Student Support Advisor

Nichols College; Dudley (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Nichols College seeks a Student Support Advisor to provide proactive onboarding and academic advisement to new students, guiding them through course selection and program requirements. You will interpret transcripts and testing data to build individualized plans and support successful progression.

You will collaborate with faculty, staff, and the CARE team to monitor retention, assist with registration, and connect students to campus resources, aiming to smooth their academic journey and promote

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or willingness to obtain; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in higher education and with student databases (Colleague) is essential.
• Ability to develop relationships and provide proactive student success guidance.

Responsibilities

• Provide onboarding and academic advisement for new students.
• Interpret tests and transcripts to assess readiness and plan.
• Assist with scheduling and registration of courses.
• Advise on transfer processes and career planning.
• Use SIS, LMS, and student email for advising documentation.
• Coordinate with faculty and staff across campus for retention initiatives.
• Refer students to appropriate offices and participate in CARE team outreach.
• Document advising visits and student interactions in databases.
• Commit to regular attendance at staff and division meetings.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Advising and guidance

Education

Bachelor’s degree or willingness to obtain degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Colleague

Job description

and the job listing Expires on September 14, 2026

The Student Support Advisor works in direct relationship with students, providing proactive and intrusive advising and course selection guidance, making educational plans, and assisting in potential career and transfer possibilities. The Student Support Advisor plays a significant role in the onboarding process for new students and is responsible for the retention of assigned students via outreach to those at risk of dropping out and departure. The Student Support Advisor also provides general academic advisement via walk-ins, appointments, and virtual advising.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

A. The Student Support Advisor reports directly to and is responsible to the Director of Advising, Registration and Student Support.

B. The Student Support Advisor coordinates most closely with students, other Student Support Advisors, Registration Assistants, college faculty and staff, including Student Financial Aid, Records, Finance, Admissions, Disability Support Services, Veterans, CPA, BIT, CARE team, Developmental Education, the Testing Center, Washington County Public High Schools, and outside social service agencies.

DUTIES

A. Provides proactive College onboarding and academic advisement for new students.

1. Initiates contact with new students shortly upon their acceptance to HCC and guides through onboarding steps; responsible for seeing new students through onboarding process to ensure they are ready for classes.

2. Interpret standardized tests, high school transcripts and assess college and career readiness standards.

3. Interpret courses, grades, and codes listed on high school and college transcripts.

4. Explain information in the college catalog regarding degree, certificate, and letter of recognition program requirements.

5. Explain college policies and procedures to students based on individual needs.

6. Assist students in scheduling and registration of courses.

7. Assist students in understanding general information about the transfer process by providing accurate information.

8. Assist students in career planning and development, including exposure to non-credit programs as appropriate.

9. Guide students in the use of online academic advising resources, including student email, the SIS (Student Information System), and LMS (Learning Management System.)

10. Develop academic plans with a student based on their career/major choice and assist the student in uploading the plan to the SIS.

11. Review student financial aid eligibility, provide updates on the process and explain financial aid rules and regulations.

12. Discuss the benefits of connecting with faculty throughout the academic journey.

13. Refer students to appropriate offices on campus when needed.

14. Provides general academic advising and retention support on a walk-in basis for all majors.

15. Document advising visits and student interactions in the appropriate database(s).

B. Serve on the CARE team and provide targeted support, interventions and outreach to students at risk of drop-out or departure.

1. Facilitate strategic one-to-one sessions to help students identify concerns and build their own capacity for academic success.

2. Provides ongoing encouragement, support and tapping into students’ personal goals and intrinsic motivation to aid in student success.

3. Refer students to learning support services and follow-up as needed.

4. Utilize software to respond and document student cases.

C. Participate in monitoring of degree audits and progress with students throughout their academic career at HCC, intervening when challenges arise by providing resources and assistance when appropriate.

D. Communicate and provide proactive outreach, specifically in the instances where students have not registered for a given semester, documenting issues and challenges that are prohibiting a student from registering and problem solving appropriately.

E. Respond, assist, monitor, and communicate with student cases that have been submitted via the college’s early alert processes; appropriately document for confidential sharing of information

F. Assist students with registration questions and with navigating HCC’s SIS registration functions.

G. Serve as a point of contact/liaison for one or more of the academic divisions on campus, providing updates to each division about retention and registration initiatives and programs.

H. Serves the college, as requested, on special committees, which includes regular attendance at staff and division meetings.

I. Performs other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree or the willingness to obtain degree if hired, preferably in Psychology, Education or Social Work. Master’s degree preferred. Preference will be given to candidates who have experience working with students in a higher education setting; knowledge and experience working with a student database system is essential (i.e., Colleague). Ability to develop relationships and maintain best practices for proactive and intrusive student success guidance.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Interpersonal skills to guide students in their academic decision-making; excellent organizational and planning skills in dealing with the career and transfer student population; advising and communication skills to deal effectively with students, faculty, staff, coaches, and community leaders.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Normal office environment with some need to work a flex schedule to address the needs of day, evening and weekend students.