Academic Advisor (HR Title: Advisor II)

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department:

SMU's Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering, founded in 1925, is one of the oldest engineering schools in the Southwest.

The school offers eight undergraduate and 29 graduate programs, including master's and doctoral degrees, through the departments of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science; Electrical and Computer Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; and Operations Research and Engineering Management. Lyle students participate in programs in the unique Deason Innovation Gym, providing the tools and space to work on immersion design projects and competitions to accelerate leadership development and the framework for innovation; the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, helping students develop nontechnical skills to prepare them for leadership in diverse technical fields; the Caruth Institute for Engineering Education, developing new methodologies for incorporating engineering education into K-12 schools; and the Hunter and Stephanie Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity, combining technological innovation with business expertise to address global poverty.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position provides academic advising and maintenance of academic records for approximately 250 undergraduate

students which begins from preparing summer new student orientation and continues through graduation. The position

provides advising and records maintenance for pre-majors and declared majors and consults with faculty mentors/department representatives as needed. The advisor position is key to providing one-on-one academic advising to undergraduate Lyle majors, retaining students throughout the program, and helping students achieve their academic goals as well as accelerated pathways.

The position will also serve as the staff liaison between advising and their assigned academic department in the Lyle school. Candidates must possess strong interpersonal communication skills, organizational skills, and demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Essential Functions:

• One-on-one academic advising for engineering pre-major and declared major students pursuing a Lyle major. Meets with each student at least two times per year. Works with individual students to develop 4-year plans.

• Prepare and conduct academic advising components of Mustang StartUp virtual orientation including: virtual enrollment workshops and individual appointments. Virtual orientation is for transfer, first-year and International students and it occurs during summer months.

• Work with SMU in Four initiative to review and analyze data regularly to identify at-risk students in need of additional support or intervention. Reach out to students identified as at-risk and provide resources and referrals as needed.

• Partner and collaborate with organizations such as Thrive Scholars, National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Hispanic Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, Transfer Student Services, Study Abroad, International Student Services, Student Affairs, Student Success and Retention, and Veteran Services to connect students to appropriate resources and opportunities.

• Track Academic Progress

• Track advisees' progress towards major declaration and completion of the Common Curriculum. Review progress at each advising session with students and conduct a transcript review at the conclusion of fall and spring terms.
  
  Review early and mid-term grade reports of advisees. Discuss grades and options with students. Provide referrals as needed for academic counseling, tutoring, supplemental instruction, peer mentoring, career services, leadership services, and more.

• Forms and Petitions

• Assist students with forms and petitions. Provide students with correct form(s), assist students with preparation of the form and supporting documentation, direct students to appropriate offices for signatures and answer students' follow-up questions. Assist with questions about the common curriculum and consult with the general education office as needed.

• Serve as Liaison to assigned academic department within the Lyle School of Engineering. Assist with catalog updates, athletic certification, attend departmental meetings/curriculum meetings as needed, arrange events for Lyle students to connect with departmental faculty mentors.

• Other Duties as Assigned

• Assist with academic records maintenance of declared engineering majors as needed. Answer questions from engineering majors and faculty advisers as needed.

• Occasional evening/weekend hours will be needed for advising and graduation activities as well as other events.

Education and Experience:

A Bachelor's degree is required. A Master's degree is preferred.

A minimum of two years of work experience is required. Experience in academic advising or academic records is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills, including proper usage of grammar and punctuation, as well as the ability to produce error-free communications.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational skills that include effective planning, time management, event planning, and project management skills. Must have strong presentation skills to conduct meetings, enrollment workshops, presentations, and individual appointments.

Candidate must be proficient in Microsoft Office and Internet applications.

Candidate knowledge of databases and analyzing data is preferred.

Candidate familiarity with PeopleSoft is also preferred.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Submissions received by July 5, 2024, may receive priority consideration.

This position is open until filled.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.