University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Academic Counselor

Job Profile Title
Associate Director B, Student Services, Advising

Job Description Summary
The Penn College Achievement Program (PennCAP) Academic Counselor will provide ongoing counseling, outreach and support to help increase the success, retention and graduation of program eligible students at Penn. Specifically, the Academic Counselor will be responsible for providing counseling support to assigned PennCAP students which include one-on-one counseling/advising sessions; email outreach; advocacy as necessary; and generally acting as a case manager, supporting the students throughout their undergraduate experience. Beyond providing direct service to assigned students, the Academic Counselor will also be responsible for developing, implementing, and coordinating the departmental cultural and educational event and field trip series; collaborating on educational initiatives; and carrying out other counseling and administrative duties as assigned. For some events and during certain times of the year, particularly during the Pre-First Year Program (PFP), some evenings and weekends are required.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

Provides individual personal, academic, career, and financial counseling to all assigned University of PA first-generation students and students from limited-income backgrounds as follows:

Provide ongoing, proactive outreach to assigned students to inform and support, increasing outreach to students designated as at - risk or on probation.
Provide ongoing individual counseling and support to assigned students, increasing counseling and monitoring as necessary to students designated as at-risk or on academic probation.
Collaborate on academic support interventions with fellow counselors and school and divisional colleagues to diagnose, document, and address students' academic concerns and needs.
Monitor students' academic progress for each assigned cohort. Consult with Peer Mentors bi-weekly about their first-year students.

Complete administrative responsibilities as follows:

Document all services provided, maintaining ongoing accurate records of student contact including individual meetings, outreach efforts, and referrals in program database, student files, and the University's Advising@Penn system.
Coordinate specific departmental initiative, to be determined with your supervisor.
Collaborate on departmental initiatives.
Maintain contact with University resources and serve on University committees as assigned.
Assist in the hiring, training, and supervision of the Peer Mentor staff.
Coordinate workshops that are pertinent to the needs and interests of first-generation and low-income students.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and 2-3 years of experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, are required. Master's Degree in Counseling, Student Affairs, Education, Social Work, or other related field with at least 2-3 years of relevant experience strongly preferred.

Required:

Excellent counseling, communication, writing, computing, and organizational skills
Ability to plan and implement programs and events
Experience working with first-generation students and/or students from limited-income backgrounds
Demonstrated commitment to diversity

Preferred:

Be from a first-generation/limited-income background
Knowledge and experience working in a university setting
Administrative experience
Supervisory experience

Application Requirement

A Cover Letter and Resume/CV are required to be considered for this position. Please upload your Cover Letter where it asks you to upload your Resume/CV; multiple documents are allowed.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Provost's Center

Pay Range
$43,919.00 - $58,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements
Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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