Senior Academic Advisor, Economics

Tufts University; Medford (MA); On-site; USD 56,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

The Senior Academic Advisor at Tufts University provides full-time professional academic advising to declared economics majors and supports the AAUS team with programming and data analysis to enhance student success. You will guide students on major requirements, navigate university procedures, and connect them with resources for timely degree completion.

Primary duties include individualized coaching, collaboration with faculty, and delivery of presentations and seminars for students.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Economics or related field.
• Two or more years of related experience in a college or university setting.
• Commitment to advising, mentoring, and guiding college students.
• Excellent written and oral communication; able to present to groups.

Responsibilities

• Advise declared majors, guiding students through major and degree requirements and campus resources.
• Collaborate with department chair, directors and faculty to coordinate advising and pathways.
• Provide programming support, create and edit advising materials, and support events.
• Conduct research, data collection, and analysis to track retention and on-time graduation.
• Maintain discretion and student privacy in all communications and records.

Skills

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Economics

Master's degree in Economics or related field

Job description

Overview

The professionals in Undergraduate Education foster student growth, empowerment, and success by serving, advising, guiding, nurturing, and celebrating our students, and working with them and our faculty to solve problems so that students may successfully navigate the university. We focus on the academic aspect of students' lives at Tufts, providing information, advice, and support to help them successfully complete their degrees in a timely manner while ensuring that our students have an enriching and rewarding academic experience. To that end, we provide students with tutoring, advising, academic support, direction, and accurate information. We also provide academic enrichment programs and opportunities so that students may reach their full potential and achieve their best. We collaborate with faculty and other departments to advocate for students and improve the academic experience for all students as well as the policies governing undergraduate study at Tufts.

What You'll Do

The Senior Academic Advisor provides full-time professional academic advising support to declared undergraduate majors within the Department of Economics and programmatic support to the faculty advisors in the department. The Senior Academic Advisor supports students in their engagement with the undergraduate major requirements and policies in the Department of Economics, helps them navigate university procedures and make informed decisions about major requirements, departmental specific resources and opportunities, helps position students for success in their professional degree goals, and acts as an accessible source for information about curriculum requirements, course selection, and campus resources more generally. Although their primary responsibility is to support declared Economics majors, the Senior Academic Advisor is part of the larger Academic Advising and Undergraduate Studies (AAUS) team that provides logistical support, programming, research, and data analysis for a team-based approach to advising, student success, with a particular focus on improving the undergraduate experience.

• Serve as front-line academic advisor for students who have declared their majors within the Department. In collaboration with department chair, director of undergraduate studies and faculty, provide individualized coaching, group mentoring, and drop-in advising to declared students within the department. Guide students as they navigate major and degree requirements, departmental opportunities and help them navigate university policies and procedures, including course selection, registration, and declaration of major, and all areas of academic planning. Direct students to appropriate programs and resources and follow up to make sure the student has received support. Refers students to appropriate faculty members for mentorship, research opportunities, and specialized academic guidance when needed.
• Act as a liaison between the department and programs in place to advance student success as they pursue the various post-graduation degree programs and maintains active collaboration with the undergraduate advising team through regular meetings, shared advising practices, and coordinated student support efforts.
• Provide programming support to the Department and faculty advisors within the department. Duties may include creation and editing of advising materials for major students, planning and logistical support for on-campus events, and delivery of presentations, online seminars, and interactive events for students in and interested in the department.
• Conduct research, compile data, and provide analysis and program assessment on various efforts to track, promote, and improve student retention and on-time graduation, related to department curriculum and advising.
• Assist faculty advisors and Associate Deans of Undergraduate Advising in supporting majors who need more attention or are struggling with academics or adjustment to Tufts. Keep up-to-date and professional notes in Portfolio system and promptly share concerns with Associate Deans. Maintain discretion and student privacy when communicating with faculty, staff, and other students; keep student records confidential.
• Other duties as assigned in support of department majors

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's degree in Economics or a related field required.
• Demonstrated interest or experience in Economics or related fields.
• Two or more years of related experience as an instructor, advisor, tutor, mentor, or administrator in a college or university setting.
• Commitment to advising, mentoring, and guiding college students.
• Superior interpersonal skills, including flexibility and approachability.
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication; able to write, edit, and proofread educational documents and other publications. Confidence and experience in teaching, public speaking, or giving effective presentations before large groups.
• Proficient with technology, including various software programs and applications for writing documents, making spreadsheets, creating databases, producing brochures and slideshows, and communicating through web-based audio-video services.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Economics or related field preferred;
• Additional experience working in other areas of university student services, such as student affairs, campus life programs, college learning center, multicultural affairs, bridge programs, and retention programs is beneficial.
• Dedication to serving and supporting a diverse student population, including students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes.
• Proficient with a variety of social media platforms and tools for sharing documents, images, and video online.
• Must be able to work independently, think on one's feet, set priorities, and manage time effectively.

Pay Range

Minimum $55,600.00, Midpoint $69,500.00, Maximum $83,400.00

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.