Academic Advisor II Plant Science Major (PLS)

Masters degree in education counseling or academic field related to the college and one year of relevant experience OR Bachelors degree in similar fields with two years of relevant experience.

Plant Science Major (PLS) and affiliated departmental minors. Other primary roles include marketing for PLS and recruiting undergraduate students and administrative duties to support the program. PLS is an innovative major that bridges three core collaborating departments (Agronomy Horticultural Sciences and Plant Pathology) and presents an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment with a growing team of passionate students faculty and administrators from a range of plant-related disciplines.

Responsibilities include:

Student Advising

• Advise students regarding academic requirements academic policies and procedures campus resources and appropriate class selection in response to their career aspirations.
• Hold one-on-one meetings with students to select appropriate minors and/or certificates address any degree issues position students to meet requirements for graduation and prepare them to achieve their future career goals.
• Perform degree tracking and coursework verification for all PLS students and confirm eligibility for graduation.
• Oversee students placed on probation and work with the student and faculty to prepare deficit point recovery plan.
• Process student petitions change of major and double major requests and degree verification and audits as per UF and college deadlines.
• Collaborate with off-campus academic coordinators and advisors for the Statewide program (WFREC FLREC MREC and others) and serve as the record keeper for all PLS information and student records.
• Conduct orientation/Preview sessions for transfer students majoring in Plant Science with the option to serve as a Preview Advisor.
• Serve as the primary point of communications to students enrolled in PLS and share weekly updates and opportunities.
• Work with the PLS Director on general problem solving and decision-making concerning student academic issues and work with Steering Committee to collect data on program successes and stress-points to help adapt and upgrade advising and mentoring processes.
  
  Marketing and Recruitment
• Assist the PLS Director and Steering Committee with the development of an annual recruitment plan annual budget and collateral/support materials in collaboration with the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) Deans office and core program departments.
• Prepare and process marketing materials and documents relating to PLS and courses within the major. Coordinate and provide on-campus tours and introductions for prospective students.
• Attend career fairs and trade group meetings and visit 2-year colleges and high schools to share presentations and promote PLS for all statewide locations and all other majors in CALS. Plan and manage on-campus recruitment activities and events work with industry and advisory groups and give presentations to interested groups and clubs.
• Develop content for inclusion in the websites Instagram account and newsletters for PLS and collaborating departments and share information via social media channels.
• Attend or assist with college events such as the CALS Kickoff Welcome Brunch TailGATOR Campus Tours Majors and Minors Fair Commencements etc.
  
  General Program Administrative Duties
• Assist with the activities of the Plant Science Committee and PLS Director as needed.
• Work with individual PLS-collaborating departmental course schedulers to monitor and communicate about all PLS-related courses and keep course-tracking spreadsheets updated.
• Prepare reports for the PLS such as Student Academic Assessment outcomes.
• Maintain contact data and information for potential employers (business industry government and not-for-profit) UF PLS alumni and on-campus and Research and Education Center faculty and staff who provide practical work experience and internship opportunities for students.
• Document and track incoming students across all statewide program locations to ensure they are matched with Faculty Mentors and are receiving the support they need.
• Assist with managing the Plant Science Ambassadors student club.

Scholarship Awards and Recognition Programs

• Assist collaborating departments with scholarship award and recognition nominations for all PSM students.
• Communicate scholarship opportunities to all PLS students and assist all collaborating department scholarship committees as needed with student information.
• Prepare annual nominations for CALS student awards.
• Oversee record keeping of all scholarships awards and recognitions for PLS students.

Masters degree in education counseling or academic field related to the college and one year of relevant experience OR Bachelors degree in similar fields with two years of relevant experience.