Academic Advising and Program Specialist

Position Summary
The Academic Advising and Program Specialist will develop and implement student recruitment and retention strategies for Native American students. This position participates in recruitment activities, pathways to enrollment, advising/educational activities, and career exploration throughout the student's undergraduate experience. This position creates holistic educational plans for students, supporting their academic, career, and life goals. Implements and monitors first-year student success programs, as well as programs designed to support Native American and other program-affiliated students at various levels in order to increase graduation rates.

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required.

Two years of experience working in an educational setting or organization serving AI/AN population, or related field.

Demonstrated knowledge of AI/AN population, history, contemporary issues, and tribal sovereignty and legal status is expected.

Strong verbal and written communication skills are essential to maintain effective working relations with departments, employees and managers at all levels and external constituencies (parents, high schools, other colleges/universities).

Demonstrated ability to develop supportive interactions with students in one-on-one and group situations.

Strong project management skills.

Intermediate level experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Teams; Qualtrics; Canva; Zoom.


Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree preferred.

Experience working with AI/AN college students preferred.

Experience building and maintaining school or community partnerships preferred.

Experience working in a college/university student success program development/administration, student advising, or tribal administration preferred.

Familiarity with university student information systems preferred.

Duties & Responsibilities• Coordinate recruitment visits to high schools, two-year colleges, tribal colleges, and community agencies to increase our presence and networking opportunities.• Disseminate UIC information at campus open house events; local and national college fairs; local events in the American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) community, such as powwows; and day/night/weekend events related to the recruitment of AI/AN students.• Advise prospective students (undergraduate, transfer, and non-traditional students) on academic and other matters, such as applying to UIC, financial aid, and scholarships.• Create and lead activities to increase the yield of AI/AN students who are admitted to UIC. Assist in the UIC orientation of new freshmen and transfer students and their families.• Establish a network with outside communities to improve educational opportunities. For example, through preparing and conducting presentations at K-12 schools and community organizations on the importance of higher education for the AI/AN community.• Maintain up-to-date familiarity with national and local reports on trends and best practices on AI/AN recruitment to steer recruitment efforts in the appropriate direction.• Create holistic educational plan for students supporting their academic, career and life goals. Monitor satisfactory academic progress toward degree completion.• Provide advising to students regarding college policies/procedures and general academic program requirements; describe courses and prerequisites, and disseminate information regarding registration procedures.• Provide resources to students to help them understand college culture, how universities are organized, the polices that will affect them, and how to work with faculty, staff, and administrators to address challenges.• Implement and monitor student success programs as well as programs designed to support the success of AI/AN and NASP-affiliated students.• Participate in the recruitment and training of peer success coaches and monitor their performance. • Assist students with application forms for programs, financial aid and scholarships. Participate in scholarship committees on and off campus to ensure scholarship availability to students. Identify private scholarships for students with special circumstances and assist with application process as appropriate.• Liaise between undergraduate advising entities in academic colleges as well as other success units. • Create and/or facilitate workshops on major exploration, career development, study abroad, internships, scholarships, and graduate school. • Analyze student data to determine trends on AI/AN enrollment and success at UIC. Contribute to the preparation of annual reports and make recommendations for program development.• Maintain social media accounts, community committee appointments, and newsletter.• Perform administrative duties of the unit for internal hiring, search, and supervision of employees, student or otherwise, and staff the reception area with other NASP employees.• Perform purchasing and purchase reconciliation tasks for the unit and maintain university credit cards on behalf of the unit.• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

$58,000.00 - $64,400.00 annually