Academic/GCHS Transition Advisor

Description

Role:

The Academic/GCHS Transition Advisor position proactively enhances the student experience by providing focused commitment to student success. This position reports to the Director of Advising and works in coordination with the Admissions Office, Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid Office, Garden City High School (GCHS), and Garden City Community College (GCCC) to ensure students' progress towards degree and ease of transition to GCCC.

This position is a split position between GCCC (3 days a week) and GCHS (2 days a week) during the school year; then full-time at GCCC in the summer. At GCCC, this position advises new and current students enrolled at GCCC regarding information, procedures, and academic requirements of a specific program or major, evaluates students' specific academic situations, and works with students to set reasonable academic goals aimed at timely completion of their chosen degree programs. The advisor will utilize GCCC systems to prepare for advising of students and interacts with students through the use of various technologies and in person meetings. While the advisor is expected to have knowledge of all programs at GCCC, this position will specialize in the Allied Health program fields and assists in the advisement of Allied Health students, including collection of documentation for enrollment in specific certification programs.

At GCHS, this position assists the GCHS career center in providing college information to GCHS Junior and Seniors, assisting students with GCCC application for admission, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and GCCC scholarship applications. This position will be responsible for communication between GCCC Admission and Advising offices and the GCHS career center in coordinating application and enrollment events.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

75% -- GCCC

• Assists in enrolling students in Allied Health courses.
• Assists new students to GCCC in picking appropriate program and enrolling in first semester of classes.
• Persistently and consistently contact admitted students to assist them with getting enrolled for courses.
• Proactively communicate with advisees when assigned regarding registration procedures, academic policies, and other general information.
• Assess the student’s stage of academic development and assists student to establish realistic and attainable academic goals with the primary duty being course registration each semester.
• Advises students on academic issues; identifies the educational options appropriate for each student as their situation dictates.
• Work collaboratively with the offices such as Financial Aid, Admissions, Online Office, Allied Health, and others regarding training, development, and degree requirements.
• Identify available options for students to satisfy degree requirements in a timely manner, including a substantial number of student support services designed to assist them.
• Proactively and systematically engages students to assist them in meeting each deadline needed to move them efficiently and effectively through the requirements to complete their degrees.
• Monitors academic progress of each student assigned to them. With the aid of the early alert system, analyzes progress reports form faculty; promotes satisfactory academic progress towards degree completion. With faculty, identified and discusses current and potential needs or problem areas (i.e. study skills, tutoring needed, writing issues, etc.) and refers students to appropriate student services.
• Maintains student files and records; documents all pertinent student information; updates student information system including Advisor Notes at regular intervals, after each contact with a student, and as needed in special circumstances.
• Makes student aware of relevant GCCC policies and procedures.
• Utilizes the enrollment system to monitor advising enrollment report; monitors and maintains Allied Health class waitlists.
• Follow up with students who have not enrolled as semester start approaches.
• Be knowledgeable about aspects of the admissions process for new students, including admission policies and procedures, financial aid, costs, placement exams, registrations procedures, student housing, etc.
• Participate in training and development opportunities to enhance advising skills and abilities.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

25% -- GCHS

• Serves as main point of contact for GCHS students wanting to attend GCCC after graduation.
• Informs prospective students and their parents of the academic advantages and benefits of attending GCCC.
• Assist with recruitment events involving GCHS, including but not limited to: College Planning Conference, planning for college presentation, Parent Teacher conferences, Exploration Day, Apply Kansas, Enrollment Days.
• Assist in the development and implementation of enrollment days with GCHS.
• Maintain written and oral communication with prospective students at GCHS.
• Keep GCHS counselors and students up to date of GCCC program offerings, scholarship opportunities, etc.
• Assist GCHS student and parents in the preparation and transition to GCCC.
• Be knowledgeable and up to date with FAFSA processes and application.
• Proctor Accuplacer test on GCHS campus as needed.

Performance Measurements:

1. To provide excellent customer service. Respond to requests in a timely and professional manner.
2. To maintain confidentiality in the handling of all college information.
3. To maintain a friendly, professional work environment and business-like appearance.

Qualifications

Knowledge and Skills:

Experience: 3 years of experience in higher education.

Education: Associate Degree required.

Interpersonal Skills: A significant level of trust and diplomacy is required, in addition to normal courtesy and tact. Work involves extensive personal contact with others and/or can be of a personal or sensitive nature. Work may involve motivating or influencing others. Outside contacts become important and fostering sound relationships becomes necessary and often requires the ability to influence others.

Other Skills: Strong work ethic; excellent interpersonal skills; proven leadership experience; exemplary written and verbal communication skills; able to work independently and with a team; strong critical thinking skills; exceptional listening skills; sense of humor, and able to manage multiple tasks at once; organized and detail oriented. Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of diverse constituents including students, parents, faculty, and administrators. Proficiency with use of technology such as the Internet, Email and MS Office Suite is essential to this position.

Physical Requirements: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Typically, the employee may sit comfortably to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying of light items, etc. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

Work Environment: Regular exposure to favorable conditions such as those found in a normal office.