Academic Advisor

Academic Advisor

Bellevue College is seeking a third and final New Student/Exploratory Advisor. This role involves working with incoming and returning students to lead enrollment appointments, outlining the class enrollment process, and connecting students to BC internal and external resources. Additionally, the advisor serves as an exploratory advisor for students who have not yet determined their pathway and/or academic program of study. The position reports to the Associate Director of New Student Programs and co-leads New Student Programs initiatives, including the facilitation of the New Student Orientation and New Student Enrollment student onboarding processes.

The nature of the work is professional, requiring an ability to interpret and work in accordance with college rules, policies, and regulations, as well as state and federal regulations for financial aid and other funding purposes. The position performs highly complex duties and operates at the journey or fully qualified level. The overall focus of the Academic Advisor role is to assess student needs and provide services and communication that guide the student toward educational solutions that are responsive, maintain, and/or get students back on a path of success and program completion.

The Academic Advisor/Program Specialist 3 has campus-wide responsibility for advising services related to a specific caseload of Bellevue College students. This position may be assigned to serve in a back-up or primary advising role for a designated academic pathway or student population on campus as the need arises. The position coordinates advising interventions and campus-wide outreach efforts toward guiding students through the process of selecting or clarifying an academic pathway/program of study and developing an educational plan. The Academic Advisor performs specialized tasks, such as developing learning materials, workshops and other events, and individualized plans with students. They are also responsible for conducting research, assessments, and providing and summarizing data to identify advising program needs.

The use of professional judgment based on the assessment of student need and individual circumstances, and as defined and allowed according to Bellevue College graduation requirements, is required for this position. The Academic Advisor/Program Specialist 3 also provides training to Student Affairs staff, BC faculty, and other departments, as deemed necessary based on specific training needs.

Position Salary Range: $59,724/year - $80,436/year. The salary will be determined based on candidate's qualifications and related experience, as well as market and business considerations. Individuals newly hired to Classified position are placed in a salary range based on the WPEA Collective Bargaining Agreement.

We offer a comprehensive compensation package with salary and benefits as the main components. Competitive salary is within the range stated above, and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Generous benefits are offered through Washington State plans that includes multiple medical, dental, life and disability coverage choices for employees and dependents; choices of retirement and deferred compensation plans; paid holidays, sick, and vacation plans; transit program, reduced tuition, employee discounts and memberships, etc.

The employee is scheduled to work 40 hours per workweek. This is a Classified, overtime eligible position and represented by the Washington Public Employee Association of Higher Education (WPEA-HE).

Bellevue College is a diverse student-centered, comprehensive and innovative college, committed to teaching excellence that advances the life-long educational development of its students while strengthening the economic, social and cultural life of its diverse community. Bellevue College is located just 10 miles east of Seattle where we serve a student population of over 54% students of color and over 1,300 international students. The college promotes student success by providing high-quality, flexible, accessible educational programs and services; advancing pluralism, inclusion and global awareness; and acting as a catalyst and collaborator for a vibrant region.

The Academic Advising Department promotes student success by engaging students in developing educational plans in relation to their career and life goals. We strive to meet the diverse and unique needs of each student by mutual teaching, learning and relationship building. (Departmental Mission Statement, Adopted Fall 2017)

The Academic Advising Department assists current Bellevue College students to enroll in and complete 100 or 200-level prerequisite courses, a certificate, a professional/technical associate's degree, or an associate's degree for university transfer (transfer associate). Additionally, the Academic Advising Department has three core functions:

• New Student Programs/Orientation
• Academic Advising: Both New/Exploratory Student Advising and Pathway (Based on the Guided Pathways model) Advising
• University Transfer Support (UTS; formerly known as the Transfer 'Center')

The Department is comprised of trained professionals who work directly with Bellevue College students to meet their goals. Academic Advising partners with and provides comprehensive and accurate information to students, faculty, and other staff in support of transfer and professional/technical academic programs, all structured within a Guided Pathways framework.

Provide direct academic advising services in a one-on-one or group setting, executing all aspects of the service delivery based on student needs

• Proactively monitor and track student progress utilizing specific software, including TargetX, ctcLink (PeopleSoft), and other advising tools, as well as general office technology like Word and Excel. • Create, review and update student educational plans and proactively communicate timely updates, alerts, and reminders as necessary. Follow-up on Early Alerts for students within a specific caseload, as needed. • Meet with students one-on-one in-person, via phone, or via video conferencing software, specifically Microsoft Teams and Zoom. • Facilitate group advising sessions as needed and assigned utilizing a variety of presentation software, including Microsoft Teams and Zoom. • Guide students through the process of identifying their pathway and attaining their educational and career goals. Teach students to select and sequence coursework and effectively use the tools and resources necessary for successful focus area/program clarification, degree or certificate completion, and college/university transfer. • Assess student needs and apply student success and advising techniques to serve students from diverse backgrounds, more specifically, veterans, students with disabilities, dual credit earning, and international students. • Perform unofficial credit evaluations for enrollment purposes, program graduation, prerequisite clearance, and course selection, following Bellevue College credit evaluation guidelines and policies. • Interpret English and Math placement results, advising students on the proper course selection/sequence. Maintain confidential student records and adhere to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines. • Approve coursework for the purpose of third party funding such as financial aid, scholarship and Veteran's funding and for the purpose of reinstatement of funds due to not meeting satisfactory academic policy or exceeding funding limitations. • Consult with fellow staff, faculty, and outside entities to identify problems, explore solutions and alternatives, and recommend resolutions specific to student circumstances and needs. Provide collaborative and supportive intervention/outreach to students and appropriate referrals to faculty, other departments, college/university counselors.

Manage and coordinate ongoing development of advising services and process for a specific caseload of students

• Write and edit in-print and online information and resources specific to guiding students toward goal identification. • Collaborate with faculty and other staff on the development and revisions of course maps • Review Academic Advising Department website to ensure information is up to date and recommend changes or updates as needed. • Participate in the training of new advisors, providing one-on-one guidance and shadowing/observation opportunities. Collaborate with the Advising Team in developing training programs and materials. • Conduct research and analyze department, college-wide, and national data related to advising and student success to identify program needs. • Perform other duties within the classification as assigned. • Participate in the overall development of the Academic Advising Department, developing annual and ongoing work goals, activities and assessments, as well as collaborating in the development and facilitation of team meetings • Provide updates and recommendations to Deans, Program Chairs, and faculty related to course management/offerings based on student needs.

Provide campus-wide service and training as related to and representing the Academic Advising Department

• Provide professional development and training for faculty and staff members on academic advising strategies, university transfer requirements, college resources and policies, and other issues related to the student lifecycle. • Provide technical support and guidance (via phone, email, or in person) to faculty and staff as related to Bellevue College degree and certificate requirements. • Participate in governance, task forces, selection committees, or other groups to support departmental or college-wide goals and advocate for student needs. • Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited institution. Relevant experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. • One (1) year of academic advising, educational planning, or career advising in a higher education setting • Experience working in a collaborative team environment with diverse employees and student/customer groups. • Effective interpersonal skills in the areas of collaboration, team participation, creative problem-solving, conflict resolution, and group planning. • Effective communication skills. • Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook. • Demonstrated ability to use computers for data entry, web applications, searching the internet, and troubleshooting basic computer issues

Core Competencies:

• Ability to communicate effectively through spoken, written, and electronic processes, including with those for whom English as a second language. • Ability to use a computer for word processing, data entry, web activities, and written communication • Knowledgeable of