Academic Advisor

About American University

American University, located in Washington, DC, is a student-focused research institution known for its top-ranked schools, distinguished faculty, and commitment to meaningful global change.

Department

School of International Service

Position Overview

This full-time, exempt academic advisor role operates under general supervision with significant professional discretion. The role contributes to supporting undergraduate students—including new, continuing, transfer, non-degree, and minors from other units—by providing academic guidance, social and personal development counseling, and career goal advisement. The position actively participates in activities related to recruitment, onboarding, and retention of undergraduate students. It is union-represented (SEIU Local 500) and offers a hybrid working model requiring 3-4 days on campus weekly.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide academic advising to assist students in navigating degree requirements, academic policies, and course registration.
• Support development of students' academic decision-making abilities and address challenges impacting academic success by referring to campus services.
• Collaborate with faculty on students experiencing academic difficulties and liaise with departments supporting specialized student populations.
• Evaluate academic progress, including transfer credits and degree audits, and conduct degree clearance for graduates.
• Maintain detailed advising records and recommend academic exceptions, warnings, and probation decisions to the Associate Dean.
• Engage in recruitment and orientation events both on and off campus, creating content and advising new students during course selection.
• Represent the advising unit on university committees and develop initiatives to promote students' professional and personal growth.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by supervisory and leadership personnel.

Required Competencies

• Customer service orientation with strong interpersonal skills.
• Sound judgment and decision-making capabilities.
• Team collaboration and supportiveness.
• Organizational and prioritization skills.
• Creativity and information analysis.

Work Schedule

This position is full-time, 35 hours per week, typically Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, with occasional evening or weekend hours required.

Compensation

Salary range is $55,000 to $60,000 annually.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree is mandatory.
• 1 to 3 years of relevant professional experience, ideally in higher education or student support services.
• Detail-oriented with multitasking capabilities in fast-paced environments.
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with diverse stakeholders including faculty, students, staff, alumni, and parents.
• Exceptional oral, written, and presentation skills.
• Comprehension of university organizational and governance structures.
• Ability to deliver highly professional customer service with tact and diplomacy.
• Capability to work autonomously with minimal oversight.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in student development, higher education, counseling, or a related field.
• 2 to 4 years academic advising experience working with undergraduate students.
• Familiarity with academic management software such as Colleague, CRM Advise, YouCanBook.Me, SharePoint, and Qualtrics.

Additional Information

• Employment is subject to successful background check completion.
• Services must be delivered within the DC, Maryland, or Virginia areas or on-site at the university.
• Employment terms comply with university policies and the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 500.
• This job description is subject to change and is not exhaustive of all duties.
• American University is an equal opportunity employer committed to nondiscrimination across protected characteristics.