Academic Advisor

Department: Col of Engineering and Computing

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The Sid & Reva Dewberry Department of Civil, Environmental, and Infrastructure Engineering (CEIE) is an internationally recognized program leading the engineering profession with the expansion of knowledge through research and scholarship. We aim to provide a transformative learning experience that yields visionary stewards of society who are prepared to discover solutions to complex global challenges and make the world safer, healthier, sustainable, and more prosperous.

About the Position:

The Academic Advisor provides academic advising services for all current and prospective undergraduate students and replies to general inquiries about undergraduate programs offered by the department. This position contributes to the recruitment and retention of students through effective advising and outreach, and is responsible for facilitating students’ education, decision-making, and planning. The Academic Advisor discusses academic interests, makes connections to career goals with students, and provides information on academic policies, procedures, and practices, including working through various academic requests, forms, and appeals. This position represents the department in a professional manner and acts as a resource regarding the university and department’s rules and regulations while troubleshooting, problem-solving, and contributing to Mason’s strategic goals of preparing career-ready graduates while increasing graduation and retention rates.

Responsibilities:

Undergraduate Student Advising:

• Leads and coordinates all aspects of undergraduate advising for the CEIE department. Meets with and assists students regarding course selection, prerequisites, transfer courses, registration and overrides, career and/or educational goals, and general university rules and regulations, and ensures that students meet departmental requirements of degree progress;
• Communicates essential academic registration information. Provides information on academic policies, procedures, and practices, including working through various academic requests, forms, and appeals. Organizes and retains student records, to include advising notes and email exchanges;
• Meets with prospective undergraduate students and responds to inquiries, escalating complex issues or situations with students to the supervisor for guidance;
• Participates in outreach initiatives organized by the college/university. Organizes regular outreach campaigns to reach out to students proactively, including for the Bachelor's/accelerated Master's program; and
• Performs prerequisite checks for all CEIE undergraduate courses at the beginning of each semester and verifies student eligibility for each class.

Undergraduate Student Affairs:

• Provides administrative support to students and faculty. Acts as a liaison between students, faculty, and administrative offices in understanding the program, and University rules and regulations;
• Distributes information, including job/professional development/scholarship opportunities, and assists in implementing and performing student support services tasks;
• Participates in university-wide programs and events related to undergraduate students, including admissions, orientation, recruitment, advising, graduation, and other social and networking events;
• Supports and provides oversight of operations related to student records, graduation, and student recruitment functions;
• Assists with department scholarships and awards;
• Generates correspondence in communicating with students, faculty, and other administrators and units such as the Dean’s office, Registrar’s office, etc., in writing, via e-mail or through other communication means in response to students and other constituents’ inquiries in fostering student success as needed;
• Assists in updating CEIE department’s advising materials prior to each catalog year;
• Maintains database of department's course syllabi;
• Assists in creating sample schedules, transfer guides, and degree worksheets for different student populations;
• Assists in ABET assessment, including collecting and cataloging assessment information into the university database; and
• Collaborates with faculty from NOVA and other VCCS institutions to facilitate alignment of curriculum.

Performs Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• Serves on committees and other projects as assigned, related to advising and student support as needed; and
• Participates in university-wide advising training.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent; 
• Experience with or demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, orientation, learning services, disability services, veteran’s services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities;
• Experience managing multiple complex projects simultaneously;
• Experience delivering exceptional customer service;
• Experience assisting and supporting diverse populations;
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Related knowledge to assist or support students in a college setting;
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills;
• Conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to learn new technology; and
• Ability to work orientation, recruitment, and admissions events;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Experience working in a higher education setting;
• Experience in working with science/engineering students;
• Experience with leadership, communication, program development, and administrative activities; and
• Experience with educational database management systems, and Customer Relationship Management systems (CRM).

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Academic Advisor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Full consideration will apply to applicants who submit their completed application by June 27, 2024, however, review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Posting Open Date:  June 13, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  June 27, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes