Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, or a closely related area.
• Four years of related professional work experience.
• Demonstrated self-awareness, cultural competence, and achievement in working with diverse student populations.
• Final job offer is contingent upon a completed background check, receipt of official college transcripts and authorization to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling or a closely related field strongly preferred.
• At least one year of experience working with first-year experience courses and student success programs.
• Demonstrated commitment to the land-grant mission of the University of Minnesota Crookston, especially as related to access and student success.
• Proficiency in a second language, preferably Spanish.

Position Overview:

Academic advisors working within the Student Success Center support the mission of the University of Minnesota Crookston by assisting students to draw upon cultural, communal, and identity-based ways of knowing, being, and doing to achieve educational outcomes through developing holistic academic success plans, engaging in course selection and planning, and meeting graduation requirements. Advisors work with students to develop course plans that support their career choices and degree requirements; recommend and/or approve exceptions to registration and other related academic policies and procedures; assist students through their college transition and academic milestones; teach and manage student success resources and initiatives; provide support through academic difficulties and learning, psychological, or physical challenges.

In addition to their advising assignment, this position will partner with academic support professionals to support UMN Crookston’s First-Gen Initiatives through advocacy for our first-generation college student population and by collaborating with campus partners to build programming targeted toward first-gen students both on-campus and online. Academic advisors are responsive to UMN Crookston’s strategic initiatives in the areas of enrollment management; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and student engagement.

Functions, Duties, and Responsibilities:

Leadership (10%)

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging by creating and establishing practices that are appropriate for students' individual needs and identities.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of one's own cultural beliefs, perspectives, and privileges as a part of meeting the needs of all students in a fair, caring, and non-discriminatory manner.
• Remain current and involved with comprehensive and function-specific student affairs professional associations and emerging trends in the field.

General Advising (60%)

• Recognize, affirm, and help students to draw upon cultural, communal, and identity-based ways of knowing, being, and doing to achieve educational outcomes.
• Apply thorough knowledge of curricular options, requirements, policies, and academic planning skills to assist a caseload of 200-400 on-campus and/or online students in making registration choices that promote degree progress and attainment while optimizing collegiate engagement experiences.
• Monitor and document student progress in order to proactively and, when necessary, intrusively intervene, advocate, and recommend resources and solutions to academic difficulties and barriers student experience in policies and processes.
• Demonstrate self-awareness of one's own cultural beliefs, perspectives, and privileges as a part of meeting the needs of all students in a fair, caring, and non-discriminatory manner.
• In collaboration with faculty mentors, coach on-campus and online students through major and career decision-making processes to assist students in degree completion.
• Create and utilize a network of relationships with faculty, and student affairs educators to effectively deliver advising and support services.
• Apply strong interpersonal techniques including active listening, empathetic responses, and questioning through in-person and virtual interactions to develop trusting relationships with students in order to promote their sense of belonging to campus.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating and establishing practices that are appropriate for students' individual needs and identities.
• Critically apply various student development theories and advising practices to assess readiness and then appropriately challenge and support students with diverse assets, needs, backgrounds, and talents to make informed decisions about personal, academic, and career goals.
• Review student records and progress to certify degree completion and determine academic standing related to satisfactory progress policies and guidelines.
• Evaluate and act upon requests for exception to policy through petitions; consult as appropriate with colleagues, faculty, and academic administrators in making final decisions.
• Execute detailed degree planning through the use of technology and interpretation of data to communicate accurate information about students.
• Counsel students using independent judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Document meetings and email conversations with and regarding students on APLUS
• Assist in the development of advising procedures for SOAR (new student orientation) and serve as advisor during all SOAR dates as well as critical advising times
• Offer new, creative, and innovative approaches and practices to accomplish academic advising goals including the use of group modalities.

First-Gen Initiatives (20%)

• Collaborate with the Director of Student Success and Academic Advising on the development, implementation, and assessment of a comprehensive set of programs targeting first-generation college students enrolled at UMN Crookston.
• Participate in the planning and implementation of student success initiatives, workshops, orientations, and other programs.
• Collaborate with a small team to develop and modify first-generation and first-year experience curriculum and programming for new students.
• Provide student success coaching and mentoring of first-year and first-generation students, guiding them from orientation through matriculation and onward to completion.
• Serve as a secondary contact for UMN Crookston’s involvement with the First Scholars program coordinated by NASPA.
• Recognize, affirm, and help students to draw upon cultural, communal, and identity-based ways of knowing, being, and doing to achieve educational outcomes.

General Programming and Initiatives (10%)

• Provide input on the development, evaluation, and continuous improvement of advising systems and processes.
• Contribute toward program development and evaluation metrics.
• Leverage existing technology to foster better outreach to students to promote timely academic progress toward a degree.

Work with Flexibility

The position will be fully located on-campus during the training period and open more fully to hybrid scheduling after the first complete semester of the standard academic year. At that time, the successful candidate will be expected to utilize workplace flexibility strategies. This will still involve significant physical presence on campus for the purposes of advising students, conducting in-person educational programming, and engaging in outreach strategies with students. The successful candidate may also schedule portions of their time to be conducted remotely and/or through virtual formats. Whereas it is anticipated that two-thirds to three-quarters of work time will occur on campus, this may adjust seasonally and will be open to negotiation so long as employment and student outcomes are attained. An office space within the Student Success Center is allocated for this position.

Compensation and Term:

• 12-month, full-time annual renewable position.
• Compensation commensurate with experience, qualifications, and academic discipline.
• Competitive benefits including health and retirement.

Appointment and Reporting:

• Reports to the Director of Student Success and Academic Advising.
• Hired through a competitive national/international search.

Applications must be submitted online and will remain open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received before May 30, 2023. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

Please note: All employees at the University of Minnesota are required to comply with the University’s Administrative Policy: COVID-19 Vaccination and Safety Protocol by either providing proof of being fully vaccinated on their first day of employment, or complete a request for an exemption for medical exemption or religious reasons. To learn more please visit: https://safe-campus.umn.edu/return-campus/get-the-vax

University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC)

With a strong tradition of technology-enhanced teaching and learning, the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) serves as the U's major outpost in Northwest Minnesota. UMC provides both experiential, career-oriented degree programs as well as high-quality online programs, while connecting its teaching, research, and outreach to rural economic development and service to the region and beyond.