What are the responsibilities and job description for the Advisor, Pathways position at Salt Lake Community College?
Salt Lake Community College’s (SLCC) vision is to “be a model for comprehensive and transformative education, strengthening the communities we serve through the success of our students.” SLCC Academic Advisors are proud to be part of an institution whose vision, mission, and values are clearly defined. We seek candidates to join our team and who have the desire and ability to work with broad student population.
The purpose of Academic Advising is to help our students identify their educational and career goals, advise students about their pathway of study, and work with students to create academic plans that lead to successful completion.
Academic Advisors are members of an integrated college team providing individual academic, career and related support to an assigned group of college students as they progress through their programs. Pathway Advisors provide support and guidance to their students to ensure they have the best opportunity to achieve their educational goals.
Academic Advisors for a pathway do the following:
The purpose of Academic Advising is to help our students identify their educational and career goals, advise students about their pathway of study, and work with students to create academic plans that lead to successful completion.
Academic Advisors are members of an integrated college team providing individual academic, career and related support to an assigned group of college students as they progress through their programs. Pathway Advisors provide support and guidance to their students to ensure they have the best opportunity to achieve their educational goals.
Academic Advisors for a pathway do the following:
- Assist students in identifying career and educational paths related to their pathway or program of study.
- Deliver one-on-one comprehensive and group advisement support services to an assigned group of students through degree completion and a range of academic counseling and support strategies.
- Teach students about college degree requirements and how to understand and follow graduation maps, interpret a degree evaluation/audit, and develop a responsible approach to academic planning.
- Be knowledgeable of pathway-specific programs at the college and related transfer options; maintain awareness of and communicate program changes to students.
- Refer students co-curricular options to enhance their college experience such as Student Life and Leadership organizations, study abroad, service learning, research, and internships that align with academic and career goals.
- Track the engagement and progression of students to ensure they reach key benchmarks throughout their academic program.
- Work collaboratively with assigned academic areas to review curriculum and create graduation maps with the intent of increasing student completion in a timely manner.
- Assist the Director in establishing student learning objectives related to the work of the department and academic pathways, intervene with students to produce intended outcomes and participate in assessment and evaluation.
Regular activities require ability to quickly change priorities which may include and/or are subject to resolution of conflicts. Ability to clearly communicate both verbally and in writing is essential. This position receives a regular review of objectives. Frequent travel may be necessary between campuses and/or professional development opportunities. Campus/office assignments will be based on departmental needs. Occasional evenings and weekends are expected and required. Training time will be provided to ensure the finalist will be successful in their work.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
Developmental Advising:
- Manage a caseload of students from a designated academic pathway. Advise and assist students in becoming aware of their values, interest, abilities, and clarifying their academic and career goals. Assess student strengths and weaknesses in academic, career, and personal development by identifying factors that enhance or prevent academic progress, examine alternatives based on changing goals, academic progress or personal situation, and interpret non-cognitive assessment results to guide students to establish realistic academic and career goals including transfer or employment strategies and developing an individualized academic plan. Actively teach students about the SLCC website, student portal, and self-advising tools with the purpose of developing their self-sufficiency in college transactions.
- Maintain regular contact with the students and monitor their academic progress utilizing advising technologies such as Banner and Starfish. Monitor academic progress of student by responding to early alerts raised by instructors, determining eligibility and satisfactory progress towards completion, identifying current and potential needs and problem areas; such as study skills and tutoring, and helping students access college resources including navigating the student portal.
- Specialize in providing advising and/or programming for a College pathway (e.g., liaison to academic program, faculty training, academic standards and/or financial aid appeals.) Advise and assist students in understanding the requirements for pathway-specific SLCC Degree, diploma, certificate and completion programs. Teach students to develop academic timelines, explore course work, sequence and select courses and develop class schedules. Advise students in understanding transfer programs to four-year institutions and planning efficient transfer.
- Assist with identification and retention efforts for students in assigned programs at SLCC. Develop academic plans with students to improve their academic standing when they have been identified as having academic difficulty and provide coaching support on an ongoing basis. Make referrals to campus and community resources.
