Student Advisor and Outreach Coordinator - Department of Computer Science

James Madison University; Harrisonburg (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA seeks a full-time Student Advisor and Outreach Coordinator for Computer Science and Information Technology to support undergraduate students through developmental advising, proactive retention initiatives, and coordinated outreach.

You will work with department leadership, faculty, ambassadors, and campus partners to enhance student success and engagement, using data to drive improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Experience advising undergraduate students or related setting.
• Ability to work independently and with others.
• Ability to handle confidential information and follow protocols.
• Familiarity with office tech and data reporting systems.
• Commitment to access, belonging, and student success for diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide developmental academic advising to CS and IT students.
• Help students develop academic plans addressing requirements.
• Participate in transfer-advising, orientation, and other programs.
• Monitor progress, perform proactive outreach, coach students.
• Support students facing academic difficulty with improvement plans.
• Coordinate IT Ambassador Program and related outreach activities.
• Plan prospective-student outreach and events for recruitment.
• Identify and attend local and regional recruiting events.

Skills

Communication skills

Confidentiality handling

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree (preferred)

Tools

Office software

Data tools (Excel)

CMS Cascade

Student-information systems

Job description

Working Title: Student Advisor and Outreach Coordinator - Department of Computer Science

State Role Title:N/A

Position Type:Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status:Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Integrated Science and Engineering

Department: 100061 - Computer Science

Pay Band:N/A

Pay Rate:Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:

Is this a JMU only position?No

Is this a grant-funded position?No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position?No

Beginning Review Date:11/06/2026

About JMU

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.
Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.
Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.
JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.
JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information

The Department of Computer Science (CS) invites applications for a full-time, 12-month Student Advisor and Outreach Coordinator for Computer Science and Information Technology. Reporting to the Academic Unit Head, this position serves undergraduate students in both programs (as needed) through developmental academic advising, proactive student-success and retention support, transition and community programming, and outreach to prospective students.
The successful candidate will join a collaborative advising and faculty team and will work closely with department leadership, campus partners, student ambassadors, and student organizations. This is an excellent opportunity for a student-centered professional who enjoys combining one-to-one advising with program coordination, outreach, and thoughtful use of data to improve the student experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide developmental academic advising to an assigned caseload of CS and IT students through individual and group meetings, both in person and virtually.
• Help students develop academic plans that reflect their interests and goals and accurately address General Education, major, admission, progression, and degree requirements.
• Participate in transfer-student advising, first-year orientation, and other department and university advising programs.
• Monitor academic progress; conduct proactive outreach; coach students in effective help-seeking and self-advocacy; and connect students with appropriate university resources.
• Support students experiencing academic difficulty, including students on probation or suspension, in understanding expectations and developing realistic improvement plans.
• Coordinate the IT Ambassador Program, including ambassador selection, onboarding, training, scheduling, resources, and assessment.
• Plan prospective-student outreach such as email and postcard campaigns, departmental tours, information sessions, admitted-student programs, and visits from prospective students and families.
• Identify and attend appropriate recruiting events at local and regional high schools, community colleges, and university programs, and help keep prospective-student web content accurate and current.
• Organize welcome, transition, and retention activities for newly admitted, transfer, and continuing students, including Welcome Wagon, open houses, and other departmental events.
• Host student information events and community activities that connect students with faculty, peers, alumni, employers, organizations, research, internships, and other opportunities.
• Maintain accurate and confidential advising and program records; curate student and activity data; and contribute information for the departmental annual report, assessment, planning, and decision-making.
• Collaborate with department leadership, faculty advisors, the departmental advising team, Admissions, Orientation, the Registrar, Academic Student Services, and other campus partners; contribute to committees and initiatives; and perform other duties consistent with the position.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience supporting undergraduate students through academic advising, student success, teaching, mentoring, admissions, retention, or a closely related setting.
• Demonstrated experience working both independently and collaboratively, and managing competing priorities.
• Demonstrated experience exercising sound judgement when handling confidential information, with a track record of maintaining confidentiality and following established protocols.
• Demonstrated knowledge of office and communication technologies.
• Demonstrated experience with management of student-information, advising, web-content, and reporting systems.
• Demonstrated ability to support access, belonging, and academic success for students from varied backgrounds.
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, time management, follow-through, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling, education, information technology, computer science, or a related field.
• Professional academic-advising or comparable higher-education experience working directly with undergraduates.
• Experience supporting students in computing, engineering, or another STEM discipline.
• Experience with proactive advising, retention initiatives, early-alert or case-management practices, transfer students, first-generation students, or students experiencing academic difficulty.
• Experience coordinating outreach, recruiting, orientation, ambassador, peer-mentor, or student-engagement programs.
• Experience with student-information or advising systems, Excel or comparable data tools, and Cascade or another content-management system.
• Knowledge of current trends and evidence-based practices in academic advising and higher education.

Additional Posting Information

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: [phone].

Reasonable Accommodation

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at [phone] or [e-mail]. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.