Academic/Career Advisor at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington

Job Description:

Position Title: Academic/Career Advisor

About the University  

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western is the highest-ranking public, master's-granting university in the Pacific Northwest, according to the 2022 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Unit and the Department

The Student Success Initiatives (SSI) unit supports WWU's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity. SSI is a unit within the Division of Enrollment and Student Services.

The Unit's mission is to maximize student retention, persistence, and continued success through strong inclusive outreach and support programs. Our vision is that every student graduates, prepared for a life of growth and purpose. The Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center is part of the SSI unit. The unit also includes the Career Services Center, the Western Success Scholars (WSS) program, and the SSI Operations team that supports across the unit.

The Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center's mission is to engage, support, and empower students to accomplish their goals and achieve success at WWU and beyond. The center provides a comprehensive set of services to (1) support students' academic advising needs, (2) help in navigating campus resources, and (3) gain a better understanding of Western's academic policies. The center also provides peer mentoring and other specialized services for additional academic and personal support in meeting the holistic needs of the students we serve.

About the Position

The Academic/Career Advisor works within a team of professional and student advisors in the Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center (AASAC), the central undergraduate advising office at Western Washington University. In this role, one will employ a philosophy of strengths-based and student-centered advising to assist a diverse population of students.

AASAC services and programs focus on all undergraduate students with a specific target toward supporting first year (freshmen/Running Start) and transfer students, students who are undecided about their academic goals and students experiencing academic difficulties. In this role, one will assist students to develop academic and career plans consistent with their interests, abilities, and aspirations and to utilize available resources to achieve academic and personal success. In this role, one will also be responsible for supporting the mandatory Advising & Registration programming for new students admitted to Western throughout the academic year.

This is a full-time, 12-month position that reports to a Senior Academic/Career Advisor. Some evening and weekend work is required in this position and staff are expected to be available to support A&R activities for fall registration (mid-July through August) and in the weeks leading up to the start of other academic terms.

Job responsibilities include the following:

Direct Student Advising

• Provide individual advising to help students related to academic planning, adding/dropping courses, exploring and selecting majors/minors, tracking graduation requirements, understanding university policies, etc. Interactions with students should support them in developing critical thinking, problem solving and independent learning skills. 
•        Maintain awareness and understanding of critical advising and other University academic resources including University Catalog Programs of Study and policies, academic department websites, student academic resources across campus, etc.
•       Assist students in the major exploration process. This includes maintaining knowledge of career exploration resources, understanding major declaration requirements, and then working with students to understand options.
•       Assist students in low academic standing to identify strengths, address factors impeding their academic progress, and navigate campus resources to promote success.
•       Provide advising support for students being readmitted to Western to develop academic plans upon returning. Provide advising support for students being readmitted to Western to develop academic plans upon returning. 
•       Provide accurate and timely referrals to university offices and resources as needed. 

Support Targeted Outreach Efforts

• Assist in outreach campaigns that strategically and intentionally support the needs of uniquely identified groups of students.
• Assist with the implementation of the 105-credit hold process.
• Engage in outreach activities with academic departments, other student service offices, and student groups to promote integrated academic advising and career planning, to foster inclusivity, and to provide support towards student achievement. 

Group Advising and Workshops

• Collaborate with others in the planning and delivery of Advising & Registration sessions for new students.
• Conduct workshops as needed and/or requested (e.g. residence halls, classrooms, departmentally organized workshops) that address academic success and personal development.
• Participate in workshops and/or panel discussions as requested by other departments.
• Assist in the coordination of special events and programs, as requested.

 Administrative Functions and Professional Development

•         Document student advising appointments and activities.
•         Utilize various online tools and technologies including, but not limited to Degree Works, EAB Navigate, SharePoint, Zoom, Banner, Microsoft 365 (e.g. Outlook, Teams, Word, OneNote, Excel, PowerPoint).
  
•        Attend staff meetings and other committee meetings, as assigned.
  
•        Serve on college-wide committees and task forces, as approved by supervisor.
  
•        Pursue professional development opportunities that advance one’s knowledge of changing student demographics and best practices in student retention with a particular focus on access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
•        Other duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (completed by start date)
• Minimum of one year’s experience in academic advising or academic success coaching at the post-secondary level, or related higher education experience
• Demonstrated experience supporting diverse, traditionally underrepresented or under-served, first-generation, low-socioeconomic, or non-traditional populations
• Ability to work effectively with diverse staff and faculty as a contributing team member
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects and time in a fast-paced office environment
• High degree of professionalism
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to give effective presentations, provide individual advising and conduct outreach to targeted groups
• Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive information/materials in a confidential manner
• Experience utilizing various technology and software such as Microsoft 365, Teams, Zoom, etc.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration, Education, Counseling, School Counseling, or a related field
• Experience advising in an office with a wide scope serving first year and undeclared students
• Ability to integrate academic advising and career development components when assisting students in formulating academic plans
• Experience using student records systems and advising platforms
• Experience using the EAB Navigate platform
• Fluent in two or more languages

Conditions of Employment

All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Salary   Hiring range for position is $51,218 - $58,901/year.  Through longevity position tops out at $66,584/year.

Benefits Information  

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position.

Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

A complete application includes the following:

(1) A cover letter (not to exceed 3 pages) and resume addressing your experience related to the position responsibilities and each of the required and preferred qualifications.

(2) An Access, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ADEI) statement: ADEI are core values at Western Washington University. Attach a statement (500 words max) that includes examples of your demonstration and commitment to ADEI and how you will contribute to further implementation of these values at Western through your work with the Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center.

(3) The names and contact information of 3 professional references.

Application Link:  https://hr.wwu.edu/careers?job=501741

Closing Date Notes:  Application review begins May 30, 2024; position is open until filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3303 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Contact:  

Western Washington University Human Resources 

• Voice: (360) 650-3774 
  Fax: (360) 650-2810 
  General: HR@wwu.edu