Collaboration with Academic Affairs:
- Work closely with academic administrators and faculty to evaluate the clarity, cohesion, and learning destination for each of their program areas. Assist with reviewing curriculum that supports and integrates college-wide developmental advising efforts. Work closely with academic departments, other offices and/or institutions to maintain accurate information about programs and requirements and update student-facing advising materials accordingly. Participate in program advising review (AIC) and required meetings (e.g., Staff, PAC, curriculum, major (at state level), and relevant program departmental meetings).
- Assist in compilation of program-related information, data, assessments and/or writing reports. Share this information with Academic and Student Services stakeholders. Participate in designated recruitment and retention activities as related to assigned programs. Participate in program specific transfer events.
Career Advising:
- Collaborate with Career Services, giving and accepting referrals as appropriate to students needs. Encourage students to utilize career assessments, both paid and free, and other resources to becoming aware of their values, interests, abilities, and clarify their academic and career goals.
Evaluation and Assessment:
- Assist with creating and evaluating assessment instruments to measure specific department programs and procedures in order to inform decisions that affect student learning and success. Review and utilize available data about students’ academic and educational needs, performance, aspirations, and problems.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- One (1) year of direct, paid, full-time experience in an educational setting.
Master’s degree in a related field.
Bilingual.
Two (2) or more years of full-time experience in student academic advisement at a community college.
Experience with Starfish or similar platform.
Experience interpreting degree requirements, articulation agreements, and curriculum processes.
Experience using computer software to track work activity and productivity.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Bilingual.
Two (2) or more years of full-time experience in student academic advisement at a community college.
Experience with Starfish or similar platform.
Experience interpreting degree requirements, articulation agreements, and curriculum processes.
Experience using computer software to track work activity and productivity.
- Advocate for all students.
- Identify and remove barriers, facilitate learning, cultivation the community, and empower all people.
- Establish a rapport with students and interact with family members.
- Abide by the ethical standards and guidelines for Academic Advising, including working ethically with confidential information.
- Knowledge and understanding of SLCC organization, goals, and objectives
- Knowledge of SLCC policies and procedures. Interpret and explain college policies and procedures, including the Student Code of Conduct.
- Knowledge of college enrollment procedures, college resources, and services (e.g. Registration, Financial Aid, Learning Resources).
- Apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Demonstrate the aptitude to learn new systems and process quickly, as needed.
- Demonstrate evaluation, originality, initiative, ingenuity, creativity, teamwork towards conflict resolution, and decision-making.
- Lead discussions and make presentations to large and small groups. Assist with coordination and delivery of workshops and classroom presentations regarding academic advisement.
- Prepare business correspondence and advising materials for print and digital media.
- Knowledge of developmental academic advising theory including current advising literature and practices. Train others in academic/career advising techniques and pathway and program information.
- Knowledge and understanding of student development theory and practices as it relates to advising students experiencing academic difficulties. Apply student development and career development theories to help students develop habits, behaviors, and mindsets necessary for success in a college and career environment.
- Knowledge of programs of study, including general education requirements and pre-requisites for all academic pathways. Knowledge of degree and certificate options within an academic pathway and completion requirements.
- Organize, retrieve, manage, and present large amounts of informational details about college and pathway programs, policies, and procedures including changes and revisions in requirements on an ongoing basis.
- Assist students with clarifying academic and career goals and creating, following, and adjusting their individual academic plan. Knowledge of workforce education trends, occupations, and career options as related to an academic pathway. Assist students in interpreting academic progress toward a degree or certificate and resolving academic issues.
- Manage a caseload of students within an academic pathway through in-person, phone, and electronic correspondence. Communicate with student caseload systematically, frequently, and intentionally through multiple methods to promote relevant pathway activities, important deadlines, adherence to individual academic plans and continuous reenrollment.
