Pre-health Advisor

Job Summary

The Pre-Health Advisor in the Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) provides comprehensive pre-health advising to CU Boulder undergraduate students and recent alumni!

The Pre-Health Advisors report to the Director of Pre-Health Advising in the College of Arts and Sciences and provide robust individual health professions advising with students, both by individual appointment and drop-in, as well as via small and large group sessions for the purposes of guiding students in identifying their health professions related career goals, evaluating students’ progress in pre-health related coursework, navigating graduate school application systems, and assessing students in engaging comprehensive enrichment and internship experiences that aiding in their application to professional schools. Pre-Health Advisors also work with students in group educational settings via workshops, presentations, campus events, and other activities. These positions exist to educate the whole student through a tailored, developmental, and student-focused approach.

CU Boulder’s commitment to student success includes hiring, retaining and developing a diverse staff to support, advise, mentor, and educate our undergraduate students in their journey for academic and career success.

The University of Colorado Boulder is committed to building a culturally diverse community of faculty, staff, and students dedicated to contributing to an inclusive campus environment. We are an Equal Opportunity employer, including veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Who We Are

The Office of Pre-Health Advising (OPHA) is a newly established/relocated office in the College of Arts and Sciences. The Office of Pre-Health Advising serves all CU Boulder degree-seeking undergraduate students and undergraduate alumni who intend to enroll in a variety of health professional schools, provides counsel on how to prepare to become a strong applicant for health-related professional schools, and helps students to navigate the professional school application process.

What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be

Pre-Health Student Advising/Interactions

• Develop trusting, supportive relationships with currently enrolled and recently graduated undergraduate pre-health students using a student-focused developmental approach.
• Ensure a well-rounded and integrated health professions advising and career development experience that focuses on exploration, discovery, goal-setting, and networking in partnership with a student’s academic advisor, academic coach, career services advisor, faculty, and other student success professionals.
• Conduct individual and group pre-health advising, addressing topics including:
• Exploration of various healthcare careers of interest to the student, which may include providing guidance on topics such as using career exploration resources, conducting informational interviews, connecting with other pre-health oriented students, community networking within the field of health professions, and using campus resources as appropriate.
• Evaluate individual students’ experiential skills and career goals to make appropriate recommendations related to the career path and graduate/professional school, and provide support in helping students personalize their pre-health path(s) at CU Boulder accordingly.
• Identify and educate students on applicable field-specific prerequisite course requirements based on the individual’s career interest, academic history, and goals.
• Offer assistance and advice on preparation for the professional school application process, including: preparing for standardized entrance exams, collecting effective letters of recommendation, selecting a strategic list of schools, navigating the application process (timing, logistics, etc.), communicating effectively with programs, and writing effective application essays (including personal statements, experience descriptions, and supplemental application essays), as well as proper etiquette for interviews and practice in conducting successful professional school interviews, using both group workshops and individual mock interviews with personalized feedback.
• Provide coaching and search strategies for relevant co-curricular experiences, such as research or health-related field experiences, clinical and non-clinical experience, service experience, research, etc.
• Refer students to appropriate student support services, such as academic advising, academic coaching, career services, financial aid, disability services, counseling, etc.
• Lead small groups, workshops, events, programs, and seminars for the purpose of pre-health career exploration; developing academic success strategies, skill-building, professional school application preparation, etc.
• Proactively track, contact and work with special student populations (i.e., high-risk, first generation, students who have not been seen for an appointment, students in academic difficulty, high-achieving students, etc.).
• Serve as an informed resource for students and make referrals when appropriate.
• Maintain email contact with advisees; respond to student inquiries; plan appropriate outreach to students in academic difficulty; provide targeted information to students, etc.
• Maintain accurate and professional records of all advising contacts.
• Monitor dashboards, tracking key student success achievements and perform outreach/intervention when students are off track.
• Effectively communicate with faculty and other administrators in support of individual student’s planning process as needed.
• Provide advising and mentoring to prospective students and their families, as necessary.

