Exploratory Academic Advisor

George Mason University; Chantilly (VA); Hybrid; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

George Mason University is seeking an Exploratory Academic Advisor to guide undecided students toward major selection based on academic, career, and personal goals. The role involves holistic advising, coordinating with departments, and supporting students through registration and policy information.

The position emphasizes evening and weekend availability as needed and supports retention and graduation initiatives within the Office of Undergraduate Education.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalent.
• 1–2 years of professional university experience.
• Experience in academic advising, counseling, mentoring, tutoring, and/or success coaching.
• Strong verbal and written communication, organizational, and outreach skills.
• Knowledge of academic advising and career development for exploratory/undeclared students.
• Commitment to serving diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Guides an assigned caseload of students from orientation to major selection and advisement.
• Communicates with academic units about students transitioning to a new major.
• Provides individual and group advising meetings in person and virtually.
• Maintains timely responses to student inquiries via email, phone, and other platforms.
• Assists with registration and degree progress processes to support timely graduation.
• Uses CRM and degree audit tools to document advising interactions.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Organizational skills

Outreach skills

Conflict resolution

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

CRM systems

SIS

LMS

Degree audit

Job description

Department: Academic Affairs

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visasponsorship

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education andexperience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department

The Office of the Provost is the primary central administrativeunit for the university’s academic programs. Its range of interestsinclude curriculum, instructional personnel, assessment,accreditation, international initiatives, and oversight of theoverall academic mission. Within the Office of the Provost, theOffice of Undergraduate Education manages undergraduate academicprograms that stretch across all colleges and schools at GeorgeMason University. These include university-level curriculumapproval, general education (Mason Core), University Studiesprograms, the Office of Academic Advising, and Mason Impactinitiatives that support transformational learning forundergraduate students, including the Office of Student CreativeActivities and Research (OSCAR), Office of Community Engagement andCivic Learning (CECiL), and Office of Fellowships. In all of ourwork, we seek to inspire undergraduate students to become engagedcitizens and well-rounded scholars who are prepared to act in adiverse, global world, by creating and sustaining innovativeprograms that enhance our students’ academic experience andcontribute to their academic success. We are dedicated to ensuringthat students from all backgrounds have equal access to all of ourprograms.

About the Position

Reporting to the Assistant Director for the Office of AcademicAdvising (OAA), the Exploratory Academic Advisor lays thefoundation for academic success at George Mason and beyond byguiding students in the selection of a major based on theiracademic, career, and personal goals and aspirations, andtransitioning students to advisement within an academic unit. TheExploratory Advisor takes a holistic advising approach withstudents and discusses academic, career, and personal interests.The Exploratory Advisor makes connections to class selection andcareer goals, and provides information on major selection, academicpolicies, procedures, and practices. Also, this includes helpingstudents through various academic requests, forms, and appeals. TheExploratory Advisors at George Mason contribute to George Mason’sstrategic goals of preparing career-ready graduates whileincreasing graduation and retention rates. Additionally, theExploratory Advisors contribute to the activities within the Officeof Academic Advising and the George Mason Advising Community. Works occasional evening and weekend hours to support activitiesand required events.

Advising

• Guides an assigned caseload of students from George MasonOrientation to major selection that aligns with their academic,career, and personal goals and ambitions, and transitions them toadvisement within an academic unit;


• Communicates with academic units about students terminated fromtheir major to provide quality and consistent academic advisingtoward a new major;


• Provides individual and group advising meetings for students inperson and virtually;


• Communicates prompt, thorough, and accurate responses tostudent questions and concerns through email, phone, texts, andother communication platforms;


• Advises students in course selection, major declaration,program requirements, and university guidelines, and maintainscontinued interaction and follow-up with assigned students;


• Discusses academic interests and makes connections betweencareer and personal goals;


• Provides information on academic policies, procedures, andpractices;


• Assists with registration and other necessary procedures fordegree progress and timely graduation;


• Works with students on warning, probation, returning fromsuspension, and termination from the major to develop studentsuccess plans and increase the likelihood of timely major selectionand degree completion;


• Refers students to appropriate university resources (SuccessCoaching, Career Services, Counseling and Psychological Services,Learning Support Services, Student Support Advocacy Center, andothers);


• Organizes and maintains office files and student records;


• Completes meeting summaries, enters advising notes, uploadspertinent documents, and enters important communications in theuniversity communication platform; and


• Responds to questions from the general university undergraduateeducation email account.

