Undergraduate Academic Advisor

Department: College of Science

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 Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP) serves the university, local, state, national, and international communities by delivering academic programs to graduate and undergraduate students and performing scholarly activity in the areas of environmental science, environmental policy, conservation science and policy, water and watershed science and policy, and ecological health and sustainability.The George Mason University College of Science (Mason Science) is committed to advancing inclusive excellence and fostering an environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation throughout our STEM community. At Mason Science, our values include cultivating an organizational culture that promotes belonging, respect, and civility. We believe that varied opinions, cultures, and perspectives are what provides vibrancy, innovation, and growth to an academic community. By prioritizing cultural responsiveness in academics, teaching, research, and global engagement, we strive to attract faculty and staff who exemplify the Mason Science mission and vision.
About the Position:The primary role of this position is to provide academic advising and student affairs support for undergraduate students in the department. The Undergraduate Academic Advisor is familiar with all academic programs (majors, minors, and certificates) offered by the department, and all relevant academic policies. In addition to working with students, the Advisor works closely with departmental advisors and coordinators and seamlessly serves our students. The Advisor familiarizes with additional university services to direct students to the appropriate offices or individuals. An ability to work effectively with students from the prospective stage through the alumni stage is essential. Familiarity with advising is a critical aspect of this position. The Advisor is part of a team that seeks to be proactive with respect to improving the entire student experience in the department.
Responsibilities:Provide academic advice and guidance to prospective and current undergraduate ESP students from recruitment, through admission to graduation, in support of the students’ academic and career goals:Support and engage students in the process of developing clear and attainable educational goals;Effectively interpret, implement, and communicate Mason degree requirements, deadlines, policies, and procedures;Maintain confidentiality in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws; andFacilitate new student orientations and advising sessions for freshmen and transfer students.Maintain student records to reflect current academic standing regarding undergraduate degree requirements:Remain current with curriculum requirements;Learn new advising technologies as required by the college and university; andWork closely with the Registrar’s Office to ensure accuracy of degree audits.Support undergraduate program and department operations as needed:Represent the ESP department at admission fairs, student orientations, and advising events;Communicate student needs, concerns, and requests to the Undergraduate Coordinator and Director;Collaborate with offices across George Mason University to support students’ academic programs (e.g., Office of Global Education and Career Services);Provide administrative support to the Undergraduate Director as needed;Support the department’s social-media-based outreach actively and advertise undergraduate student success to attract new potential students; andSupport students’ experiential learning by identifying internship opportunities and creating database systems for these opportunities.Attend and assist in all aspects of development and execution of student events including, but not limited to:Admissions events;New and transfer student orientations;College convocation;Open houses;Special events held by the department, college and/or the university; andCreate and lead undergraduate and accelerated master’s program outreach events and advertise undergraduates’ successes to recruit future students.
Required Qualifications:Bachelor’s degree in related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience;Experience working in an academic unit within a university setting, particularly with undergraduate students and academic requirements, commitment to customer service and collegiality;Demonstrated experience using digital tools to create and improve systems;Sensitivity to academic and cultural inclusion with a commitment to creating an environment in which all students can succeed;Prior experience in environments that required handling sensitive and confidential information, working knowledge of FERPA and Title IX;Excellent organizational skills;Excellent project management skills and the ability to lead an initiative from planning to execution;Demonstrated ability to solve problems as they arise;Ability to provide exceptional customer service, support, and problem-solving with a high degree of professionalism;Ability to learn quickly, prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and follow through on tasks;Ability to interact positively and communicate clearly with supervisor, co-workers, and all constituents including faculty, staff, and students; andAbility to work collaboratively with others and contribute constructively to a team environment.
Preferred Qualifications:Master’s degree in related field;Experience with George Mason academic/advising systems relevant to undergraduate students;Work experience in a STEM higher education environment;Experience in program coordination, and/or undergraduate advising at a four-year institution (typically 5 years); andAbility to work in high pressure environment.
Instructions to Applicants: For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Undergraduate 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:  April 8, 2025For Full Consideration, Apply by:  April 22, 2025Open Until Filled:  Yes