Academic Advisor jobs in Washington, DC

Department: College of Engineering and Computing

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The mission of the Cyber Security Engineering department is to provide an outstanding education to our undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes the importance of ethical behavior and integrity, and prepares them for successful careers and future academic work. Furthermore, the department fosters active, visible and leading-edge research that advances the field of cyber security.

About the Position:

The primary purpose of this position is to perform academic advising for all current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students, and reply to general inquiries about undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the department. This position is responsive in facilitating students’ education, decision-making and planning. The individual in this position represents the department in a professional manner and will act as a resource regarding the university and department’s rules and regulations while serving as a trouble-shooter and problem solver.

Responsibilities:

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Advising:

• Advises current undergraduate and graduate students in decision making and developing a plan of study consistent with students’ interests, desires and abilities;
• Assists students regarding course selection, prerequisites, transfer courses, registration and overrides, career and / or educational goal and general university rules and regulations;
• Coordinates processing of graduation applications;
• Ensures students meet departmental requirements toward degree progress;
• Acts and assists in trouble shooting and problem solving (failing, taking courses out of order, wanting advice on internships/jobs, etc.);
• Assists students in establishing or clarifying appropriate educational and vocational goals, assists students with problems of social or personal nature and assists in career decision making or making appropriate referrals; 
• Communicates essential academic registration information; and
• Acts as a liaison in communicating students concerns, problems and issues to the higher management level.

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Affairs: 

• Provides administrative support to students and faculty; 
• Distributes information and assist in implementing and performing student support services tasks; 
• Assists in coordination of efforts to organize departmental functions for students, including events such as orientation or faculty-student advising meetings; 
• Participates in university wide programs and events related to undergraduate and graduate students such as admissions, orientation, advising, graduation and other social and networking events;
• Assists and functions as liaison between students, faculty, management and administrative agents in understanding the programs, university rules and regulations; 
• Assists and performs the oversight of operations related to student records, graduation and student recruitment functions; 
• Generates correspondence in communicating with students, faculty and other administrators in writing and via e-mail or other communication means in response to students' and other constituent’s inquiries in fostering student success as needed; and
• Assists in program function and operations.

Other Related Duties as Assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Some experience in related activities (i.e. mentorship, advising, educational support);
• Teamwork: Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers and effectively handles conflict situations;
• Communication: Ability to create open channels of communication; to express ideas clearly and concisely; to keep others well informed in a timely manner; and to listen carefully to input and feedback;
• Customer Driven: Ability to provide outstanding customer service to both internal and external customers by considering how actions or plans will affect customers. Ability to follow through on responsibilities to customers;
• Initiative: Ability to identify and initiate actions to support the mission and objectives, and to resolve or avoid problems;
• Diversity: Ability to demonstrate an understanding and respect for people of all backgrounds.
• Integrity: Ability to maintain responsible and honest behavior in all roles, tasks and responsibilities; and
• Safety and Computer Security: Ability to follow safety policies and procedures; identify and correct safety hazards. Ability to follow general university policies and procedures that are related to data stewardship and information technology security. Ability to safeguard sensitive and confidential data both in electronic and physical forms.

The following training/updates are mandatory and provided by Mason:

• Title IX Overview and Sexual Harassment Prevention - annually;
• Equal Opportunity: A Fair Shake - biennially;
• Ethics - biennially; and
• FERPA.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Considerable experience in related activities (i.e. mentorship, advising, educational support);
• Teamwork: Minimum listed above plus the skill in maintaining and communicating enthusiasm, commitment and energy;
• Communication: Minimum listed above plus the ability to establish good interpersonal relationships by helping people feel valued and included in discussions;
• Customer Driven: Minimum listed above plus the ability to respond with appropriate urgency, flexibility, courtesy and good judgment to meet customer needs and resolve problems; and
• Initiative: Minimum listed above plus the skill in maintaining high credibility to accomplish objectives.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Academic Advisor at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date: March 8, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by: March 22, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes