Senior Academic Advisor - School of Arts and Sciences

The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy; Medford Hillside (MA); Hybrid; USD 56,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Tufts University seeks a Senior Academic Advisor in Undergraduate Education to guide undeclared students through curriculum choices, major selection, and campus resources. The role supports the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and collaborates with faculty and services to enhance the student experience.

The position is hybrid, with in-person work required part of the week during the academic year and some remote work possible during breaks. Evening or weekend hours may be needed occasionally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in education, higher education, or related field preferred.
• Experience: 2+ years in college/university settings as instructor, advisor, tutor, mentor, or administrator.
• Commitment to advising, mentoring, and guiding college students.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Proficient with technology and various software for documents, spreadsheets, databases, and online collaboration.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage time effectively.

Responsibilities

• Counsels and advises undeclared students on curriculum and major options.
• Provides guidance on course selection and graduation requirements.
• Coordinates with Career Services for internships and employment opportunities.
• Delivers group information sessions and individual counseling.
• Collaborates with the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and other offices on student success.
• Supports orientation, First Year Experience, and retention initiatives.

Skills

Communication skills

Public speaking

Time management

Teaching/mentoring

Technology proficiency

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Web conferencing tools

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 serves as a proactive academic advisor to undeclared undergraduate students. The Senior Academic Advisor supports students in their engagement with the curriculum, helps them navigate university procedures and make informed decisions about choice of major, and acts as an accessible source for information about curriculum requirements, course selection, and campus resources. Supporting the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the Associate Deans of Undergraduate Advising, the Senior Academic Advisor provides logistical support, programming, research, and data analysis for a team-based approach to pre-major advising, New Student Orientation, the First Year Experience, and undergraduate retention efforts at Tufts. This is a hybrid position. This position will work in person for at least half the work week during the fall and spring semesters while classes are in session, with more flexibility for remote work over the summer and during school breaks. There are periods of time and events in which in-person participation is required. Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required.

• Counsels and advises students on academic program including course selection and requirements for majors and areas of concentration; develops and provides expertise on a disciplinary group of majors
  • Assists students in making appropriate educational choices and decisions
  • Provides advice and coordination with Career Services for research, internship and employment opportunities.
  • Provides advice and resources for study abroad.
  • Conducts group information sessions as well as individual counseling
  • Collaborates with and identifies University resources to support student and faculty advising
  • Guide students as they adjust to college life and learning and help navigate university policies and procedures.
• Manages advising for special student constituency or program area.
  Support curriculum-based advising of undecided students.
• Collaborates with the office of the Dean of Student Life to proactively identify students of concern
  • Maintains discretion and student privacy when communicating with faculty, staff, and other students
• Deploys resources (web, print, personnel) to better communicate academic policies
  • Maintains and updates text for school section of Tufts Bulletin
  • Writes and updates orientation materials and documentation
• Reviews and approve student petitions, forms
  • Conducts degree certification with student records team
  • Creates and distributes reports for faculty and administration
  • Works with technology services to streamline review processes (degree certification, academic standing, internal transfer) and to move toward digital student records
  • Works with technology services to implement and verify SIS rules changes related to new credit system
• Works with technology services to streamline review processes (degree certification, academic standing, internal transfer) and to move toward digital student records
  • Works with technology services to implement and verify SIS rules changes related to new credit system

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements

Knowledge and experience typically acquired by:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 2 or more years' experience in college or university setting as an instructor, advisor, tutor, mentor or administrator
• 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
• Ability to work independently, think on one's feet, set priorities, and manage time effectively

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Education, Higher Education, Counseling or relevant field
• Additional experience working in the arts or 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

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.