Undergraduate Student Advisor

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This competition will be used to hire for two positions.

One position has a term length of one year plus a day and second position is a regular continuing position. Both position offer a comprehensive benefits package which can be viewed at: Faculty & Staff Benefits.

Location – North campus. This role is in-person.

Working for the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is teeming with change makers, community builders, and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to more than 40,000 students in 200+ undergraduate and 500+ graduate programs, over 13,000 faculty and staff, 260,000 alumni worldwide and have been recognized as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for over a decade.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross section of people—from our students and stakeholders, to our renowned researchers and innovators who are quite literally curing diseases, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger, and more just.

Department summary

With approximately 7000 undergraduate students and 700 graduate students, the Faculty of Arts is one of the largest, and most diverse faculties at the University of Alberta.

The Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services (USS) office works hard to build a sense of community and supports for all undergraduate students, by providing exceptional student service through our commitment to core values that include: student-centered, equity, diversity, & inclusivity, integrity & accountability, transparency, sustainability, collaboration, and team work. The Student Advisors are a key contributor to the culture of the USS office, acting as a communicator, policy navigator, student champion and program advocate.

Are you ready to play a key role in the frontline provision of student advising and foster a student-centered culture that provides support throughout their program through to convocation. If so please consider joining our results-oriented high energy team!

Position summary

Reporting to the Manager, Advising & Engagement, the Student Advisors (SA) are a key component of the Undergraduate Student Services who are entrusted with the responsibility of a holistic student experience for all students in the Faculty of Arts from the point of admission through to graduation

Duties

• Advises students and staff about university and faculty policies and procedures regarding academic matters such as: admission, registration, program planning, program completion, convocation, course withdrawals, academic standing, grades, deferred exams, etc.; advising is conducted verbally and in writing (in-person and virtually)
• Proactively communicates with students and disseminates information in order to promote student satisfaction, success, and retention.
• Proactively identifies and advises students who are at risk academically or personally, advising and coaching them through larger life issues, making referrals to appropriate services as necessary, following up as needed
• Works collaboratively with other teams and units across the University, including the Office of the Registrar, Dean of Students Office, University of Alberta international, and other Faculty of Arts departments and units.
• Admits or refuses applications for admission to the undergraduate programs within the Faculty, working with closely with the Admissions Unit.
• Assesses and assigns transfer credit to programs for courses completed at other institutions (domestic and international)
• Resolves student academic issues using interpretive judgement of the University and Faculty regulations, taking into consideration equitable and fair treatment of all students
• Approves grade changes at the faculty level, and approves/completes course exceptions (in consultation with the Manager, Senior Officer, and Associate Dean when required) and updating students program requirements in the Academic Advisement (AA) Reports as applicable (regularly reviewing programming in the AA system for accuracy and completeness)
• Evaluates and approves/denies requests for course withdrawals, deferred examinations, program exceptions, letters of permission, etc. consulting with the Manager and departments as needed
• Responsible for assessing both degree progression (academic standing) and degree requirements (convocation auditing) for all students, ensuring that all students have met the requirements to continue and to graduate with their degree at the end of their program, approving and denying application for degrees as applicable.
• Participates in situational leadership within the Student Advising unit
• Participates, as needed, in engagement and promotional activities, such as open house, information sessions, engagement events and activities as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor degree required; (Bachelor of Arts preferred; equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered)
• Minimum 2 years of related advising or student services experience in a postsecondary institution
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills, including culturally-inclusive active listening skills and the ability to establish and maintain good rapport with all students.
• Ability to work well in a multicultural, multilingual environment with students and faculty from many countries, cultures, linguistic groups, religions, sexualities and genders.
• Ability to multi-task and perform duties with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail, and learn and adapt to continuous procedural changes while maintaining consistency
• Computer proficiency in a Windows environment, using both MS Office applications and Google Experience working with the University’s student administration systems (ideally PeopleSoft), Google Applications, MS Office Suite.
• Show a strong desire to work in a team-based environment to meet team goals and to maintain a collaborative, efficient team dynamic, contributing to a positive team culture
• Ability to work independently

Preferred Qualification

• Training in responding to students at risk, including Mental Health First Aid, QPR, ASIST, Working Mind or similar, is considered an asset.

How to Apply