Academic Advisor

Position Description Summary

Henry Ford College presents an opportunity for an Academic Advisor.

The Academic Advisor provides general academic advising to incoming and current students, either face-to-face, on the phone, or electronically via chat or other means such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. This position delivers walk-in/drop-in advising support services across multiple academic disciplines, acting as a point of contact for students at any point in their educational journey. The Academic Advisor will clarify student educational goals, explain and recommend appropriate course work and academic pathways based on those goals, identify the programs at the College that meet goals, build short-term and long-term academic plans to reach goals; and develop, assist, support and facilitate student success at the College. The Academic Advisor will also instruct and help students navigate College processes and policies.

This position must work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and requires substantial face-to-face student service and interactions with students and colleagues. All responsibilities are in support of student success as outlined in HFC’s Strategic Plan.

Hours: 8 hours per day during the hours of 8:00 am and 6:30 pm, Monday - Friday.

Core Competencies And Qualifications

The most successful candidate will have a career that reflects the following competencies and qualifications. However, education, experience, and training that demonstrates proficiency and the ability to perform the essential duties will be evaluated for equivalence to the education, competencies, and experience qualifications listed below.

• Experience – Minimum one (1) year of professional level experience with student advising, academic counseling, or other student support services in a secondary, post-secondary, or adult education setting.
• Education – Bachelor’s degree required from a regionally-accredited institution.
  
  

Position-Specific Core Competencies

• Institutional Knowledge & Policy Application - Guides students in navigating institutional policies, academic regulations, and transfer requirements. Stays informed on institutional and state-level policies that impact advising and student success. Contributes to process improvements based on student needs.
• Professional Growth & Advising Best Practices - Continuously improves advising skills through professional development, engagement with best practices, and application of student success strategies. Proactively builds the competencies needed for growth within position.
• Customer Experience - Delivers responsive, student-centered advising in a high-volume, drop-in setting. Anticipates and addresses student needs with empathy, professionalism, and accuracy. Maintains consistency in service quality, adapts to changing demands, and contributes to a welcoming and supportive advising environment.
  
  

The most successful candidate will have a career that might include the following:

• Demonstrated understanding of current labor market trends and career information resources.
• Experience working with an integrated administrative computer software system and social media platforms.
• Awareness, empathy, and understanding of the various cultures and communities the College serves.
• Conversational ability with non-native English speakers. Applicants fluent in Arabic and/or Spanish are highly encouraged to apply.
  
  

Additional Unique Competencies (Departmental & HFC Core Competencies)

• Advising & Problem Solving - Identifies and responds to student needs by applying sound advising practices and effective problem-solving strategies. Uses professional judgment to guide students, anticipates challenges, and contributes to continuous improvement in advising services.
• Student-Centered Support - Provides high-quality, timely advising through proactive outreach, specialized programs, and the application of student development theory. Uses data to drive student success initiatives and demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement and student engagement.
  
  

All positions at Henry Ford College are also expected to demonstrate the following HFC Core Competencies:

• Public Service Motivation– Shows a commitment to serve the public. Ensures that actions meet public needs; aligns organizational objectives and practices with public interests.
• Respect– Demonstrates collaboration and teamwork; values diversity and inclusiveness; practices transparency; shows compassion and empathy; and remains engaged and committed to shared goals.
• Passion– Displays enthusiasm for teaching and learning; seeks diverse perspectives and ideas; creates a student-centered environment; and pursues excellence in all that we do.
• Ingenuity– Is agile, flexible, and responsive; pursues discovery and innovation; uses data and evidence to guide decisions; and continuously reimagines the future.
• Integrity– Upholds high ethical standards; maintains trust; and recognizes the impact of one’s actions on the institution and community.
  
  

Essential Duties And Responsibilities Including But Not Limited To

Academic Advising

• Provide general academic advising in person and via synchronous and asynchronous technologies to incoming and continuing students, including advising students regarding course content, course selection, pre - requisites, and recommended credit load.
• Teach students to register using Student Planning for classes based on student’s needs and prerequisite status.
• Prepare and interpret degree audits to determine student’s progress toward academic goals.
• Make appropriate referrals to other college student services areas in support of students’ academic and personal needs.
• Document student interactions in accordance with department and institution policies to support accountability and program assessment.
• Ensure all relevant advising and career information is up to date, including but not limited to admissions requirements, new programs and course changes, important dates, college-wide initiatives, and transfer requirements and options.
• Interpret and explain college policies and procedures.
• Actively listen to the goals and needs of students. Meet them 'where they are' and engage HFC’s community of resources to support student goals despite any barriers to success that may exist.
• Maintain focus on students’ best interests, educating and empowering them to be successful college students.
• Maintain a growth mindset and be adaptable as the College evolves.
• Support the Academic Advising office, Advising colleagues, and Director of Academic Advising in meeting HFC’s student success goals as outlined in the Strategic Plan.
  
  

Outreach

• Represent the Academic Advising department on college committees and task forces as assigned.
• Assist with special events, follow-up efforts, and other service initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal and external partners to provide equity based, culturally competent, and efficient services.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality of personal and institutional information in accordance with College policy and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of qualifications and/or training.
  
  

Additional Information

While we have attempted to capture the core functional responsibilities in the role, the statements contained in this job announcement reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required, and the scope of responsibility. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Therefore, performing additional job-related duties not listed above may be required as assigned. For applicants viewing this ad from an external site, please go to hfcc.edu/jobs to apply .