Student Impact and Outreach

• Supports orientation and admissions events, peak registrationtimeframes, administrative and programming responsibilities,curriculum development, and or other duties as assigned;


• Engages in proactive outreach efforts to maximize studentretention and success;


• Identifies and shares co-curricular opportunities, such asstudy abroad, undergraduate research, civic engagement,internships, student activities, and other university events;and


• Develops and distributes electronic and physical resources andmaterials for student advising.

Training and Technology

• Participates in university-wide advising training, attendingacademic advising-related conferences, contributes proposals toavailable institutions or organizations within the academicadvising profession, and engages in ongoing professionaldevelopment;


• Collaborates with academic units across the university todevelop student support networks and general support; and


• Utilizes the university's digital systems, tools, and CRM toadvise students, track student progress, record studentinteractions, and make university-wide referrals.

Other duties as assigned

• Attends regular meetings with staff, faculty, and keystakeholders involved in the development and implementation ofprograms;


• Serves on committees and other projects as assigned;


• Develops programming for Exploratory students to maintain andincrease student success;


• Leads departmental specializations, such as advising,retention, or transition to support university-wide strategicinitiatives;


• May supervise federal work-study students for specializedareas; and


• Participates in first-year student experience and retentionprogramming, outreach, and university technology platforms (CRM,website, degree audit) for Exploratory students.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or the equivalentcombination of education and experience;


• Professional experience working in a university setting(typically 1 to 2 years);


• Experience serving and supporting diverse studentpopulations;


• Professional experience in academic advising, counseling,guiding, mentoring, tutoring, and/or success coaching;


• Demonstrated working knowledge of student transitionalissues;


• Demonstrated knowledge of academic advising and careerdevelopment as it pertains to exploratory, undeclared, terminated(from major) and non-degree undergraduate students;


• Verbal and written communication, organizational, and outreachskills;


• Conflict resolution skills;


• Ability to work to meet deadlines, work accurately and quicklywith attention to detail, and be able to manage multiple complexprograms and projects simultaneously;


• Demonstrated ability to work with a culturally and ethnicallydiverse population of students, faculty, and staff; and


• Demonstrated commitment to customer service.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in related field;


• Experience with or demonstrated knowledge of one or more of thefollowing areas: academic curriculum planning, orientation,disability services, veteran’s services, career services, studentinvolvement, and student rights and responsibilities;


• Experience with educational systems (e.g., SIS, CRM, LMS,degree audit, retention platforms);


• Experience with crafting innovative student communications,developing programs for specific student populations, and impactingstudent outcomes; and


• Knowledge of university curriculum, policies andprocesses.

Posting Open Date: October 20, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by: November 2, 2026

Open Until Filled: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

George Mason University is a nationally ranked R1 researchuniversity committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperousworld. With 40,000 enrolled students, George Mason is the largestand most diverse public research university in Virginia, offeringdegree programs at the master's, doctoral, and professional level,along with certificates and credentials. George Mason fosters an All Together Different environment forstudents, faculty, and staff, driven by our core beliefs. Webelieve in inclusivity over exclusivity; we believe in advancingour mission by being willing to take risks, not avoiding them; andwe believe our best work is possible when we apply our diversity oforigin, identity, circumstance, and thought.

Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative actionemployer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in itscommunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration foret employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexualorientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability orveteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

Campus Safety Information

Mason’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at http://police.gmu.edu/annual-security-report/