Staff Advisor

Rhodes State College; Lima (OH); On-site; USD 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Rhodes State College is seeking an Advisor to provide proactive academic advising to new and first-semester students, guiding onboarding, curriculum, success and completion with a teaching mindset.

You will oversee a caseload, build relationships, plan study loads, and connect students to campus resources, while collaborating with faculty and staff to promote persistence and completion. Evening and weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Experience in academic advising or related higher education roles.
• Strong communication, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to serving underrepresented populations and diverse backgrounds.
• Understanding of community college setting and mission.
• Evening and weekend hours may be required.

Responsibilities

• Create rapport and build relationships to promote student success and retention.
• Guide students in planning a degree-appropriate course load.
• Facilitate problem-solving, decision-making, and goal setting.
• Connect advisees to campus resources based on individual needs.
• Support proactive outreach to monitor student progress.
• Support faculty by providing information and resources to boost persistence.
• Teach students to track progress and interpret policies and tools.
• Document student contact in appointment notes, email, and calls.
• Develop relationships with departments, programs, and staff.
• Engage in ongoing assessment of advising practices and complete tasks timely.

Skills

Academic advising

Communication

Organizational skills

Empathy

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in psychology

Bachelor's degree in education

Bachelor's degree in counseling

Master's degree in college student personnel

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary of Duties

Under the general direction of the Director of Advising, Enrollment Management and Student Affairs, the Advisor serves as a resource for students in the areas of onboarding, curriculum, success, and completion. The person in this role provides proactive and developmental academic advising to new, first-semester students and an assigned caseload of students using strategies and methods based on the guided pathways model and an ‘advising as teaching’ mindset. They also contribute to the success of the department and College through a student-centered approach. A successful Staff Advisor will be able to learn quickly, demonstrate empathy, and provide support to students. In addition, specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Duties & Responsibilities

• Create rapport and build relationships so that each advisee feels a connection, support, and guidance to promote student success and retention. .
• Guide students in developing a plan of study that meets degree requirements, including recommending appropriate academic course loads and course selections.
• Facilitate problem-solving, decision-making, planning, and goal setting.
• Connect advisees to available campus resources according to individual needs.
• Support student progress with a consistent and effective pattern of proactive outreach.
• Support assigned Faculty by providing information and resources to support student persistence, retention, and completion.
• Teach students how to track their academic progress, locate and interpret appropriate policies, and utilize the tools and resources available.
• Use technology that supports advising and registration. Document contact with students through appointment notes, email, and phone conversations.
• Develop strong working relationships with academic departments, programs, faculty, and staff.
• Engage in ongoing assessment and development of the College's advising practices.
• Complete tasks in a timely manner.
• Perform other related duties and special assignments as required
• Serve as an active member of institutional meetings and within Shared Governance as appropriate.

Experience, Skills & Abilities

• One to three years of experience in academic advising, admissions, or other higher education functional areas (including internships and practicums).
• Strong communication, decision‑making, and organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and the ability to learn new software.
• Successful experience with underrepresented populations and respect for all people of disadvantaged backgrounds.
• An understanding of and appreciation for the community college setting and the College's mission statement.
• Evening and weekend hours may be required.

Education & Certifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, education, counseling, or a related field

Preferred:

• Master's degree in college student personnel, social work, education, higher education administration, or related field