and refer for academic/personal support.
• Monitor progress and perform proactive outreach per college policies.
• Assist with administrative challenges (holds, petitions, enrollment issues, leaves of absence).
• Review and process graduation applications.
• Monitor progress using DARS, SDB, and related systems.
• Maintain advising records and communications in FERPA-compliant manner.
• Communicate with current students about deadlines, policy updates, and resources.
• Advise the team and leadership on patterns affecting student progression.

Skills

Excellent verbal and written comms

Independent & collaborative work

Organizational skills

Data entry & basic reporting

Technology & social media proficiency

FERPA confidentiality & judgment

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

The College of Arts & Sciences has an outstanding opportunity for College Advisor to join their team.

About This Opportunity

As an Academic Counselor (College Advisor) in the College of Arts & Sciences, you will provide professional, high-impact academic advising to undergraduate students across a portfolio of Arts & Sciences units. Reporting to the Senior Director of Academic Services, the Academic Counselor is responsible for guiding students in exploring academic pathways, navigating policies, and making timely progress to degree and contributing to college-wide advising initiatives aligned with the Dean’s priorities and student success goals.

This role is primarily office-based with extensive interaction across campus. Requires flexibility for evening/weekend events, university-wide meetings, and student engagement activities. Telework options are available.

The salary information provided below is for a full-time position.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise prospective, current, and returning undergraduate students on university and college requirements, course planning, degree progress
• Guide students through major and minor exploration including admissions criteria and timelines
• Direct students to accurate information about programs, curriculum, and policies
• Help connect students with campus resources and refer appropriately for academic and personal support
• Track student satisfactory progress and provide proactive outreach and communications in accordance with college policies
• Assist students facing administrative challenges such as registration holds, petitions, enrollment issues, leaves of absence, and reinstatement, refer as needed
• Review and process graduation applications
• Monitor academic progress using institutional tools including DARS, SDB, and related systems
• Maintain advising records and communications in compliance with FERPA and institutional standards
• Manage ongoing communications to current students in assigned majors on topics such as registration deadlines, policy updates, and advising resources
• Provide counsel to the advising team and college leadership on patterns or structural barriers affecting student progression

Outreach, Recruitment & Student Programming

• Contribute to developing advising content for student communications including listserv announcements, email messages, and advising guides
• Participate in undergraduate recruitment and yield events, transfer orientations, new student orientations, and admitted student days
• Conduct prospective student advising and represent assigned departments at campus events including information sessions and major exploration programming
• Support additional student-facing programming and events in alignment with departmental and college priorities as assigned

Collaboration & Shared Advising Practices

• Collaborate with advisers and offices across campus to provide coordinated advising support
• Maintain liaison relationships with CAS academic units and campus offices including OMAD, the Office of the Registrar, New Student and Transfer Programs, and Undergraduate Academic Advising
• Participate actively in college-wide advising team meetings, professional development programming, and cross-unit initiatives
• Support advising data, communications, policy implementation, and process improvement projects as directed by College leadership
• Contribute to special student populations, initiatives or college priorities that arise in alignment with the College’s advising goals and the evolving needs of the unit
• Contribute to the development of shared advising tools, resources, and practices

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) in a relevant field.
• Minimum two years of academic advising, student affairs, or equivalent experience in a higher education setting.
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Additional Qualifications

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a rapidly evolving context.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Experience with data entry and basic reporting, including organizing student or client information and tracking progress.
• Demonstrated familiarity with, and ability to adopt and implement diverse technology, communications and social media platforms and applications.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment in compliance with FERPA
• Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Manager.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising diverse populations within a liberal arts and sciences domain.
• Familiarity with University of Washington academic systems and policies (e.g., DARS, SDB, EARS).
• Experience managing student communications and outreach.
• Experience with student orientation, recruitment events or student engagement programming
• Demonstrated interest in improving student services through process evaluation, resource development, or technology use.
• Demonstrated follow-through and initiative in producing timely, high-quality work in a dynamic environment

Working Conditions

• This role is primarily office-based with extensive interaction across campus.
• Requires flexibility for evening/weekend events, university-wide meetings, and student engagement activities.
• Telework options are available.

Why UW and the College of Arts & Sciences?

• Opportunities for professional growth and development
• A collaborative and supportive work culture
• Meaningful work supporting student persistence, timely graduation, and academic excellence in a world-class public research university.
• A collaborative professional academic services community that values professional judgment, adaptability, and thoughtful innovation in student services.

If you are an adaptable, student-centered professional who enjoys working across varied academic contexts and building structures that help students thrive, consider joining the College as an Academic Counselor.

Compensation, Benefits And Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$60,000.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum

$66,000.00 annual

Benefits

Other Compensation: For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent)

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit

Not Applicable

About The UW

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [e-mail].

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.