Main Campus - Boston, MAMain Campus - Boston, MA
R09331
JOB SUMMARY
Reporting to the Assistant Director of Operations, this role will serve as the primary contact for student advising in select programs, including the MPH program, and will facilitate student success by defining and implementing proactive strategies that help students stay on track to fulfill their educational goals. The Academic Advisor is responsible for building supportive and personalized relationships with students, managing expectations of program requirements, and providing opportunities to help students stay connected to the Simmons community. The Academic Advisor will counsel students on University policies, procedures, program degree and practicum requirements, and related academic matters.
As part of this role, the Academic Advisor will lead both large groups (online formal presentations) and one-to-one virtual sessions with students to advise them of degree requirements, to provide guidance regarding course selections and sequence, to provide technical assistance with add/drop and course enrollment, to conduct formal and informal audits of academic transcripts, and in general to provide counsel regarding the best methods for students to achieve their educational objectives and satisfy degree requirements.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Student Advising Responsibilities:
Provide operational and administrative support for the program and to faculty leadership to ensure the success of the program;
Coordinate with admissions, faculty and the Registrar to ensure that sufficient live sessions are set up to support upcoming number of students in each section/ term;
Track student progression to ensure enrollment numbers align with registration and recruiting needs;
Provide logistical and communication assistance to support program immersions, in collaboration with Simmons Online;
Collaborate with student support on a variety of tasks including, but not limited to student concerns, registration, program wide communications and various projects;
Advise students on University policies, the student handbook, the Student Foundations course (in collaboration with Student Support), procedures, program requirements, practicum requirements, and all other academic matters;
Provide periodic outreach and communications to students about new policies and frequently asked questions by students;
Track and report on student progress to Program Director, Course Leads and Section Instructors; Proactively monitor student progress, identify students who may be at risk, implement strategies in collaboration with the faculty, measure and help support academic success;
Manage student handbook iterations and collaborate with faculty leadership regarding changes to policy;
Provide students with preemptive guidance on acclimating to their new graduate online program lifestyle and building supportive personal environments and best practices to facilitate their student success;
Assist, educate and coach students in best practices on how to be a successful online student;
Coach students through the reinstatement process and expectations of Academic Review Board hearings;
Serve as the main point of contact for all disputes and various other administrative needs of the students;
Develop strong proficiency in Learning Management System and supporting analytics and reporting;
Serve on admissions committee as a file reviewer and provide support for admissions process if necessary.
Operations Support:
Collaborate with Assistant Director of Operations to track current students, leaves of absence, and project new student
Develop surveys of graduates, current students, and stakeholders in the field and analyze the results
Work on discrete projects, providing project management, documentation, and support and other duties as assigned
Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to communicate, complete tasks, and provide input on systems in an efficient and effective manner to best support students in all stages of the program;
OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Other duties as assigned
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
A Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience required
Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and familiarity with online virtual platforms (Google Meet, Zoom, etc.).
Minimum three years of professional experience required
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Academic administrative/coordinator, operations or programming experience preferred
Prior experience in higher education a plus
COMPETENCIES
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including editing and proofreading
Exceptional planning and organizational skills
Ability to take initiative and ownership of projects
Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive issues and maintain confidentiality
Ability to work well with culturally diverse populations within an organization
Proven ability to perform duties with a high level of professionalism, flexibility discretion, judgment, diplomacy and tact
Ability to multi-task, adapt to changing priorities, and meet deadlines
WORK ENVIRONMENT & CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS
This is a 15-hour/week exempt position during standard business hours Monday through Friday. In-person, hybrid, or fully remote work arrangements will be considered
Typical office or home office environment
Sedentary work with walking or standing required occasionally
Light physical demands required
DISCLAIMERS
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
Required Application Materials:
Resume
Cover Letter
Salary Grade
Annual Compensation Grade
Instructions to Applicants : Please upload all applicable application materials (e.g. resume/cv, cover letter, writing sample, teaching philosophy, etc.) in the Application Materials box on page 2 ("My Experience") of this application. Documents can be uploaded individually or as a combined document (e.g. PDF).
Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual's community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.
To apply, visit https://simmons.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Simmons-Careers/job/Main-Campus---Boston-MA/Academic-Advisor--CSSPP_R09331
Located in Bostons historic Fenway area, Simmons College is a small, private, non-sectarian College which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals.
We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.