Student Success Advisor

Hawaii Pacific University; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 58,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaii Pacific University is seeking a Student Success Advisor to support undergraduate students with holistic, proactive advising. The SSA offers wraparound guidance, linking students to campus resources and assisting with degree planning and persistence.

The role includes two tracks: First-Year Student Experience and Academic Department Advising, with emphasis on transition support, degree progression, and collaboration with faculty mentors to ensure student success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited university.
• Three years’ experience in academic support services, counseling, training, or related field.
• One year of professional work as an academic advisor or related role.
• Master’s Degree with student services/counseling/education preferred.
• Three years’ advising or counseling experience in a post-secondary setting.
• Experience with student information systems (e.g., Ellucian Banner, Degree Works).
• Knowledge of advising strategies for diverse student populations.

Responsibilities

• Direct student advising support and wraparound guidance for undergraduates.
• Support FYSE and faculty mentors; participate in first‑year handoff.
• Advise on general education, degree requirements, and course selection.
• Develop academic plans, monitor progress, and assist with petitions.
• Collaborate with campus offices to support student success and retention.
• Develop toolkits, trainings, and materials for staff and students.

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in any field

Job description

Job Summary

The Student Success Advisor (SSA) is the primary student success professional supporting undergraduate students at Hawai?i Pacific University through proactive, holistic advising and support. This position provides wraparound guidance to students at various points in their academic career in order to promote retention, persistence, and degree completion.

The SSA combines developmental advising with robust academic planning and individualized success strategies for students. The advisors provide advising support infrastructure for the institutions first-year student advising and college-based faculty mentors.

Student Success Advisors work in one of two distinct but collaborative tracks

Track A: First-Year Student Experience

Advisors in this track focus on supporting first-year students as they transition into university life. They provide proactive academic advising, help students develop personalized academic plans, and facilitate engagement through success seminars, workshops, and campus resource connections. FYSE Advisors report to the Director of the First-Year Student Experience and collaborate with academic departments and various campus offices to ensure a strong foundation for long-term student success.

Track B: Academic Department Advising

Advisors in this track support undergraduate students as they progress into their academic majors and specialized programs. They guide students through advanced course planning, degree progression, and career alignment, while coordinating with Faculty Mentors and college leadership to ensure effective academic transitions. These Advisors play a key role in the Second-Year Handoff, providing continuity and serving as the primary liaison between first‑year student supports and the academic departments.

Collectively, all Student Success Advisors assist students in navigating academic, personal, and professional challenges, referring them to appropriate offices (e.g., Accessibility, Counseling and Behavioral Health, Tutoring) when needed.

This position utilizes rigorous case management for student in collaboration with other office staff, tracking progress toward student’s educational goals using EAB Navigate and other university systems. In addition, Student Success Advisors serve as a resource for degree requirements, course selection, registration, and other university procedures.

Advisors also contribute to the development and refinement of program and university materials (e.g., toolkits, trainings, and guides) for staff development, student workshops, and faculty/staff training.

Location

This position is based out of our Waterfront Plaza campus in downtown Honolulu.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in any field from an appropriately accredited university.
• Three years’ experience working within an academic support services, counseling, training, customer service, or related field.
• One year of professional work experience as an academic advisor, counselor, or related role.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s Degree with a specialization in student services, counseling, education, or related field.
• Three years of professional work experience providing academic advising, coaching or counseling in a post-secondary setting.
• Previous experience working with a student information system (e.g., Ellucian Banner and Degree Works).
• Knowledge of or experience with academic support strategies for various populations of students, including students from under-resourced and under-represented communities.

