Senior Academic Advisor, Doctoral Student Services and Advising

Summary:

The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for a Senior Academic Advisor Doctoral Student Services and Advising. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Student Services and maintaining a dotted line relationship with the Director of the Public Policy and Administration program this position will offer guidance to doctoral students on academic programs and university procedures and documents related to completing their doctoral education. Additionally the role will involve responsibilities for student recruitment including outreach efforts participation in recruitment events and collaboration with faculty to attract prospective doctoral candidates.

The Senior Academic Advisor will work with doctoral students and faculty from recruitment through graduation to ensure academic success. This includes developing interpreting documenting implementing assessing and applying University State Federal and School policies and procedures to deliver efficient timely and cost-effective support services. The position will also involve monitoring graduate teaching assistants ensuring they receive a range of training to prepare them for their roles including pedagogical training curriculum familiarization assessment and grading communication skills and diversity and inclusion.

Key responsibilities include maintaining accurate records and data for doctoral student files monitoring student progress throughout their studies and ensuring timely certification for graduation. As a senior position it will also provide leadership and guidance to support staff.

This position opportunity is only open to current VCU employees.

The 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 36 and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 6 in Homeland Security Programs and No. 33 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1400 students and more than 12000 alumni with an established environment where diverse perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty staff and students and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

Our location in Richmond the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia combined with our proximity to Washington DC provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship teaching and community engagement activities. A creative interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve providing students and faculty with the knowledge skills opportunities and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School please visit our website at Duties

The Senior Academic Advisor will assist faculty staff and students by utilizing Ellucian and our own electronic databases to research student records and to initiate and carry out student actions; perform academic course corrections/changes and certain student actions without supervision based on preset standards; work with students to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate courses and credits and perform an audit of all student records in Banner and DegreeWorks each semester to ensure that they are registered for the appropriate courses and credits. The position will also manage and maintain student records ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date. In addition to advising duties the Senior Academic Advisor will work closely with Assistant Dean of Student Services and the Director of the Public Policy and Administration in recruitment retention and other enrollment initiatives; develop implement and evaluate strategies in alignment with the schools retention and recruitment goals.

Provide academic advising services to assigned students (30%)

o Advise students regarding departmental collegiate and University policies and

procedures; programs of study; and the development of appropriate academic plans.

o Assist adult learner students with problem-solving and decision-making.

o Proactively communicate to students to assist with registration and program planning

inform of policy and/or curricular changes and important deadlines.

o Offer in-person appointments phone appointments and email advising; be available

for walk-in advising.

o Assist students in identifying their interests abilities and academic goals and in making

decisions regarding their academic career.

o Introduce students to opportunities that will enrich their academic experience facilitate

their academic and personal development and support their educational success.

o Make appropriate referrals to other university resources.

Collaborate with university partners on matters that impact student recruitment success and

retention (20%)

o Participate in recruitment activities programs and initiatives.

o Provide advising information to prospective students.

o Provide advising services to students during new student orientation.

o Support departmental school and University retention initiatives.

o Contact continuing students who do not register for classes.

o Work with students to create academic performance plans to ensure the student regains good academic standing.

Maintain accurate and confidential records of student information including advising

interactions (40%)

o Document all advising interactions with doctoral students.

o Maintain confidential records on doctoral students and adhere to FERPA rules for the release of student information.

o Ensure doctoral student records are accurate and up-to-date through regular auditing and submitting Special Action Forms (SAFs) as needed.

Monitor student progression in degree program using advising checkpoints (5%)

o Use DegreeWorks and internal auditing process to determine doctoral students progress in completing degree requirements.

o Ensure doctoral students are in compliance with the continuous enrollment policy.

o Conduct final audit of doctoral student account prior to degree conferral.

Provide leadership within the department (5%)

o Provide direction and guidance to program assistants.

o Collaborate with the Director of Public Policy and Administration to implement unit programs and initiatives (manage assessment of programming and manage marketing and promotion).

o Lead new student orientation and graduate teaching assistant training sessions.

Other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Ph.D. in one of the disciplines in the Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs student personnel college counseling or a related field.

Previous experience advising graduate students.

Demonstrated experience using Degree Works Banner and Navigate.

Demonstrated ability to manage academic processes within and across academic units.

Demonstrated experience recruiting graduate students.

Demonstrated ability to manage a large volume of administrative work.

Minimum Qualifications

Masters degree in one of the disciplines in the Wilder School of Government & Public Affairs student personnel college counseling or a related field or an equivalent combination of relevant professional experience.

Minimum of 3 years of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.

Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills as well as customer service; must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.

Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and Googles cloud collaboration services.

Demonstrated experience working collaboratively with and providing guidance to support staff with the management of team projects.

Excellent writing analytical problem-solving and public speaking skills.

Demonstrated experience working autonomously with minimal supervision.

Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect professionalism and civility with a population of faculty staff and students from various backgrounds and experiences or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Typical Job Specific Physical & Cognitive Requirements

Physical Demands and Activities (Essential):

Light lifting (<30 lbs.)

Pushing/pulling

Standing

Sitting

Emotional Demands (Essential):

Fast pace/Average pace

Multiple stimuli

Frequent change

Intense customer interaction

Mental/Sensory Demands (Essential):

o Memory

o Reading

o Reasoning

o Hearing

o Logic

o Analyzing

Verbal communication

Written Communication

Application Instructions/Other Information

All applications should include a cover letter and a detailed resume with the names and contact information of three professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race color religion national origin age sex political affiliation veteran status genetic information sexual orientation gender identity gender expression or disability.

Ross Losapio

Required Experience:

Senior IC