Academic Advisor

About Us

Howard Community College (HCC) is an exciting place to work, learn, and grow! We are proud to have received the Great Colleges to Work For honor for 12 consecutive years, 2009-2020.

Howard Community College values diversity among its faculty, staff and student population. We are an innovative institution that is committed to responding to the ever-changing needs and interests of a diverse and dynamic community. No matter where you want to go in your career, you can get there from here!

Position Title Academic Advisor FLSA FT/PT Part Time Hours Per Week 25 Work Schedule TBD Grade 13 Minimum Compensation General Responsibilities

The academic advisor is responsible for guiding students as they develop and plan their academic goals, including academic progress and planning, student support, completion, graduation, and overall engagement in the Howard Community College (HCC) student experience. Academic advisors provide students with the coaching, academic planning and advising support, and interventions that they need to be successful in their academic careers. Academic advisors build and maintain strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support and assist students in their academic journeys. A successful academic advisor helps students and families navigate through all aspects of the academic journey with enthusiasm, exceptional communication, engagement, outreach, and attention to detail.

Work Performed

• Responsible for academic advising, planning, and interventions to deliver high quality and meaningful experiences to students.

• Able to clearly articulate college functions, policies, procedures to students.

• Work collaboratively across campus with faculty and staff to proactively support students in a case management model consistently providing high-impact experiences.

• Employ technology and strategies to advise students across modalities.

• Assist academically struggling students in developing goals and action plans to facilitate their success.

• Provide students with career resources regarding their program selection, ensuring that students are in a program that aligns with their professional goals, interests, and values.

• Provide students with transfer information regarding their program selection, ensuring students are aware of requirements at their chosen transfer institution.

• Utilize data and reports to monitor, assess, and find areas of opportunity in serving and intervening with students.

• Understand financial aid and satisfactory academic standing processes and support students' understanding of these processes and any actions needed.

• Ensure students are informed about academic and student support initiatives and programs.

• Act as point of contact for faculty, staff, and administration to receive and address student needs or concerns.

• Assist students with navigating institutional academic policy and procedures including financial, graduation, and academic forms and other requirements. Comply with all relevant legal and statutory requirements when advising students, including, and not limited to TIA, ADA, FERPA.

• Help students to navigate the warning, probation, and academic dismissal processes, including appeals; provide students with and support the work of developing their plans for returning and renewing their commitment to their education.

• Work cooperatively with all student success staff to ensure a holistic view of the student experience.

• Complete and maintain required documentation including but not limited to case notes, intervention reports and confidential student records using the college's client relationship management system and student information system; creates and submits reports.

• Provide support and information to students on ways to pay by assisting with the payment plan, financial aid, and scholarship application processes.

• Provides on-going quality communication, effective customer service, and support to applicants by using consistent, effective outreach and follow-up contacts including in-person activities, phone calls, and digital communication; documents and tracks contact data into student information systems ensuring compliance with any regulatory requirements.

• Other duties as assigned related to navigating the enrollment process.

Minimum Education Required Bachelor's degree Minimum Number of Years Experience Required 2 Other Knowledge Required

• Bachelor's degree. All degrees must be from a recognized institutional accreditor.

• Minimum of two years of related experience.

• Ability to meet complex goals and collaborate with various departments on key initiatives

• Prior community college advising, student services, or counseling experience, with multiple community college experiences preferred.

• Competency in organizing data and preparing reports required.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). Proficiency with student information systems, CRF, databases, and other technology supporting student success.

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills; confidence speaking in with people from diverse backgrounds; ability to quickly establish rapport and engage students; and ability to persuade students to advocate for themselves and follow through.

• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and set priorities to achieve goals and objectives.

• Demonstrated ability to foster a cooperative team-focused work environment.

• Ability to contribute to a dynamic, student-focused team culture that delivers excellent customer service and personal attention to students and families.

• Commitment to diversity. Champion for equity.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality of work-related information and materials while abiding by state and federal privacy laws including FERPA.

• Broad understanding of academic programs and pathways, curriculum, and transfer processes.

• Regular attendance and an ability to work mornings, evenings and/or weekends consistent with college needs.

• Criminal background check.

• Performs all duties while considering the impact of any actions on the college's sustainability initiatives in the areas of environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and economic prosperity.

Working Conditions

Work extended hours during peak periods. Substantial evening and weekend work. Extensive follow-up work, database use, responding to inquiries, meetings, etc. Ability to manage changing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Flexibility required.

Supervisory Postion? No Division Advising & Retention - NEW Department Advising