Student Advisor

Competition 2306

This competition is open to all applicants however; internal candidates and applicants who were former employees of the University of Alberta will be given priority consideration before external candidates. Please log in to verify your internal candidate status.

This position is a part of the Non-Academic Staff Association (NASA).

This position offers a comprehensive benefits package.

Location - This role is in-person at North Campus, Edmonton.

Working at the University of Alberta

The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages and cultures of First Nations, Métis, Inuit and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.

The University of Alberta is a community of knowledge seekers, change makers and world shapers who lead with purpose each and every day. We are home to over 14,000 faculty and staff, more than 40,000 students and a growing community of 300,000 alumni worldwide.

Your work will have a meaningful influence on a fascinating cross-section of people — from our students and community members, to our renowned researchers and innovators, making discoveries and generating solutions that make the world healthier, safer, stronger and more just. Learn more.

Working for the Faculty of Education

As part of the University of Alberta’s College of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Faculty of Education is home to award-winning teachers, internationally recognized researchers, educational innovators, and community leaders. When you join the Faculty of Education, you are joining one of the world’s top faculties of education, consistently ranked among the top four faculties of education in Canada and top 100 in the world. At heart, we are a supportive, welcoming academic community of highly engaged, socially conscious, diverse scholars, students, and staff. Our work impacts K-12 students, their families, communities, and partners in education and other professions. We advance the careers of future researchers, teachers, professionals, and policy makers as active and contributing citizens.

Position

Student Advisors perform a wide variety of student services duties in support of the undergraduate degree programs and provide student advising to both undergraduate applicants and current students. Student Advisor positions involve specialized roles and situational leadership duties, and within each position, Student Advisors participate in situational leadership.

The successful candidate is required to anticipate needs and daily fluctuations in workload to meet variable demands and independently prioritize their workload to meet expectations and timelines. It is desired that the incumbent brings a richly related set of experiences for this position, including directly related delivery of service to students, working knowledge of PeopleSoft Campus Solutions and practical experience with evaluating and processing admissions and transfer credit evaluations.

Duties

• Advises continuing students about university and faculty policies and procedures to provide accurate information to assist in making academic decisions such as course selection, registration, course withdrawals, deferred exams, grades, academic standing, and convocation.
• Ensures that appropriate support for undergraduate course registration into education courses is provided to students which includes manually registering students into restricted enrolment courses and individual study courses. Assisting students when experiencing registration difficulties.
• Resolves student issues using interpretive judgment of university and faculty regulations in standard and non-standard situations.
• Coaches students to identify problems and possible strategies and resources; advises students on larger life issues, and refers to appropriate resources when necessary, including academic success and personal issues such as health, isolation, financial stress, career planning, etc.
• Collaborates with unit and university staff to promote student success, with a focus on the advising and support services available to students struggling to achieve success.
• Assesses situations and identifies at-risk students, referring students with severe personal difficulties to the appropriate agencies and services on campus.
• Documents all student interactions and success plans, and reconnects with the student when necessary to monitor success.
• Ensures that policies and procedures are applied with the care in the management and accessing of student files and records in adherence with FOIP.
• Evaluates applications for graduation.
• Promotes undergraduate degree programs through recruitment activities (i.e. Open House) and student orientation programs (i.e. Faculty Welcome Events and Registration Events).
• Contributes to the overall effective operation of the Education Student Services office and interacts in a manner that positively contributes to a cooperative office atmosphere.
• Responsibility for admissions including processing transfer applications for admission, including assessing transfer credit, determining admissibility, and deciding to grant/refuse admissions.
• Prepares and presents information and statistics on admissions.
• Evaluates transfer courses for program fit for coursework from transfer colleges, other Canadian Universities and Foreign institutions.
• Responds to inquiries from partner institutions and applicants regarding admission requirements, transfer credit, admission procedures, and admission decisions.
• Advises and clarifies the admission processes and Faculty’s Undergraduate programming to new staff.
• Supports the Faculty’s Enrollment Management process through monitoring and reporting admission progress and proposing changes to admitting GPA's.
• Liaises directly with combined degree program advisors from partner faculties and collaborative degree contacts from partner institutions regarding program and course requirements.
• Supports the training of staff members within ESS and in the Faculty and will participate in University-level networking and meetings to keep apprised of system processes and procedures.
• Assists Associate Dean(s) in the evaluation, approval or denial of requests for exceptions to published program requirements and documents and implements approved exceptions.
• Creates, reviews, updates and maintains student program forms, academic advisement modules and other electronic student records while maintaining the integrity of student records and confidential information regarding student programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum Undergraduate degree, preferably in a related area.
• Minimum two years of providing student services in a post-secondary environment, plus considerable related student advising and undergraduate admissions evaluations experience.
• An understanding of and respect for the diversities of First Nations, Metis and Inuit cultures, languages, and histories to provide a holistic support system to First Nations, Metis and Inuit learners.
• Extensive experience with university administrative systems in student administration (PeopleSoft/Campus Solutions), including working knowledge and experience with the Academic Advisement module and training and working knowledge of the Undergraduate Admission System (Slate).
• Electronic Document Records Management/Alfresco experience is required.
• Working knowledge of the University of Alberta academic policies and procedures.
• Ability to thrive in a student-centered organization and to work collaboratively to accomplish organizational goals.
• A positive attitude and commitment to work in a team environment that is focused on continual improvement and the provision of positive student service.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and especially strong writing and public speaking skills with an ability to communicate effectively through correspondence, email, on the telephone and in person.
• Demonstrated ability to manage challenging situations in a respectful and thoughtful manner.
• Ability to effectively organize priorities, manage time, problem solve and demonstrate accuracy and attention to detail are essential.
• Computer proficiency in a Windows environment using MS Office and Google Workspace. Reporting and statistical analysis experience is an asset.
• Understanding and possession of a strong knowledge base of issues pertinent in Indigenous communities.
• Demonstrated understanding of the cultural knowledge and perspective required to connect with Indigenous communities, schools and students, plus knowledge of Treaty 6 communities, is an asset.
• The ability to speak and communicate in any Indigenous language is an asset.

How to Apply

Along with a resume, qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter outlining their qualifications and demonstrating their passion for student service.