Academic Advising & Retention Counselor

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor (ARC) is a full-time, 12-month, professional staff position housed in the Student Services Center. The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor reports to the Student Services Manager at the DeSoto Campus and will also work closely with the Academic Advising and Retention Center (ARC) Director. The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will have responsibility for coordinating advising and retention programs and services for students at the DeSoto Campus. These services shall be coordinated in concert with other student services departments as well as all academic divisions.

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will act as an academic advisor to an assigned group of students and regularly provide advising services to students who come to the Student Success Center at the DeSoto Campus. The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will assist with ACT and placement testing, withdrawal processing, counseling, and student activities.

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor is charged with creating an atmosphere that promotes student success, social and academic engagement, academic success, and personal development. The following are indicative of the qualifications, duties and responsibilities, and physical demands that fall within this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Counseling, Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• A minimum of one year of experience working with students in an educational setting

Preferred Experience:

• Experience as an Academic Advisor in a college or university setting

• A minimum of two years of experience working with students in an educational setting

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

• Experience working in a community college or regional college setting

• Experience working with a Student Information System or CRM

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Must support NWCC Mission and Vision

• Must demonstrate passion for student success

• Serve as resource for Faculty Academic Advisors

• Serve as essential part of the academic advising and retention team

• Advise and assist students with scheduling, registration, and academic progress

• Process student course and program withdrawals and generate weekly/monthly reports

• Assess and improve the onboarding process of new students and advising services for current students, improving both efficiency and effectiveness

• Ensure the delivery of accurate, relevant, and timely information to students concerning the culture of higher education, placement test results, academic standards and expectations, and program options and requirements

• Coordinate retention programs with student services, including data collection, analysis, and reporting outcomes

• Identify priorities, strategic goals, and action plan to enhance student progress to degree completion

• Update and implement procedures and practices to promote the success of students

• Serve as Academic Advising and Retention Coach training program coordinator for all faculty and staff who are involved in advising students. Utilize various technologies to promote the program

• Maintain and update Academic Advising and Retention Coach and advise information found on the college website and online catalog

• Serve as an assigned Academic Advising and Retention Coach to a designated student group and provide academic advising services to students through walk-ins and appointments

• Provide counseling for students related to personal and academic success and concerns

• Assist with ACT and placement testing

• Assist with planning and implementing student engagement activities

• Collaborate and advise with the University of Mississippi on the institution's joint partnership programs- Two-Plus-Two an Path4

• Participate in meetings and serve on committees as required and function as an advocate for advising within the college community

• Work collaboratively with the marketing and academic staff to develop program brochures and other informational materials

• Other job-related duties as assigned by the Student Services Manager.

Other Qualifications:

• Self-motivated with the ability to function productively and independently;

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish positive working relationships;

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.

• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products, with proficiency in Outlook, Word, and Excel.

Physical Demands:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.

Application:

To apply, please attach and submit the following:

• Application at www.northwestms.edu

• Resume

• Transcripts

• Three (3) Professional References