Associate Academic Advisor

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Job Profile

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Department

Compensation Range

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Posting End Date

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date

At UBC we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research innovation and learning for all faculty staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

Applied Science Central Student Services is a shared service unit across the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC) including Engineering the School of Community and Regional Planning the School of Biomedical Engineering and the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. The unit is dedicated to being an efficient and consistent source of academic career and professional development services and support for students through their academic journey in APSC. APSC Central Student Services unit has 4 teams; the APSC Co-op Experiential Learning and Professional Development team the Undergraduate Academic Advising Team the Graduate Academic Programs and Advising Team and the Academic Systems Team all under the leadership of the Director APSC Student Services.

Applied Science Undergraduate Associate Academic Advisors are responsible for providing and assessing academic advising services and programs for 5500 Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc) undergraduate students to support their academic success personal development and retention to ensure they meet their full academic potential throughout the course of their academic career. BASc students will graduate from one of 14 programs offered at the Vancouver campus each with complex and unique degree requirements requiring this position to maintain an in-depth current understanding of the requirements and option of all programs to provide accurate and consistent advising services.

Responsibilities include providing advising services for all BASc students through to progression into their second year of studies and academic advising for Mechanical Electrical Computer Chemical and Biological Civil Environmental (both the joint UBC program and the BASCV ENVL program) Manufacturing Mining Integrated and Materials Engineering students at all year levels for all service points including in person email phone web-mediated and small groups. Associate Academic Advisors are responsible for providing and assessing student academic advising services strategies and programming to support student learning. This position contributes towards the effective delivery of advising services and the development of policy and priorities of the unit. All APSC Undergraduate Academic Services Advising staff collaboratively provide the administrative services in the office.

Additional responsibilities for this position include leading the Academic Concession process which may result in permission to students to drop or withdraw from a course after the normal deadlines aegrotat or deferred standing and/or withdrawal from the university. Associate Academic Advisors also identify students in need through the Early Alert System connect them with relevant resources and guide which may include academic advising financial advising counselling health service or other appropriate resources. Associate Academic Advisors will work collaboratively within the BASc portfolio the Faculty of Applied Science (APSC) as well as other UBC departments and centralized resources such as the Centre for Accessibility and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response (SVPRO) Office. Occasional evening and weekend work will be required. The ability to travel domestically and internationally is preferred.

Organizational Status
This position works as a member of the Applied Science Undergraduate Academic Services team and reports directly to the Associate Director Undergraduate Academic Services. This position works independently under general direction from the Associate Director Undergraduate Academic Services.

Work Performed

Advising Retention Development

• Maintains current knowledge of academic advising standards and best practice to serve a diverse population of students.
• Uses expertise and in-depth knowledge of complex BASc program requirements to assess student academic records and histories in order to guide students with informed decision making in line with their academic personal and career goals.
• Advises first-year BASc students Mechanical Electrical Computer Chemical and Biological Civil Environmental (both the joint UBC program and the BASCV ENVL program) Manufacturing Mining Integrated and Materials Engineering students on degree and academic progression requirements ensuring they meet the requirements of their BASc degrees.
• Guides students towards a holistic and balanced approach to academics career preparation and health and wellbeing encouraging active engagement in learning and scholarly pursuits campus life and community engagement and career planning.
• Investigates and resolves issues relating to registration credit limits registration blocks transfer credits and other discrepancies. Updates student records as required (ie: grades course registration sessional standing etc.).
• Serves as the primary contact for BASc student identified through the Early Alert System.
• Advises students about request for academic concession. Evaluates documentation liaises with instructors medical professionals and other student service professionals to determine appropriateness of concessions in line with university and faculty policy ensuring consistency and equitability in outcomes. Works closely with APSC Undergraduate Academic Advisors on highly complex cases.
• Advises students about the requirements for admissions to minors dual degrees and degree completion. Directs students how to manage complex information including how to use university tools for ongoing degree planning.
• Reviews academic performance of all BASc undergraduate students to ensure they meet promotion continuation and graduation requirements.
• Identifies students in crisis either personal or academic and manages cases to resolution. Advises on academic options and make referrals to campus supports and services as required.
• Investigates and resolves inquiries from other campus units and faculties
• Interprets and applies university and faculty policies in relation to individual student programs proposes exceptions where appropriate
• Attends and presents at conferences and workshops and maintains membership in academic advising organizations
• Contributes to the recruitment and yield of prospective students by representing the Faculty of Applied Science at information sessions such as the Engineering Open House as well as domestic and international recruitment events

Information Technology & Knowledge Management

• Implements technologies pertinent to the communication outreach and success of student in the BASc program.
• Ensure web content on academic programs policies and academic services is current.
• Reports on applied information technologies pertaining to students in the BASc to evaluate usage functioning and communication success of technologies in student advising retention and development.
• Documents and maintains business practices of the APSC Undergraduate Academic Services unit to ensure consistent and equitable practice and to create a knowledge base of processes used by the office.

Other Duties

• Participates in identifying processes and systems that require improvement mapping current processes re-designing processes and making recommendations for change
• Provides support to colleagues during absences and performs other duties as required

Consequence of Error/Judgement
A wide latitude of decision making is required. Decision-making is based on a thorough knowledge of the policies and procedures of the University and the Faculty of Applied Science. The incumbent exercises considerable judgment and must demonstrate tact and discretion. Advising decisions directly affect the quality of student undergraduate experience their degree progression and the Engineering program accreditation. Poor performance including inefficient or uncaring service affects the reputation and credibility of Engineering Student Services the Faculty of Applied Science and the University thereby endangering the facultys enrolment goals. Errors in judgment poor advising and/or inconsistency in decision making could have significantly negative financial academic and personal consequences for students including serious difficulty in attaining their educational goals and even delay in graduation. Consequence of error is high and poor judgment and/or lack of cross-cultural sensitivity would compromise the integrity of the Applied Science programs as well as jeopardize the reputation of the Faculty of Applied Science and the university thereby affecting the recruitment and retention of students. Failing to identify the effect of a student s mental health on their studies can result in a delay of proper support services and a negative experience of the University. Failures in one or all of the above may result in students leaving the University.

Supervision Received
This position reports directly to the Associate Director Undergraduate Academic Services.

Supervision Given
None.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of one to two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives including perspectives in conflict with ones own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing ones own awareness knowledge and skills related to equity diversity and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

• Advising experience at the post-secondary level preferred.
• To achieve the facultys goal of attracting highly qualified students to Engineering this position requires a broad understanding of secondary and post-secondary systems as well as an in-depth knowledge of the BASc degree 14 engineering programs and admission requirements. Knowledge of the BC and other Canadian secondary school curricula as well as US British-patterned International Baccalaureate and other major international educational systems would be an asset.
• Knowledge of UBC systems is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally one-on-one and in public speaking roles is essential.
• Ability to communicate clearly with students of varying language skills.
• Advanced problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve problems in a skillful and timely manner.
• Ability to take initiative and to work effectively independently and within a team environment.
• Ability to masterfully gather and analyze information.
• Demonstrated ability to develop alternative solutions. Ability to make thoughtful informed and thorough decisions using reason even when dealing with emotional topics and student emergencies.
• Ability to meet challenges with resourcefulness.
• Ability to develop innovative approaches and ideas.
• Demonstrated ability to apply feedback to improve performance and to handle stress within a multi-faceted work environment.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.
• Ability to travel domestically and internationally as required.
• Proficiency in using Excel Outlook and other standard office software is required.