Academic Advisor & Coach (Academic Counselor)

MassBay fosters educational excellence and academic success to prepare students for local and global citizenship, to meet critical workforce demands of communities and to contribute to region’s economic development. Massachusetts Bay Community College values diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply to join our community. Located in Greater Boston, MassBay is a comprehensive, open-access community college, offering associate degrees and certificate programs on three campuses in Wellesley Hills, Framingham, and Ashland, Massachusetts. Position Summary The ideal candidate will join a vibrant and inclusive educational community, and have a desire and ability to work with a diverse population. Advise and counsel students to develop academic plans of study, to select curriculum, and course sequencing according to College and department policies. Design and offer advising and transfer services. Perform administrative tasks and participate in programs associated with department activities. Be a resource to the college community in regard to advising services. Key Responsibilities and Duties Academic Advising: • Provide students assistance with planning to meet educational goals through advising, technology, career services, retention and transfer services; • Provide students with the foundation to become increasingly capable of making informed academic, transfer, and career decisions; • Develop educational plans and monitor progress for various student groups and individual caseload of advisees; • Maintain knowledge of the curricula for MassBay degrees, certificate, courses and relevant transfer; • Maintain knowledge and currency with MassBay policies and procedures for admissions, enrollment, and completion of a program of study; • Evaluate and interpret placement test scores and transfer credit; • Assist students in planning appropriate courses for the student’s academic program; • Assist students with adding and / or withdrawing from courses; • Assist students in obtaining developmental / tutorial assistance; • Provide drop-in students assistance with academic planning during peak enrollment periods and throughout the academic year and summer terms; Commitment to Equity: • Support MassBay’s commitment to the Equity Agenda; collaborating with faculty, staff, and students on the College’s strategic initiatives dedicated to closing the equity gap related to student outcomes; • Support MassBay’s commitment to being anti-racist; embracing a community free of bias and inequality; • Engage in departmental systems and policy review with a critical lens toward equity, accessibility, inclusion, and universal design; • Refine and deliver an advising practice that is culturally responsive and reflective of inclusive perspectives; • Engage in conversations with colleagues and students and offer best practices within the Academic Advising profession as it relates to equity and inclusion; Inter-Office Collaboration: • Work closely with staff from the Academic Achievement Center, IT, Financial Aid, Enrollment Center, Admissions, Student Engagement, and Student Development, as well as faculty and Academic Deans, and assist students in navigating and utilizing appropriate resources at the college; • Represent the department or the division for campus, college and community activities; Orientation New Student Assistance: • Participate in new student orientation activities and provide comprehensive advising to first-year students; • Assess skills, interests, and aptitude; identify realistic career goals and identify appropriate major of study; • Provide students with information about educational options, admission to selective programs, major and course selection, graduation requirements, transfer to baccalaureate degree programs, and college policies and procedures; Departmental Support: • Assist in reviewing and developing College and departmental policy and effects on student success; • Perform degree audits, course substitutions, and waivers; • Utilize PeopleSoft programs to review student records; • Utilize EAB Navigate, recording accurate notes and documents to student files; • Assist in the development of advising workshops for faculty and staff; • Participate in Academic Advising, Coaching, and Transfer staff meetings, Academic Divisional and MassBay/SUCCESS Initiative staff meetings; • Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, ie, front desk coverage, answering phones, and scheduling appointments; • Advise the Director / Assistant Director regarding student / program issues; • Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement; Requires some evening and weekend hours during peak enrollment periods • Other duties as assigned; This list is not to be considered all-inclusive. A supervisor may assign other duties as required to meet the needs and foster the mission of the College. All employees of MassBay are expected to work collegially and collaboratively within a community that values and celebrates diversity.