Job Description

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor (ARC) is a full-time, 12-month, professional staff position housed in the Student Success Center.  The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor reports to the Student Services Manager at the Oxford Campus and will also work closely with the Academic Advising and Retention Center (ARC) Director.  The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will have responsibility for coordinating advising and retention programs and services for students at the Oxford Campus.  These services shall be coordinated in concert with other student services departments as well as all academic divisions.

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will act as an academic advisor to an assigned group of students and regularly provide advising services to students who come to the Student Success Center at the Oxford Campus.  The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor will assist with ACT and placement testing, withdrawal processing, counseling, and student activities.

The Academic Advising and Retention Counselor is charged with creating an atmosphere that promotes student success, social and academic engagement, academic success, and personal development.  The following are indicative of the qualifications, duties and responsibilities, and physical demands that fall within this position.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Psychology, Education, Student Affairs, or related field
• A minimum of one year of experience working with students in an educational setting

PREFERRED QUALIFICATION:

• Experience as an Academic Advisor in a college or university setting
• A minimum of two years of experience working with students in an educational setting
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
• Experience working in a community college or regional college setting
• Experience working with a Student Information System or CRM

ESSENTIAL  DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Must support NWCC Mission and Vision
2. Must demonstrate passion for student success
3. Serve as essential part of the academic advising and retention team
4. Advise and assist students with scheduling, registration, and academic progress
5. Utilize Dropout Detective and any other software to assist with retention efforts
6. Process student course and program withdrawals and generate weekly/monthly reports
7. Assess and improve the onboarding process of new students and advising services for current students, improving both efficiency and effectiveness
8. Ensure the delivery of accurate, relevant, and timely information to students concerning the culture of higher education, placement test results, academic standards and expectations, and program options and requirements
9. Coordinate retention programs with student services, including data collection, analysis, and reporting outcomes
10. Identify priorities, strategic goals, and action plan to enhance student progress to degree completion
11. Update and implement procedures and practices to promote the success of students
12. Serve as Success Coach training program coordinator for all staff who are involved in advising students.  Utilize various technologies to promote the program
13. Maintain and update Success Coach and advisee information found on the college website and online catalog
14. Serve as an assigned Success Coach to a designated student group and provide academic advising services to students through walk-ins and appointments
15. Provide counseling for students related to personal and academic success and concerns
16. Administer the residual ACT and placement testing
17. Assist with planning and implementing student engagement activities
18. Collaborate and advise with the University of Mississippi on the institutions’ joint partnership programs
19. Attend and participate in promotional and community events (day and/or evening) if needed
20. Participate in meetings and serve on committees as required and function as an advocate for advising within the college community
21. Work collaboratively with the marketing and academic staff to develop program brochures and other informational materials
22. Other assigned duties as assigned by the Student Services Manager and Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Self-motivated with the ability to function productively and independently;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to establish positive working relationships;
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. 
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, and Excel)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to do the following:

• Communicate with others in person, phone, and via email
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus.
• Frequently sit, use hands to handle or feel, and reach with hands and arms
• Talk, hear, stand, walk, stoop, or kneel
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds  

APPLICATION

To apply, please submit and attach the following:

• Application at www.northwestms.edu
• Resume
• Transcript(s)
• Three (3) References
• Application Deadline: Open until filled

Northwest Mississippi Community College is a two-year, open access public community college primarily serving 11 counties in northwest Mississippi. Our vision states that “Northwest Mississippi Community College transforms our students’ lives, enriches our communities, and strives for excellence in our educational programs and services.”

Accreditation

Northwest Mississippi Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award the Associate of Arts degree, the Associate of Applied Science degree and certificates in career education. Questions about the accreditation of Northwest Mississippi Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website ( www.sacscoc.org).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Northwest Mississippi Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or status as a veteran or disabled veteran in all its programs and activities. Northwest Mississippi Community College prohibits sexual harassment and all forms of sexual violence, regardless of sex, gender identity or sexual orientation. The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990/Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973: Disability Support Services Coordinator, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 7046, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3309, e-mail address mkelsay@northwestms.edu; Title II of the Age Discrimination Act: Vice President for Finance and Administration, James P. McCormick Administration Building, P.O. Box 7017, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3216, e-mail address jhorton@northwestms.edu; Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972/Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964: (For student-related matters) Associate Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management, Tate Hall, P.O. Box 7010, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 562-3409, e-mail address trush@northwestms.edu or (for employment-related matters) Director of Human Resources, James P. McCormick Administration Building, P.O. Box 7038, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668, telephone number (662) 560-5216, email estanford@northwestms.edu

Safety Statement

The safety and security of students, faculty, and staff is very important to Northwest Mississippi Community College. A copy of the Annual Security Report, published annually by the Campus Police Department, details Northwest policies and procedures regarding campus safety. A copy of the report, which contains the annual crime statistics report, is available online in the current Northwest Bulletin ( www.northwestms.edu/bulletin) or on the Northwest website ( www.northwestms.edu) and in printed form upon request from the Campus Police Office at (662) 562-3314.

Background Check Statement

Northwest Mississippi Community College is committed to providing a safe campus community. NWCC conducts background investigations for applicants being considered for employment. Background investigations include a criminal history record check, and when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.