Graduate Academic Advisor

Job Description

Graduate Academic Advisor | Aurora University (AU)

The Tone:
This is an onsite/hybrid role at Aurora University, located in Aurora, IL. Aurora University is dedicated to providing a student-centered environment and ensuring equity of experience and opportunity through the transformative power of learning. This role empowers graduate students by promoting goal-setting, responsibility, and accountability to foster student success and retention. The Graduate Academic Advisor provides information and resources to help students achieve academic success, professional development, and personal goals.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: Aurora, IL
• Pay: $50000–$55000 yearly
• Mission: Empower graduate students to achieve lasting personal and professional success through academic guidance, mentoring, and university resource navigation.
• Tech Stack: Self-Service, Student Planning, Colleague

What You’ll Actually Do
• Advise: Provide academic advising to graduate students on course selection, university requirements, degree requirements, and academic policies and procedures, including during new student orientation and individual sessions.
• Mentor: Guide students through vocational discernment, foster increased professionalism, and strategically mentor at-risk students while encouraging the use of appropriate university resources.
• Collaborate: Build and maintain relationships with assigned department chairs and various university departments (e.g., Academic Affairs, Registrar, Financial Aid) to ensure accurate academic materials and facilitate student retention.
• Review: Review academic transcripts and student files, proactively communicate relevant information to students, and ensure students are knowledgeable about the online registration process.
• Present: Deliver presentations during new student orientation to advise on course selection and academic policies, supporting successful student onboarding.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s degree in any field.
• Experience: Two years of higher education work experience.
• Skills: Strong communication skills; Detail-oriented; Knowledge of student data and communication systems; Ability to interact effectively with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and parents; Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours.
• Bonus: Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred; Academic advising experience in higher education preferred.