Other Qualifications

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance is not available for this position.
• Knowledge of best practices in academic coaching, advising, retention, and student success
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and develop productive and collegial relationships, collaboration, and communication with university constituencies (i.e. staff, faculty, students, etc.) and build effective teams as needed.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing,
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance is not available for this position.
• Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy.
• Able to work all shifts and extended hours
• Able to meet to work obligations that may require work during HPU’s winter break, if necessary.
• Successful candidate will be able to utilize excellent time and stress management skills

Key Responsibilities/Essential Job Functions

Track A: First-Year Student Experience

1. Direct Student Support (80%)

• Provide regular academic consultations and advising sessions, primarily in-person, to approximately 160 students, helping them build personalized academic success plans (degree plans, skill development plans, etc.)
• Support students who are underperforming (early alerts, probation, or risk factors) by creating and monitoring academic success/intervention plans.
• Participate theFirst Year Handoffprocess, ensuring that all first-year students are prepared for the move to their academic college and advising relationship with their faculty mentor.
• Advise students on general education, transfer credits, degree requirements, graduation policies, course selection, and registration.
• Assist students in developing time management, problem solving, and relational skills to navigate academic and personal challenges.
• Prepare and process Electronic General Petitions (course substitutions, residency waivers).
• Assist with block registration, linked courses, and course registration as requested.
• Advise on academic suspension appeals.

Track B: Academic Department Advising

1.a. Academic Advising and Second Year Transition Support (70%)

This advisor is responsible for advising and supporting students primarily in Years 2–4, with an emphasis on the critical transition period after their first academic year.

• Participate theFirst Year Handoffprocess, ensuring that all first-year students are prepared for advising relationships with faculty.
• Support academic advising services to continuing undergraduate student populations within the designated College.
• Advise students about graduation requirements, including general education, lower/upper division course requirements, overall credit requirements, and residency requirements.
• Assist students with course registration, as requested.
• Utilize and familiarize students with technology tools and resources (e.g., Banner, Degree Works, Academic Catalog) to assist in degree planning.
• Advise students about registration, transfer credit policies, and procedures.
• Document students’ progression toward degree completion.
• Prepare and process Electronic General Petitions for course substitutions and residency waivers.
• Support students who are underperforming academically (e.g., students on academic probation) by creating academic success plans and tracking their progress.
• Advise students about academic suspension appeal policies and procedures.
• Communicate with students effectively, both orally and in writing.

1.b. Faculty Advising Support and Collaboration (10%)

This advisor ensures effective advising operations within the designated College and provides resources to faculty.

• Provide direct support and liaison services to the Faculty Mentors within the colleges (CLA, COB, CNCS, CPS, SON).
• Assist in deploying and supporting the Faculty Advising/Mentoring Training Modules and Supports created by the FYSE office for faculty mentors handling Years 2–4.

2. Technology & Data Use (5%)

• Use systems such as Banner, Degree Works, EAB Navigate, and Academic Catalogs to track student progress, create reports, and familiarize students with planning tools.
• Document student meetings, attendance, and progression in university systems.

3. Collaboration & Case Management (5%)

• Collaborate with other student support services toward the common goal of student success, retention, and degree completion.
• Participate in seminars and workshops for professional and faculty advisors.
• Participate in assessment and strategic planning for continuous improvement of student success efforts
• Communicate effectively with students, faculty, and staff.
• Document student meetings, attendance, and progression in university systems (e.g. Navigate,
• Partner with other university services (Accessibility, Counseling, Tutoring, Basic Needs, etc.) to provide comprehensive support.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators on interventions and student success initiatives.
• Refer students appropriately and follow up to ensure connections are made.

4. Program Development & Training (5%)

• Develop and refine toolkits, curricula, meeting guides, and workshops for students.
• Support and deliver advisor/mentor training sessions and professional development workshops.
• Represent the office/department on university committees and events.
• Participate in assessment, program development, and strategic planning for continuous improvement.

5. Performs other related duties as assigned (5%)

• Actively participates as an effective member of team by completing assigned duties, accepting additional assignments or reassignments.
• Assists with seasonal peaks.

This description is not designed to list all activities, duties or responsibilities which may be required for this job. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned at any time.