Job Description

Department

College Academic Advising Leaders

About the Department

College Academic Advising

Job Summary

As a member of senior leadership in the College Academic Advising Office (CAAO), the Senior Adviser is part of a team responsible for the direction and management of the office. In this role, the Senior Adviser has three major areas of responsibility. First, the Senior Adviser provides comprehensive academic advising services to a reduced caseload of first-year through fourth-year students across all academic major and minor programs of study. Second, the Senior Adviser administers one of four functional areas central to the operation and success of the CAAO, Canvas Platform Management and Office Communications. Third, the Senior Adviser supervises and supports a team of academic advisers. Senior Advisers must be knowledgeable about the curriculum, University policies, multiple systems for tracking student information, and University resources for students, while also having a strong relational focus for building relationships with students and staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversees the academic programs of a reduced caseload of undergraduate students and tracks progress toward degree completion.
• Conducts regular one-on-one and group meetings with students to discuss academic programs, choice of major, academic progress, long-term goals, and making meaning of their UChicago experience.
• Utilizes academic advising theories and follows best practices to help students resolve challenges and achieve academic goals.
• Employs counseling and relational skills for assisting students in distress and establishes good working relationships with a diverse student population.
• Understands, interprets, and communicates University policies, procedures, deadlines, and expectations to students.
• Refers students to campus resources, including Career Advancement, Study Abroad, Student Wellness, and the Center for College Student Success, and maintains collaborative relationships with these campus partners.
• Accesses information through various electronic databases, and maintains student records in compliance with applicable laws and policies.
• Administration of one functional area of Canvas Platform management and Office of Communications.
• Maintains the CAAO Canvas curriculum, including first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year content.
• Supports and troubleshoots platform issues as needed and liaises with the College Academic and Student Services Office.
• Plans and implements internal and external communications strategies and maintains the annual communication calendar.
• Coordinates content creation to ensure consistent communication and messaging.
• Supervises, supports, and provides feedback to a team of 5-6 academic advisers.
• Contributes to strategic planning for the CAAO and for the Office of the Dean of Students.
• Participates in leadership training programs to ensure alignment with office mission and values.
• Provides ongoing staff development around various issues as appropriate.
• Participates as needed in College-wide events such as Orientation, Family Weekend, Convocation, and Commencement.
• Serves as a liaison to one or more academic departments and updates staff on developments to majors and minors.
• Reviews and responds to student petitions in limited circumstances.
• Responds in a timely manner to student, staff, faculty, and parent communication.
• Participates in staff development trainings, class visits, and weekly meetings.
• Acts as a main point of contact and recommends process improvements for other University Schools and Divisions' joint-degree programs.
• Has a deep understanding related to the development of programming for non-academic matters, such as health and wellness and curricular programming. Designs and produces material for the handbook and other academically-related publications.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Work Experience:

5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline. Candidates with advanced degrees may substitute higher education for a portion of the required experience.

Certifications:

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced degree, with a 6-year minimum gap between date of college graduation and appointment as Senior Adviser.

Experience:

• Minimally 5 years of experience in an academic advising office or related field in higher education.
• Familiarity with the University structure and the functions of its various offices and departments.
• Specialized knowledge of college student development.
• Demonstrated commitment to college students and the values and goals of a liberal arts education.
• Background supervising or mentoring staff.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Mac and PC environments.
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, and online organizational tools.
• Understanding of learning management systems, preferably Canvas, and digital content creation.
• Familiarity with Adobe graphic design/web development environments.
• Proficiency with web and social media platforms.
• Use complex databases and other record keeping systems.
• Learn new software and database tools.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including excellent editing/proofreading ability in English.

Preferred Competencies

• Provide excellent academic advising to undergraduates.
• Take initiative and lead others.
• Handle multiple concurrent projects in a competent and professional manner while also managing details and meeting deadlines.
• Work both autonomously and as part of a team, individually, or in concert with other offices and campus partners.
• Collaborate with faculty and academic departments.
• Establish good working relationships with people of different backgrounds.
• Maintain confidentiality/discretion at all times related to students, faculty, and staff.
• Work under pressure and handle stressful situations while managing competing deadlines.
• Critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making, and reasoning skills.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Creativity.

Working Conditions

• Office environment.
• Some evening and weekend work.
• Fast-paced environment.
• Sit at a computer for 4-6 hours.
• Periodic walking to other campus locations.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter, to include interest in position (required)
• 3 References Contact Information (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Student Affairs & Services

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

​

FLSA Status

Exempt

​

Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.