Description of Position Employees in this highly visible role make key contributions to the mission of Yavapai College by promoting and supporting college-wide student retention and completion through a range of counseling and support strategies. Advisors serve a crucial role in driving student engagement and empowering students to achieve their academic and career goals.
Advisors utilize developmental advising strategies to facilitate academic and career goal setting, evaluate student success skills, provide non-academic resources, and advise students on co-curricular and extra-curricular activities offered at Yavapai College. Advisors build formative relationships with students by interpreting information and clarifying procedures and academic requirements of specific programs and majors.
Academic advisors work within one of four different advising functions – enrollment, retention, Promise Program, or early college. Depending on position function and location, advisors may report to a manager, coordinator, director, or associate vice president. This position may be assigned to any location within the Yavapai College service area.
*Travel to the Verde campus required.
Enrollment Academic Advisor The Enrollment Advising team supports students throughout their first semester at Yavapai College. This position helps students clarify career goals, develop academic plans, register for courses, and access both academic and non-academic resources to create action plans that promote their overall success.
Duties and Responsibilities of All Academic Advisors
- Evaluates credit completion and transfer credits for degree requirements
- Supports students in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals
- Assists students in determining educational plans, choosing courses, and exploring majors and career options
- Monitors student academic progress
- Identifies current or potential needs or problem areas (i.e. study skills, tutoring)
- Counsels students with academic difficulty on the development of action plans
- Refers students to appropriate college or community resources
- Maintains accurate and comprehensive student tracking within Salesforce
- Provides college orientations, program workshops, and resources
- Maintains knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
- Other duties as assigned
Academic Advisor I The first-level advisor provides developmental advising support to students in developing academic goals and refers students to appropriate resources.
- Develop strategies and solutions to drive enrollment and retention.
- Provides student-facing support with an assigned case load of students such as new, continuing, transfer, Trio program, underage, returning and Promise, etc.
- Develops knowledge of introductory job functions, industry practices and standards
- Demonstrates proficiency with YC systems such as Salesforce, Degree works, Banner, and other systems required as an Academic Advisor
- Handles less-complex cases and program issues independently; support and detailed instruction may be needed to perform work
- May serve as a liaison for programs, committees, and work with faculty within assigned programs
- Establishes priorities within assigned caseload
- Evaluates credit completion and transfer credits for degree requirements
- Supports students in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals
- Assists students in determining educational plans, choosing courses, and exploring majors and career options
- Monitors student academic progress
- Identifies current or potential needs or problem areas (i.e. study skills, tutoring)
- Counsels students with academic difficulty on the development of action plans
- Refers students to appropriate college or community resources
- Maintains accurate and comprehensive student tracking within Salesforce
- Provides college orientations, program workshops, and resources
- Maintains knowledge of relevant policies and procedures
- Other duties as assigned
Academic Advisor II Provides input to student development leadership on academic advising policies, plans, and objectives. Drives departmental initiatives and understands the perspective of college-wide initiatives. Works independently and may participate in campus-wide committees. May serve as lead contact when team circumstances require.
In addition to Academic Advisor, I expectations, an Academic Advisor II:
- Provides solutions to problems where analysis of data or situation is required.
- Demonstrates curricular knowledge including university transfer requirements.
- Effectively manages assigned student caseloads and experience delivering student services in an online format.
- Works independently.
- Solves problems, takes initiative, and establishes priorities for assigned case load.
- Proficient implementation of Advising model and advisor assignments
- Is a team lead for professional or support staff.
- Serves as a liaison with non-academic college departments or community partners.
- Participates in the development and training of junior advisors on the team.
- Performs at a mastery level of job requirements and college systems.
- Demonstrates mastery knowledge of Student Development theory and practice.
- Demonstrates commitment, collaboration, and contribution in working with faculty within assigned programs.
- Evaluates complex data and trends on individual caseload and develops action plans for improvement.
- Is considered a subject matter expert and can provide cross-functional support to students outside of their program of study.
Senior Advisor This level represents the team as a primary contact. Serves as a consultant to student development leadership on college wide policies, plans, and objectives. Drives departmental initiatives and participates in college-wide initiatives. Works independently and is a leader on campus-wide committees. This level has a primary leadership role within the team.
In addition to Academic Advisor II expectations, a Senior Advisor:
- Is an active member of at least one college-wide committee or student club or a lead liaison for a community partner and shares relevant updates with the advising team.
- Demonstrates mastery knowledge of Student Development theory and practice and shares relevant material for the benefit of the advising team.
- Is the lead in at least one system such as Banner, Degree Works, Salesforce, Transfer, Career Development and demonstrates mastery level of all advising systems.
- Recognizes issues and provides appropriate input on curriculum in collaboration with Advising Director and Manager.