Office of Pre-Health Advising Program Planning, Outreach & Administration

• Work closely with the Director through a team-oriented approach to develop and implement OPHA materials, programming, initiative and events to support student success.
• Support the development and implementation of standard practices, processes, and training to achieve OPHA team goals.
• Work with Director and team to identify and implement advising strategies that intentionally aim to retain the number of students from underrepresented underserved populations (e.g., first-generation and students of color) who potentially apply to health-specific professional schools.
• Collaborate and create cross-campus relationships with faculty, advisors, administrators, and student support professionals on campus and liaise with advisors across campus, building and maintaining vital cross-campus relationships.
• Develop and deliver health professions related content for New Student Welcome programming and other key recruitment experiences and college engagement events.
• Liaise regularly with staff and faculty to ensure understanding of curricula, departmental goals and career/research opportunities.
• Participate in ongoing individual and group training and professional development, as appropriate to stay abreast of emerging trends related to application systems and processes, careers, and industry changes.
• May be called upon to lead trainings or presentations for staff.
• May serve as point of contact/liaison for assigned schools, majors, and campus partners.
• Work with and/or supervise as assigned student workers, pre-health ambassadors, and other mentor-type opportunities that promote successful engagement and interactions between students.
• Participate in the OPHA, college, and/or campus-wide committees, tasks forces, and working groups as time and interest allows.
• Represent OPHA at various campus events or presentations as assigned.
  

What You Should Know

• This position may have the option for a hybrid remote work schedule, with some in person work required each week.
• All University of Colorado Boulder employees are required to follow the campus COVID-19 vaccine requirement . New employees must provide proof of vaccination or receive a medical or religious exemption within 30 days of employment.

What We Can Offer

The salary range for this position is $50,000 - $55,000 annually.

Benefits

The University of Colorado offers excellent benefits , including medical, dental, retirement, paid time off, tuition benefit and ECO Pass. The University of Colorado Boulder is one of the largest employers in Boulder County and offers an inspiring higher education environment. Learn more about the University of Colorado Boulder .

Be Statements

Be impactful. Be supportive. Be Boulder.

What We Require

• A master’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university and at least one (1) year of experience in academic/career/pre-health advising, academic coaching, counseling, and/or instructional experience.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.

What You Will Need

• Advising, communication, and situation-management skills required to interact continually with students in a professional manner.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
• Ability to understand diverse curricula offered by a variety of colleges, schools, and programs and understand the relationships between those curricula and a students’ pre-health related career goal and requirements.
• Proven commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion.
• Strong group facilitation, presentation, and public speaking skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels throughout the institution and at professional schools.
• Outstanding customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Proven success in working with students from a diverse set of backgrounds and within a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a team and within a collaborative work environment.
• Exceptional organizational, planning, analytical and technical skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple projects and requests, and work in a fast paced environment.
• Demonstrated passion for working with students from entry to graduation within a high-volume setting.
• Willingness to work in an environment which may demand some flexibility, including occasional evening or weekend work to accommodate presentations, activities, and events.
• Knowledge, or willingness to rapidly acquire and use knowledge of distance oriented communication and educational technologies such as Zoom/Skype, etc.

What We Would Like You to Have

• A graduate degree from an accredited college or university in a Natural Sciences field, including biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, neuroscience etc.; or a degree in psychology or sociology studies; or a degree from a higher education, counseling, or related field; or a degree from a health professions graduate program.
• Working knowledge of graduate admission processes, health profession entrance exam testing, and pre-health resources for students.

Special Instructions

To apply, please submit the following materials:

1. A current resume.
2. A cover letter that specifically tells us how your background and experience align with the requirements, qualifications, and responsibilities of the position.
3. A short essay (no more than 1 page) that addresses the following: "Describe your advising philosophy and how that philosophy supports a diverse student population with pre-health interests."

We may request references at a later time.

Please apply by April 23, 2023 for full consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs .

Posting Contact Information

Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources

Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu