Academic Advisor- Undergraduate

About the position Concordia is a Lutheran higher education community committed to helping students develop in mind, body, and spirit for service to Christ in the Church and in the world. Position Summary The Academic Advisor supports undergraduate students from matriculation through graduation by providing clear, accurate, and student-centered academic advising. This role helps students understand degree requirements, navigate university policies and procedures, make informed academic decisions, and remain on track toward timely degree completion. The advisor serves as an educator, guide, and partner in the student experience, helping students connect their academic choices, co-curricular involvement, and vocational interests with their broader educational and professional goals. Through this work, the advisor contributes to student persistence, retention, and graduation. This position is housed in the Office of Undergraduate Advising, reports to the Director of Undergraduate Advising, and collaborates closely with faculty, program directors, and staff within an assigned academic school. The advisor manages a caseload of approximately 300 undergraduate students spanning the first year through senior year. The advisor is an active partner in achieving 80%+ university retention and 70%+ 6-year graduation rates.

Responsibilities

• Provides academic advising to students in person, by phone, and through virtual platforms such as Zoom.
• Maintains current knowledge of academic policies, procedures, curriculum requirements, and university resources.
• Assists students with course planning, registration, and interpretation of degree requirements.
• Develops individualized academic plans using Student Educational Plans, the academic catalog, and other advising tools.
• Supports new student onboarding through course registration and placement-testing processes.
• Communicates regularly with assigned students through email, phone, text, and scheduled meetings.
• Maintains timely responsiveness to student questions and concerns, generally within 24 hours or within 48 hours during peak periods.
• Documents advising interactions and recommendations in Navigate.
• Meets with each assigned advisee at least annually.
• Guides students through academic decisions such as major and minor changes, individualized majors, and related planning processes.
• Encourages students to take ownership of their educational experience and make thoughtful, informed decisions.
• Refers students to appropriate campus resources when additional support is needed, including financial aid, student employment, and academic support services.
• Identifies and promotes opportunities for involvement in campus programs and activities related to students' academic interests.
• Monitors student progress toward graduation and communicates important milestones and benchmarks.
• Collaborates with academic departments regarding course availability and planning.
• Facilitates exit interviews for students considering withdrawal from the university.
• Maintains confidentiality of student information in accordance with institutional policy and FERPA regulations.
• Maintains strong responsiveness to the Navigate Alert System.
• Facilitates student success check-in meetings in response to alerts or emerging concerns.
• Connects students in academic jeopardy with appropriate support services and intervention resources.
• Helps students strengthen personal responsibility, resilience, and confidence in their academic progress.
• Assists students in exploring their interests, aptitudes, abilities, and academic goals.
• Uses available inventories and advising tools to support academic and vocational exploration.
• Helps students connect academic planning with experiential learning and future opportunities.
• Collaborates with faculty and campus partners to support students' broader development and sense of purpose.
• Collaborates with faculty, program directors, and campus stakeholders to support effective advising and student success initiatives.
• Attends department meetings for assigned academic programs, as appropriate.
• Contributes to advising initiatives, student experience projects, and other departmental priorities.
• Develops expertise in one or more nationally recognized areas of advising practice.
• Maintains proficiency in relevant university systems and technologies, including Banner, Canvas, Outlook, Degree Works, Navigate, and BoodleBox/AI.
• Participates in team, divisional, and university-wide initiatives and events.
• Maintains accurate caseload records and provides updates as required.
• Works a hybrid schedule that includes 2–3 regularly scheduled in-office days each week.
• Performs additional duties as assigned, including occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required
• 1-3 years of experience with advising or teaching
• Proficiency in using Banner, Canvas, Canvas/Pyramid Analytics, Degree Works, Navigate, Zoom
• AI familiarity and usage
• Response time, Regular outreach, Rapport building, Office environment
• Purpose, expectations, mission fit, strategic planning
• Advising policies, university curriculum, student populations
• Professional development, professional competence, cultural competence
• Supportive of the mission and values of Concordia University Wisconsin/Ann Arbor and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS)

Benefits

• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Personal Spending Account, Flexible Spending Account, and/or Health Savings Account
• Disability and Survivor Plan
• Retirement Pension Plan
• Retirement 403(b) Savings Plan
• Basic Life and Supplemental Life Insurance
• Accidental Death and Dismemberment Coverage
• Critical Illness and Accident Insurance
• Tuition waiver benefits (available for employees and their qualified dependents)

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