Academic Advisor

About the Department:

The mission of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (ME), within the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), 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 mechanical engineering.

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 academic programs offered by the department. The Academic Advisor contributes to the recruitment and retention of students through effective advising and outreach and is responsible for facilitating students' education, decision-making, and planning. This position discusses academic interests, makes connections to career goals with the student, and provides information on academic policies, procedures, and practices, including working through various academic requests, forms, and appeals. The Academic Advisor represents the department in a professional manner and will act as a resource person regarding the university and department’s rules and regulations while serving as a trouble-shooter and problem solver. This role contributes to George Mason’s strategic goals of preparing career-ready graduates, while increasing graduation and retention rates in both the undergraduate and graduate programs in which ME students participate.

Please note that this is not a 100% remote/virtual position, however it is telework friendly. Depending upon your department/office, you may have the ability to telework 1 day per week.

Responsibilities:

Undergraduate Student Advising:

• Advise current undergraduate students in decision making and developing a plan of study consistent with students' interests, desires, and abilities;
• Assist students regarding course selection, prerequisites, transfer courses, registration and overrides, career and/or educational goals, and general university rules and regulations;
• Ensure that students meet departmental requirements of degree progress; act and assist in trouble shooting and problem solving;
• Communicate essential academic registration information;
• Provide information on academic policies, procedures, and practices, including working through various academic requests, forms, and appeals;
• Organize and retain student records, to include advising notes and email exchanges;
• Escalate complex issues or situations with students to supervisor for guidance, such as student's having issues with a professor/course or requesting an exception to an academic requirement or policy;
• Participate in outreach initiatives organized by the college/university;
• Organize regular outreach campaigns to reach out to students proactively; and
• Perform prerequisite checks for all ME undergraduate courses at the beginning of each semester and verify student eligibility for each class. 

Undergraduate Student Affairs:

• Provide administrative support to students and faculty;
• Distribute information and assist in implementing and performing student support service tasks;
• Assist in coordination of efforts to organize departmental functions for students, including events such as orientation or faculty-student advising meetings;
• Participate in university wide programs and events related to undergraduate students such as admissions, orientation, advising, graduation, and other social and networking events;
• Assist and function as liaison between students, faculty, management, and administrative agents in understanding the programs, university rules and regulations;
• Assist and perform the oversight of operations related to student records, graduation, and student recruitment functions;
• Generate correspondence in communicating with students, faculty, and other administrators and units such as the Dean's office, registrar's office, etc., in writing, via e-mail, or through other communication means in response to students and other constituents' inquiries in fostering student success as needed;
• Assist in updating ME department's advising materials (printed and on the website) prior to each catalog year;
• Assist in creating sample schedules, transfer guides, and degree worksheets for different student populations; and
• Assist in ABET assessment, including collecting and cataloging information.

Graduate Student Advising and Affairs (the relative emphasis given to this portion may increase or decrease at different times):

• Process paperwork necessary to progress in the graduate programs offered by the Department of Mechanical Engineering, including, but not limited to, Plan of Study forms, documentation related to significant milestones toward degrees, and substitution waivers where appropriate/authorized;
• Liaise as needed with HR to issue offer letters to graduate students for Graduate Research Assistantships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships;
• Correspond with prospective PhD applicants about rules regarding GRE requirements, and English language proficiency test requirements (e.g., IELTS, Duolingo English test);
• Assist students with applying to and completing the Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's (BAM) programs, including filing paperwork, advising on requirements for acceptance into and completion of different MS programs, liaising with other departments as needed (since ME does not offer its own MS degree);
• Assist PhD students with scheduling comprehensive exams and proposal defenses;
• Assist students in preparing for final PhD thesis defenses (e.g., scheduling a room, filing paperwork, etc.);
• Refer questions to the CEC Graduate Studies office, as needed;
• Assist admitted PhD applicants from outside the United States with paperwork and forms related to obtaining a visa, liaise with Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) as needed;
• Coordinate events for incoming and current PhD students, such as information sessions and social events; and
• Assist students with applying to and progressing in the various certificates offered by the ME department, such as Naval Ship Design, Microfabrication, and Responsible AI. 

Other Related Duties as Assigned:

• Serve on committees and other projects as assigned related to advising and student support as needed;
• Participate in university-wide advising training and ongoing professional development; and
• Utilize the chosen university platform for tracking and reporting student interactions and making referrals. 

Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent;
• Experience with or demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, orientation, learning services, disability services, veteran's services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities;
• Experience managing multiple complex programs and projects simultaneously;
• Experience delivering exceptional customer service;
• Experience assisting and supporting diverse populations;
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Knowledge to assist and support students in a university setting;
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills;
• Conflict resolution skills;
• Ability to learn new technology; and
• Ability to work orientation and admissions events.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field;
• Experience working in a higher education setting;
• Experience in working with science/engineering students;
• Experience with leadership, communication, program development, and administrative activities; and
• Experience with educational database management systems, and customer relationship management systems (CRM).

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the 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 for review. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled. 

Posting Open Date:  February 27, 2026

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  March 13, 2026

Open Until Filled:  Yes