- Recognizes issues and provides appropriate input and suggestions for improvements of college policies and procedures.
- Responsible for developing and training junior advisors on the team and provide feedback to director and manager on training needs.
- Consistently provides feedback on data and trends of caseloads, best practices, and changes needed for student persistence, retention and completion.
- Is considered a subject matter expert and can provide cross-functional support to students for all programs of study.
Minimum Expectations & Requirements Academic Advisor I
- Bachelor's degree in related field
- Two or more years of experience in a student services area working with students to identify goals
- Experience working with a culturally diverse population
- Experience helping students adjust to college life and/or referring students to campus or community resources as needed
- Regular attendance is an essential job function as it demonstrates dependability towards the performance of job duties
Academic Advisor II
- All requirements for Advisor I
- One or more years of academic advising experience at Yavapai College.
Senior Academic Advisor
- All requirements for Advisor I and Advisor II
- Two or more years of academic advising experience at Yavapai College
Preferred Skills & Abilities
- Master's degree
- Ability to speak and understand Spanish
- Presentation skills, including conducting new student orientations, workshops, and training programs
- Experience working with community college students
- Advanced knowledge of computerized systems and operating environments i.e. Microsoft Office Products and Banner
- Knowledge of Yavapai College degrees, certificates, and career pathways
- Knowledge of Arizona transfer articulation
- Experience delivering student services in an online format
- Professional experience in a community college/higher education work environment
Essential Functions To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements and competencies listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet. Regular attendance is crucial to ensure the effective performance of job duties and to maintain dependability in the role.
Benefits
Yavapai College offers its full-time employees a comprehensive benefit package:
HEALTH/LIFE BENEFITS
- Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance: College's partial payment of premiums toward medical with pharmacy and/or dental plan options picked by employees for themselves (and eligible dependents)
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Pre-tax pay deductions to use for eligible medical or dependent daycare costs
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Counseling and referral services for employees and their immediate families for depression, stress, family/marital conflict, and alcohol/drug issues
- Vision: Provides an amount per plan year for eligible expenses such as vision exams, lenses, frames, prescription sunglasses, and contact lenses
- Life Insurance: The College provides Basic Life Insurance coverage at twice of the employee's annual salary. Dependents have automatic coverage of $2,000/spouse and $1,000/per child if enrolled in medical plan.
- Voluntary Individual And Family Term Life Insurance: Additional term life insurance coverage available for employee, spouse and children.
- Other Insurance Coverage: Short Term and Long Term Disability (replacement income insurance), and Workers' Compensation (compensation, medical expenses and death benefits for on-the-job injuries or occupational diseases)
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
- Retirement Benefits: Arizona State Retirement System or Optional Retirement Plan, and Social Security (which provides a basic retirement annuity based on age and years of contribution)
- Tax Deferred Annuities: Employees' contributions to designated tax-deferred annuities
- Unemployment Compensation: Employees who are laid off or terminated may receive benefits if covered wages meet requirements
LEAVE BENEFITS
- Vacation : 10 days of Vacation leave annually. NOTE: For employees who work an amount of contractual days, there will be no earned vacation.
- Sick Leave: 12 days sick leave annually. NOTE: Employees working less than full time or an amount of contractual days will receive a proration of sick leave.
- Personal Leave: Use of up to three personal leave days per year which are charged against accumulated sick leave to take care of items of personal business
- Other Leave: Bereavement leave, Civic Duty Leave (Jury duty, active military duty, military training), and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Holidays: 29 days during the year as paid holidays for full-time employees which include Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, 3 days at Thanksgiving, Winter/year end break (10 days), Martin Luther King Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Fall Break.
OTHER BENEFITS
- Breaking Bread: 32 meal swipes for use at the Prescott Campus Eatery. All Other Campuses and Sites receive a $140 credit each semester (fall and spring) to be used at the Open Market on campus/center
- Spanish Interpreter Incentive Program: Employees interested in additional compensation for their Spanish speaking skills agree to assist YC by attending two recruiting events and being available for Spanish Interpretation needs as they arise. Compensation is added to the employee's regular pay at the rate of $175 per month. Employees that are interested in participating let your HR Business partner know, so they can schedule you for the ACTFL language proficiency test at the YC testing center.
- Direct Deposit: Paychecks deposited directly into the employee's bank account(s)
- Tuition Waiver: Eligible Full-time Faculty and Staff, their legally married spouse, and eligible dependents may enroll in a partial or full program of coursework without payment of tuition, exceptions may be lab fees and market-based additional fees
- Sabbatical: Faculty, professional, and administrative staff may apply for compensated leave of up to a year after six years of continuous service
- Professional Development Opportunities
- Additional Benefits and Services: Local community discounts to faculty and staff, computer loan program, mail and notary service.
