Senior Academic Advisor 1

The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for a Senior Academic Advisor, Graduate Student Services and Advising (GSSA) . Reporting to the Director of Graduate Studies in the Graduate Student Services and Advising (GSSA) office, this position will provide guidance to graduate students on academic programs and university procedures and documents related to completing their graduate education. The Senior Academic Advisor will work with graduate students and faculty from recruitment through graduation to ensure academic success, and develop, interpret, document, implement, assess, and apply University, State, Federal, and School policies and procedures in order to ensure the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective delivery of graduate student support services. This position will maintain on-going accurate records and data for graduate student files; monitor student progress throughout their studies; and ensure that students are certified for graduation in a timely manner. This is a senior position that will provide leadership and guidance to support staff.

The Wilder School's mission is to:

● Engage, teach and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.
● Advance research that informs public policy and decision-making to improve our communities.
● Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance the quality of life.

The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise and social equity in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2022 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 38 and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 19 in Social Policy, No. 28 in Urban Policy, and No. 34 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,500 students and more than 11,000 alumni, with an established environment where diverse perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

Our location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website at https://wilder.vcu.edu/ .

Typical Duties

The Senior Academic Advisor will assist faculty, staff, and students by utilizing Ellucian and our own electronic databases to research student records and to initiate and carry out student actions; perform academic course corrections/changes and certain student actions without supervision based on preset standards; work with students to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate courses and credits, and perform an audit of all student records in Banner and DegreeWorks each semester to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate courses and credits. The position will also manage and maintain student records, ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date; In addition to advising duties, the Senior Academic Advisor will work closely with the Director of Graduate Studies to represent GSSA for recruitment, retention, and other enrollment initiatives; develop, implement, and evaluate strategies in alignment with the school’s retention and recruitment goals.

• Provide academic advising services to assigned students (30%)
  • Advise students regarding departmental, collegiate, and University policies and procedures; programs of study; and the development of appropriate academic plans.
  • Assist adult learner students with problem-solving and decision-making.
  • Proactively communicate to students to assist with registration and program planning, inform of policy and/or curricular changes and important deadlines.
  • Offer in-person appointments, phone appointments, and email advising; be available for walk-in advising.
  • Assist students in identifying their interests, abilities, and academic goals and in making decisions regarding their academic career.
  • Introduce students to opportunities that will enrich their academic experience, facilitate their academic and personal development, and support their educational success.
  • Make appropriate referrals to other university resources.
• Collaborate with university partners on matters that impact student recruitment, success, and retention (20%)
  • Participate in recruitment activities, programs, and initiatives.
  • Provide advising information to prospective students.
  • Provide advising services to students during new student orientation.
  • Support departmental, school, and University retention initiatives.
  • Contact continuing students who do not register for classes.
  • Work with students to create academic performance plans to ensure the student regains good academic standing.
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of student information, including advising interactions (40%)
  • Document all advising interactions with students.
  • Maintain confidential records on students and adhere to FERPA rules for the release of student information.
  • Ensure student records are accurate and up-to-date through regular auditing and submitting Special Action Forms (SAFs) as needed.
• Monitor student progression in degree program using advising checkpoints (5%)
  • Use DegreeWorks and internal auditing process to determine student’s progress in completing degree requirements.
  • Ensure students are in compliance with the continuous enrollment policy.
  • Conduct final audit of student account prior to degree conferral.
• Provide leadership within the department (5%)
  • Provide direction and guidance to program assistants.
  • Collaborate with Director of Graduate Studies to implement unit programs and initiatives (manage assessment of programming, and manage marketing and promotion).
  • Lead new student orientation sessions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Typical Education and Experience

Minimum Hiring Standards

• Master’s degree in one of the disciplines in the School of Government & Public Affairs, student personnel, college counseling or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills as well as customer service; must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google’s cloud collaboration services.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with and providing guidance to support staff with the management of team projects.
• Excellent writing, analytical, problem-solving, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated experience working autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment, or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Hiring Standards

• Previous experience advising graduate students.
• Demonstrated experience using Degree Works, Banner, and Navigate.
• Demonstrated ability to manage academic processes within and across academic units.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large volume of administrative work.

Application Submission/Other Information:

All applications should include a cover letter and a detailed resume with the names and contact information of three professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with priority review beginning January 18, 2023.

“Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability”.

Salary Range: $45,000 - $50,000



Position Details:

Department: Graduate Student Services and Advising, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Exempt

University Job Title/Family: Senior Academic Advisor 1 (10214)/Academic and Faculty Affairs



Contact Information:

Contact Name: Ross Losapio, Search Chair

Contact Email: losapior@vcu.edu

Contact Phone: 804-827-0364