MS ACADEMIC ADVISOR

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. 

Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE) faculty and students are advancing the research and design of technologies by using innovative techniques to study human activity and develop meaningful information and sociotechnical systems. Putting people first, we research, design, and engineer interactions between humans and technology. Join us. Change the world.

HCDE Academic Services provides empathetic and personalized advising to engage students in their pursuit of personal, academic, and professional exploration. We challenge students to be inquisitive, creative, and thoughtful global citizens. HCDE has an outstanding opportunity for a full time MS Academic advisor to join our team.

The MS Academic advisor provides a critical role in the Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering program by providing high-level curriculum development, academic counseling, and event management while also maintaining day-to-day program operations and implementing the out-of-classroom experience for students in the HCDE  program.

The MS advisor must be able to develop a thorough knowledge of University, UW Continuum College (PCE) and Graduate School policies, and an understanding of program administration, curriculum and operational activities.

This position is responsible for administering the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering's masters and certificate programs. Reporting directly to the Academic Services Director, the MS advisor serves as primary contact for both prospective and current masters and certificate students, informing them about the programs and advising on the admissions process, potential course of study, employment opportunities and graduation requirements. This position also works with the MS faculty director, other department faculty, and a variety of campus partners to share information related to recruitment, retention and curricular issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Advising
The MS advisor will be responsible for providing academic advising to prospective and current students in the Master of Science in Human Centered Design & Engineering (HCDE MS) and User-Centered Design (UCD) Certificate programs to support their success and adapt to unexpected challenges. Activities to accomplish these goals include:
• Maintain current knowledge of policies at the Graduate School, International Student Services, and HCDE program that will directly impact graduate students, and develop and adjust course of study plans to maintain compliance with these policies
• Advise students regarding program content, degree requirements, decision-making, and alternative courses of action
• Establish in-person, video, and phone appointments with current and prospective students, as well as timely responses to emails from those students
• Answer applicant inquiries regarding admissions process and advise regarding online applications
• Recruit and train MS Grad Ambassadors on prospective student advising and informal meetings with visiting prospective students
• Maintain and update student data and track student progress, documenting special situations to facilitate ongoing support of students
• Support students through connections to UW campus resources, including International Student Services, Career Center @ Engineering (CC@E), Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP), Disability Resource Services, and Husky Veterans
• Apprise students of their academic performance and monitor progress toward their degree
• Verify completion of all MS HCDE and UCD requirements, process master’s requests to UW Graduate School, and communicate UCD completion to HCDE Program Coordinator
• Meet with the Academic Services Director and Program Chair to discuss individual student progress and decide on appropriate action for students requiring extra support
• Represent HCDE at College of Engineering and UW Graduate School graduate program advisor meetings to review policies, changes, and advising practices
• Manage enrollment for non-HCDE UW Graduate students in MS HCDE courses

Master’s and Certificate Admissions
The MS advisor will be responsible for administering the admissions process for the MS HCDE and UCD certificate programs and communicating those decisions to newly admitted students. Activities to accomplish these goals include:
• Manage the master’s and certificate admissions processes which include aggregating and distributing application materials to the Admissions Committee, facilitating all meetings, participating in admissions decision processes and communicating updates with the UW Graduate School
• Coordinate with HCDE Program Coordinator to track applications, draft admission decision letters, convey decisions in MyGrad, distribute notices to applicants and deliver spreadsheets of that information to UW Continuum College
• Create and submit admissions petitions and scholarship nominations in MyGrad
• Responsible for developing regular ‘first 90 days’ communications to those offered admission as a means to encourage acceptance of offer and to begin preparing them for a successful transition to the University of Washington and the department of Human Centered Design & Engineering
• Manage and create content for the MS HCDE New Admit Canvas Course
• Manage and update the online application in MyGrad

Event Planning
The MS advisor will facilitate information sessions and new and continuing student presentations for an evening master’s and certificate program. In addition, the MS advisor will collaborate with HCDE faculty and staff to create new workshops and/or presentations to address emerging academic content or career development needs. Activities to accomplish these goals include:
• Lead prospective student information sessions, new student orientation, and MS Visit days to communicate program deadlines and academic policies regarding admissions, registration, maintaining satisfactory progress, credit load requirements, and graduation
• Coordinate with the Academic Services Director, MS Faculty Program Director, Outreach and Events Manager and CC@E to organize and plan career development events including HCDE Network night, alumni/employer panels, portfolio reviews, and interview practice events
• Survey students and assess needs on a quarterly basis, and summarize the results to identify areas of success and areas for increased attention
• Assist HCDE Graduate Student Association in creating events (including skill shares, internship panels, portfolio workshops, etc.) and organizing officer elections to ensure smoother transition each academic year
• Participate in HCDE department wide events, including HCDE Graduation and Capstone Showcase

Organizational Support
While the primary emphasis of this position will be direct student contact, there are administrative projects which support the mission of the HCDE Academic Services Team. Examples of such projects include but are not limited to:
• Manage the HCDE 601 Internship class for MS graduate students
• Review PCE Time Schedule for accuracy
• Work closely with HCDE Program Coordinator and PCE Program Manager for HCDE on curriculum and student enrollments
• Request draft PCE registration forms for UCD certificate program prior to sending it to students, edit as necessary
• Update Program Administrator regarding status of UCD certificate students who elect not to attend classes for a period of time: keep track internally, inform PCE Program Manager when they are intending to return and ensure appropriate paperwork is provided to returning certificate students
• Maintain MS and UCD program websites
• Communicate with HCDE Communications Manager and UW Continuum College regarding program requirements, changes, and scheduled information sessions to ensure appropriate marketing of events

REQUIREMENTS:
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience; and at least three years of student counseling, student services or related experience.
• Experience coordinating academic and/or recruitment events
• Strong attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to communicate professionally, clearly, and empathetically in all forms of communications, e.g., verbal and written, one-on-one, and in groups.
• Experience working both independently and in a team setting
• Demonstrated ability to solve problems, take initiative, set priorities, and handle multiple projects efficiently and effectively.
• Ability to quickly learn and apply new or unfamiliar technologies
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

DESIRED EXPERIENCE
• Master’s degree in education, student services, counseling/psychology, public administration or related fields
• 4+ years’ experience working directly with university students in academic advising, career advising or counseling capacity
• Familiarity with UW academic policies and procedures
• Experience with mentoring and advising a diverse population of college-level students and working with faculty
• Experience with cloud-based collaboration tools such as Google Drive and Zoom
• Knowledge and experience with UW systems including Student Database (SDB), MyGrad, BI Portal and Degree Audit Reporting System (DARS)

The person in this position will be required to work some evenings. In particular, the MS advisor must be available for occasional evening information sessions, Network Night, etc.

Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process.  These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others.  Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready. Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.