- Leverage technology (such as Microsoft Office Suite, Banner SIS, DegreeWorks, Starfish, and Canvas) to manage and document interaction with a caseload of students toward timely academic progress, exploration of various academic options, course selection, and registration.
- Use effective project management to prioritize assignments in order to plan and carry out objectives and provide advisement to assigned students in a timely manner. Develop and implement programs related to student learning outcomes for pathway responsibility.
- Analyze data to generate written reports regarding student caseload progress as requested and contribute to development of departmental assessment reports.
- Initiate and maintain coordination with other student and Academic Affairs departments and offices related to pathway responsibility to enhance students’ overall educational experience.
- Work collaboratively with relevant pathway coaches, mentors, and external support personnel to build a network of support for shared students.
- Work both independently and/or with a complex-structured team within the department and with faculty and other administrators. Maintain good working relationships across the college.
- Exercise judgment within generally defined practices and policies to complete routine work and achieve departmental and individual goals.
- Develop and evaluate assessments to measure learning outcomes and advising case load as it affects student success.
- Knowledge of social and educational resources and services in the community.
- Knowledge and understanding of educational and placement processes and interpretation practices. (e.g. TOEFL, LOEP, ACT/SAT, CASAS, Accuplacer, CLEP, TABE, etc.)
- Attend and participate in scheduled training activities and workshops as determined by your supervisor.
- Demonstrate professionalism and represent the office during campus and community events.
- Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people with a variety of abilities and backgrounds, to maintain good working relationships across the College.
- Ability to work with all groups from a variety of academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, and with community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities.
Maintain a flexible schedule with some evening shifts and on campus rotations required.
Participation in training programs, off-campus professional development opportunities.
Special Instructions
Participation in training programs, off-campus professional development opportunities.
Required documents: Cover letter and resume indicating full-time vs. part-time employment. If resume doesn’t specify full-time or part-time employment, candidate will not be considered further.
Full consideration will be given to applicants who apply on or before the priority review date indicated above.
More information about Salt Lake Community College benefits: http://i.slcc.edu/hr/benefits/benefitsinformation.aspx
SLCC Highlights
Full consideration will be given to applicants who apply on or before the priority review date indicated above.
More information about Salt Lake Community College benefits: http://i.slcc.edu/hr/benefits/benefitsinformation.aspx
Salt Lake Community College is Utah’s largest open-access college with the most diverse student body in the state. We proudly educate 45,000 students pursuing degrees in 100 programs across 8 areas of study, and Utah’s fastest growing industries and four-year baccalaureate programs consistently welcome SLCC graduates. Every SLCC employee has a hand in transforming students’ lives to strengthen its surrounding communities. SLCC employees work at 11 locations across the valley and capital city of Salt Lake with easy access to the beautiful Wasatch Mountains, world-class outdoor recreation, sporting events, museums, history, and arts and entertainment.
Salt Lake Community College seeks and values contributions from each community member and welcomes new and diverse perspectives. A respectful work environment is its top priority; academic excellence and lasting transformation come about when diverse voices can speak and collaborate freely. As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, SLCC leads the state with the highest enrollment of students from the Latinx/a/o community. SLCC is committed to serving diverse students and being a model for inclusive and transformative education.
FLSA Exempt SLCC Information
Salt Lake Community College seeks and values contributions from each community member and welcomes new and diverse perspectives. A respectful work environment is its top priority; academic excellence and lasting transformation come about when diverse voices can speak and collaborate freely. As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, SLCC leads the state with the highest enrollment of students from the Latinx/a/o community. SLCC is committed to serving diverse students and being a model for inclusive and transformative education.
Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is fully committed to policies of equal employment and nondiscrimination. The College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, disability, religion, protected veteran status, expression of political or personal beliefs outside of the workplace, or any other status protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
SLCC is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). In addition to URS, SLCC offers several other retirement account options.
This position is subject to a successful completion of a criminal background check.
SLCC is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems (“URS”). In addition to URS, SLCC offers several other retirement account options.
This position is subject to a successful completion of a criminal background check.
