Advisor

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Supervised by the Assistant / Associate Director of Advising, the Advisor serves as the main point of contact and overall resource for students in the School of Professional Studies (SPS) programs, providing academic advising, coaching, relevant programming, and support from the point of deposit through program completion. These offerings currently include cross-disciplinary Master's Degree Programs, Pre-Graduate and Graduate Certificate Programs, Structured and Unstructured Certifications of Professional Achievement, take-a-class options for bachelor's degree holders and visiting students enrolled at other institutions, High School Programs, Auditing students and the American Language Programs. The Advisor will provide a seamless experience for students, transformational programming and proactive, supportive advising to support student success.

Responsibilities

• Counsel new students on the available curricular and extracurricular options within their program and guide students as they develop their academic enrollment plan.
• Offer recommendations and / or introductions to faculty and / or academic directors who are willing to advise on career and / or industry related matters.
• Attend, assist and present at new student orientation, relevant program-specific meetings and events, and various other events throughout the year including SPS Graduation, University Commencement, Admitted Student Days, and other major Cornerstone Events.
• Proactively alert supervisors and other relevant stakeholders to student concerns.
• Maintain a very high level of knowledge of program curricular details and stay abreast of changes to curriculum and faculty within the assigned program.
• Provide a seamless transition from point of deposit to program completion by working collaboratively and consistently with various units including but not limited to : Academic Programs, Admissions, International Students and Scholars Office, Student Financial Services, Student Life, Student Services, Career Design Lab, CU Health, and others.
• Host pre-registration webinars and monitor student's academic progress and registration during their time at SPS to ensure successful and timely completion.
• Meet with students who are on probation and / or warning for satisfactory academic progress and develop a success plan, often referring the student to various campus resources.
• Perform Graduation Audit reviews, including outreach to students and programs.
• Successfully communicate with students via multiple platforms (zoom, phone, in-person meetings, walk-in services).
• Assist with cross-registration for students seeking registrations outside the School and for students from other schools seeking registration into program courses.
• Track, assess, and report on student data. Recognize and advise on trends in advising cohorts.
• Serve on various committees in Advising, Student Affairs and SPS.
• Serve as a back-up advisor as needed for other SPS programs including responding to inquiries, attending events, and advising students in other programs.
• Performs other duties and projects as assigned or requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and / or equivalent related experience required.
• 2 years related work experience required.
• A resume and cover letter with salary requirements must be submitted for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Higher Education or a related field.
• Familiarity with NACADA, NASPA and other national advising organizations and evidence of engagement with the advising field.
• Experience with crisis management or having difficult conversations.
• Familiarity with Columbia University resources and surrounding neighborhood.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends.
• Multilingual is a plus.

Other Requirements

• Ability to work quickly and efficiently, responding to a high volume of emails with accuracy and attention to details.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Strong presentation skills.
• Intellectual curiosity, sound problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and strength in creative and innovative thinking.
• Highly professional and collegial demeanor, and willingness to be a collaborative team member.
• Adaptive to various workplace configurations, including open workspaces and sometimes distracting environments.
• Ability to inspire and motivate others.
• Proficiency with Google Suite, Windows, Microsoft Word and Excel required and ability to learn student engagement technology such as SIS, SSOL, Zoom, Ring Central, Stellic, etc.
• Some evening and weekend work required.
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong organization and time management skills, and the ability to perform non-routine work with changing priorities.
• Ability to handle confidential information in a mature, professional manner.
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively in teams, receiving direction from and providing support to multiple sources including supervisors and school leadership.
• Prior experience in higher education administration and advising.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.