Description: The academic advisor provides advising, assistance, and encouragement for current and prospective undergraduate students in the College of Health, Education and Professional Studies. The academic advisor is responsible for assisting students in understanding their degree requirements so they can make informed decisions within their curriculum and graduate in a timely manner. The academic advisor assists current, new, transfer, and prospective students in navigating the curriculum of their program of study. The academic advisor monitors the impact that current or new curriculum, schedules, policies, and procedures have on students' progression within their program of study. The academic advisor assists the college with recruitment efforts and outreach activities.

Advising students:

Review current students' progress and alert them to any potential issues; acclimatize new, transfer, and readmitted students to UTC curriculum, policies, and processes; work with students on selecting/changing majors or minors and makes referrals to an "exploring majors" advisor when necessary; facilitate students transferring to and from UTC; recommend the most efficient and practical course of action to reach graduation; advise large groups during orientations for fall and spring semesters, including weekends; advise students on changes of program, probation or suspension procedures, appeal procedures, SAP appeals, GPA projection, and grade replacement; act as a liaison between students and other university personnel; improve students' academic planning skills; collaborate with graduation specialists to assist with verifying preparation for timely graduation ; recommend solutions to academic difficulties; assist students in utilizing university policy to protect their academic status, including the use of petitions, withdrawing from courses, late withdrawals, academic forgiveness, transfer equivalencies, etc.; act as a liaison between student, department heads, or other departments to resolve student issues; create plans of action for improving GPAs; map out graduation plans; facilitate effective communication between a student and a professor or department head when needed for problem resolution; refer students to or collaborate with, the appropriate personnel or department for assisting students with managing academic or personal issues, including but not limited to Office of International Studies, DRC, Office of Veterans Affairs, Athletics, Records Office, Financial Aid Office, ROTC, Honors College, Career Counseling Services, Student Health Services, Mocs One Center, etc.

Administrative/clerical work:

Serve on college and campus-wide committees as requested; develop hard copy and electronic advising materials, including pre-requisite sheets, path sheets, email notifications, etc.; assist with refreshing/training faculty on advising processes and curriculum changes; circulate student petitions between various college department heads; communicate with students via email, voicemail, etc.; verify students need the current prerequisites; monitor waiting lists for closed classes; process student petitions; assist with major changes, graduation applications, etc.; plan and revise new student orientation advisement sessions and materials; work with department faculty to ensure faculty advisors are available at all orientation sessions for new and transfer students; as appropriate, assist in preparing licensure exam reviews and testing skills training.

Recruiting students:

Participate in recruitment activities in the college; visit local and regional high schools and community colleges; arrange tours for local schools to the college; assist all departments for any outreach activities; represent the department at admissions office recruitment events; speak to classes and local community colleges about majors and admission requirements. These tasks will also involve assistance with social media as desired for each program in CHEPS.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Knowledge of all program requirements and understands the structure, process, and procedure practices at UTC.
• Ability to recognize, support, and reinforce individual needs and learning styles using conceptual understanding, reason skills, and college-level or programmatic standards.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; attention to detail; problem solving ability; ability to work effectively with students and faculty of all cultural backgrounds and experience levels; ability to understand and abide by federal and university guidelines regarding students.
• Knowledge and demonstration of effective use of social media and other technology tools.

Review of applications will begin on December 14, 2020, and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree; minimum of 5 years of successful employment in an organization which requires similar job skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree; BANNER experience preferred; experience in a higher-education setting, professional experience in some areas of Education, Health related fields, and Professional Studies.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.