(Hybrid) Advising Professional - Department of Political Science - West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
About the Job
Description
The Department of Political Science in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a (Hybrid) Advising Professional.
About the Opportunity
As an Advising Professional, you will recruit, advise and retain undergraduate students within the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences Department of Political Science. You will be responsible for ensuring that students are equipped with enough information to matriculate through the higher education system in general and the department. You will aid in the total development of students by providing them guidance in developing social, educational, and career goals, formulating intelligent objectives, and selecting appropriate and realistic academic majors.
We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
- 37.5-hour work week
- 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
- 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
- 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
- WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
- 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
- Wellness programs
What You'll Do
Advising Responsibilities
- Serve as the lead advisor of record for the Department of Political Science. The incumbent will advise approximately 300 students.
- Provide support to students experiencing academic difficulties.
- Teach POLS 191 – First Year Seminar.
- Provide timely and effective academic advice to assist students with selecting, matriculating to, and completing baccalaureate.
- Document all interactions with students in Degree Works.
- Coordinate with the Career Services and central student services to assist students in identifying career pathways and building a professional profile for eventual placement.
- Develop and prepare a four- or five-year academic plan for each advisee and record plan in degree audit system (i.e. DegreeWorks). Track and monitor persistence and completion in accordance with academic plan and revise when necessary.
- Coordinate communications for those students who are on probation.
- Employ a combination of appreciative, developmental, intrusive, and prescriptive academic advising to assist students in persistence and completion of degree.
- Apply the WVU Undergraduate Catalog College policies and procedures for the purpose of assisting students matriculating to degree programs, academic majors and academic minors.
- Utilize student information systems (i.e. Banner and Navigate) to track and monitor academic history and in-progress work.
- Conduct outreach through Navigate to students who are identified as at-risk during early alert or midterm grade reporting processes and make referrals to academic, career, and other support services.
- Provide guidance to students submitting appeals for academic and federal financial aid suspensions, which includes creating an academic success plan (ASPs) in Degree Works. Maintain current knowledge of federal and state financial aid and scholarship guidelines.
- Assist students with the transient approval process by reviewing course equivalencies and matching WVU courses with courses offered by the transient institution.
- Work with student information systems such as STAR/BANNER, Navigate and DEGREEWORKS.
- Work to meet with incoming first-time freshmen and first-time transfer students during NSO in January and in the summer.
- Perform 90 credit checks every semester for all majors, document results in DW and communicate those results to students.
- Update the name of advisors every semester.
- Give students permission to register for restricted departmental courses.
Recruiting/Retention Responsibilities
- Coordinate and participate in events sponsored by the unit, which may include on campus recruiting, new student orientation, academic academies, and commencement.
- Work with Tour WVU and with visiting prospective students and their parents during campus visits.
- Attend a limited number of weekend recruitment events.
- Assist students with the transition from high school to college through formal convocation and orientation programs.
- Assist with all recruiting efforts and events.
- Assess student advising concerns and make referrals to other University representatives/units.
- Coordinate and participate in events sponsored by the unit, which may include on campus recruiting, new student orientation, academic academies, and commencement.
- Assist students in solving problems related to financial aid, registration, graduation and interpreting departmental requirements.
Schedule List Index (SLI) Responsibilities
- Maintain current knowledge of SLI role, tools and responsibilities to backup departmental SLI coordinator.
Other Responsibilities
- Assist departmental chair in maintenance and updating of departmental website and social media outlets.
- Assist departmental leadership with internal student assessment activities.
- Assist departmental leadership with internal student scholarship applications.
- Participate in events sponsored by the department/college, which may include on campus recruiting, new student orientation, academic academies, and commencement.
- Maintain current knowledge of federal statutes (i.e. FERPA) protecting the confidentiality of academic records.
- Coordinate department communication with all majors via email and other forms of communication.
- Coordinate all internship activities.
- Assist in covering main office in absence of others.
- Additional duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Master’s degree, preferably in higher education administration, counseling, advising, or political science.
- A minimum of one (1) year of experience involving:
- Advising
- Academic or student support services
- All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proficient with Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
- Proficient with SharePoint, Microsoft One Drive, and Google Drive cloud-based file sharing software.
- Ability to employ interpersonal communications and conflict resolution.
- Ability to teach young adults through formal and informal instruction.
- Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
- Professional oral and written communications.
- Demonstrated ability to apply critical reasoning and problem solving.
- Application of degree audit/planning tools (preferably Degree Works).
- Expertise in different forms of academic advising (appreciative, developmental, intrusive, etc.)
West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.
From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.
At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive and engaging working environment and actively seek candidates who bring diverse ideas, approaches and experiences.
Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.
West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and received an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. We value diversity among our faculty, staff and students and invite applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.