Academic Success Advisor

Parkland College; Champaign (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance incl. no-premium

Tuition waiver

Retirement plans

Flexible spending account

Paid time off

Job summary

Parkland College seeks an Academic Success Advisor to provide proactive, intrusive advising for degree- and certificate-seeking students in Champaign. You will guide students through enrollment steps, set goals, and connect them with academic and nonacademic resources to improve persistence and completion.

In a 12-month, full-time role, you will collaborate with Career Services and Accessibility Services, maintain current program knowledge, and document student progress.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field; or Bachelor's degree with 4 years of relevant experience in postsecondary advising.
• Successful completion of a post offer background check including fingerprinting.
• Proficiency with word processing, databases, and spreadsheets; ability to learn Parkland's information system.
• Strong communication, presentation, and graduation audit abilities.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as in a team.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive advising for all degree- or certificate-seeking students within a programmatically defined cohort.
• Advise new and continuing students including non-degree seeking populations and provide walk-in advising.
• Communicate with prospective, new, and current students about Parkland College and its programs.
• Monitor academic progress, coordinate academic support, and advocate for students' success.
• Help students identify personal goals and motivate factors, coaching interaction with faculty or staff.
• Assist students in identifying academic and non-academic challenges and connect to support resources.
• Ensure students prepare individualized learning/academic plans with goals and timelines.
• Assist students in improving academic standing and planning for graduation eligibility.
• Collaborate with college departments to ensure accurate advising and maintain knowledge of programs.
• Document student contacts and status for subsequent semesters and participate in orientation activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Problem solving

Autonomy

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree or Bachelor's + 4 years experience

Job description

Academic Success Advisor

This position is an on-campus, full-time, 12-month appointment based in Champaign, Illinois covered by the Professional Support Staff (PSS) Union with an annual salary of $53,809.60.

Application Close Date/Time: Sunday, October 25, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT

The Academic Success Advisor supports student success (learning, persistence, and completion) through a proactive, supportive, and ongoing coaching relationship. The advisor guides student development, navigating enrollment steps, goal setting and motivation, academic advising, connecting with appropriate academic and nonacademic support resources, and developing improved habits and strategies for learning. They are responsible for advising new and continuing students in academic course selection, registration, and enrollment processes; and assisting in retention, program completion, and transfer initiatives.

This is a full-time, 12-month, Professional Support Staff position that works on a schedule established by the Director of Advising Services. The position involves frequent handling of confidential information and records. Major responsibilities will include proactive advising and assessing the student services, academic support, and community services necessary to increase student success, persistence, and completion. Minimal supervision is provided; the Academic Success Advisor must be able to work independently and accurately prioritize tasks, while collaborating closely with other staff. Performance will be measured through achievements of both specific goals/assignments and program/students' success.

Applicants must submit:

• An online employment application
• Cover letter
• Resume or CV

Essential Job Functions:

• Provide intrusive and proactive advising for all degree- or certificate-seeking students within a programmatically defined cohort. This can be in-person or online, by appointment and by walk-in.
• Provide advising for new and continuing students that are non-degree seeking, early college, and other student populations not assigned to a dedicated advisor. Provide walk-in advising for students with immediate advising needs when their dedicated advisor is unavailable to meet with them.
• Communicate electronically and in-person with prospective, new, and current students to provide specific information about Parkland College and its programs.
• Establish a supportive relationship for caseload students which includes monitoring academic progress, proactive outreach based on identified needs, frequent and regular communication, coordinating academic support with faculty referrals, and serving as an advocate for students' success and in special situations.
• Help students identify personal goals and motivating factors, and coach students to successfully interact with appropriate faculty or staff to fulfill educational and career goals.
• Assist students in identifying academic and non-academic challenges and connect them to appropriate support resources (on-campus as well as off-campus resources).
• Ensure students prepare an individualized learning/academic plan that identifies academic goals and a plan to reach those goals in a timely fashion, including resources for managing areas of challenge or concern.
• Assist students in poor academic standing in the development of a plan toward regaining good academic standing and eligibility for graduation.
• Assist students in the development of an educational plan utilizing the college's degree planning and registration platforms, including choosing a program of study and/or clarifying educational goals.
• Collaborate and communicate with other college departments to ensure accurate advising is provided. Develop good working relationships with faculty, department administrators, department staff, and advisory committees for the departments in their assigned Areas of Interest.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of programs and services offered by the College to provide assistance to students in course and program selection, as well as changes in program of study.
• Assist students in reviewing transfer articulation information and with managing the transfer process. Consult with contacts at various transfer institutions regarding course and program transferability, admission and graduation requirements.
• Develop and maintain a strong relationship with Career Services staff in order to provide students with exceptional career planning guidance that supplements Career Services initiatives.
• Develop and maintain a strong relationship with Accessibility Services staff to collaboratively meet the needs of students with accommodation needs.
• Coach students in study strategies to improve learning.
• Contact and encourage students to meet registration, financial aid, tuition payment, and other deadlines important for successful persistence and completion.
• Continuing professional development and education.
• Participate in orientation activities and other Student Services initiatives, activities, events, and programming.
• Document student contacts and referrals made. Document student registration status for subsequent semesters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in a related field; or Bachelor's degree in a related field and 4 years of relevant experience in postsecondary advising, academic counseling, or caseload-based academic support.
• Prospective new hires will successfully complete a post offer, pre-employment criminal background check with fingerprinting. The background check review includes, but is not limited to, exclusionary offenses per the Illinois School Code and Title IV of the Higher Education Act.
• Functional ability in current word processing, database, and spreadsheet packages, with the ability to learn the Parkland information system and new programs as technology changes.
• Written, verbal, and mathematical abilities sufficient to communicate effectively, deliver informative presentations, and perform graduation audits as necessary.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively with individuals of varying backgrounds and abilities.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team framework.
• In an effort to comply with SURS return-to-work restrictions for employers (40 ILCS 5/15-139.5), candidates for employment at Parkland College must either not be a SURS annuitant or must be willing to suspend his/her SURS annuity upon employment. This applies to all SURS annuitants except those receiving their annuity under either the Self-Managed Plan (SMP) or by lump sum payment.

Robust benefits, including medical insurance with no monthly premiums, dental, life, disability, retirement plans, flexible spending, dependent care, EAP, work/life balance with generous paid time off, and tuition waiver. More information on the benefits package may be found online at our Benefits page.

Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position. Parkland College is not an E-Verify employer.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position; however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Equal Opportunity Employer