Undergraduate Academic Advisor

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Summary

The Academic Services Office (ASO) in the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME) is looking for an academic advisor and coordinator for our undergraduate program. ME is a large department with more than 850 undergraduate students and around 600 graduate students; plus 68 tenured and tenure-track faculty, 19 research faculty and lecturers, and 55 staff. The ASO provides student and faculty support for the administrative aspects of our students' curricular and co-curricular experiences. We also support students' wellbeing with appreciative advising practices, referrals to campus and community resources. Our office is a fast-paced environment that focuses on the student experience and the staff team. More detailed information about the department is available on our website .

Who We Are

Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of the nation's number one public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

Our vision, mission and values are supported by a people-first engineering framework that guides our work. As Michigan Engineers, we strive to apply excellent engineering fundamentals, integrated expertise and equity-centered values to reimagine what engineering can be, close critical gaps, and elevate all people. Information about our vision, mission and values can be found at: http://strategicvision.engin.umich.edu/.

The University of Michigan has a storied legacy of commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Michigan Engineering models that commitment in our research, culture and collaborations. We seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as a reflection of that commitment. Learn more about DEI at Michigan Engineering: https://www.engin.umich.edu/culture/diversity-equity-inclusion/

Responsibilities*

Academic Advising (60%): 

• Serve as the primary liaison on all academic matters for a subset of ME students. Answer questions and work through problems related to educational needs and academic performance. 
• Counsel students and recommend appropriate services, with emphasis on those related to mental health and wellbeing. Assist and refer students in crisis to appropriate campus and community resources. 
• Coordinate the undergraduate major declaration process, including checking intended majors' prerequisites, leading the declaration orientation event, facilitating introduction of students to advisors who they will work with going forward, executing administrative steps in student declarations. 
• Work with students on degree requirements, degree/success planning, course selection/registration, and transfer credit. 
• Track and monitor student progress/outcomes. Complete final degree audits. 
• Present at various events for current and prospective majors including new student orientations, Major Fair, and Campus Day. 
• Work with others on the team to create an inclusive, service-oriented environment for a multicultural student body.

Program Administration (30%): 

• Collaborate with other ASO staff and the associate chair for undergraduate studies to administer all aspects of Mechanical Engineering's undergraduate program and curriculum. 
• Support administratively the associate chair for undergraduate studies, including preparing data and materials for faculty committee meetings. 
• Manage the MSE, SUGS, and PhD application processes and decision notifications
• Work with other ASO staff to review and maintain all advising materials for students including the Undergraduate Student Handbook, web content, resource materials, and the Bulletin. 
• Work as part of the team to maintain program data for surveys, gather evaluation data and prepare reports. 
• Ideate and support programming regarding career exploration and readiness and student retention initiatives. 
• Collaborate with ASO team members to deliver annual awards and graduation recognition events. 
• Maintain monthly data reporting on ME student demographics 

Special Projects (10%): 

• With direction from the student services manager, coordinate initiatives led by the associate chair for undergraduate education or the chair of the department. 
• Collaborate and communicate on all aspects of the undergraduate program with ASO team members, working on student support goals. 
• Support general function of the academic services office team, including in-person office traffic; provide necessary support for all ASO events (assisting with set-up and day-of event work). 

This position will sometimes require evening hours for student advising or programming. There is flexibility in the position to allow for some remote/hybrid work. 

Required Qualifications*

A bachelor's degree or four years of student services experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Desired Qualifications*

A master's degree in counseling/advising, higher education administration, student affairs, or another related field. 

Previous experience in event/program management.

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.