1154 Departmental Academic Advisor

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE Departmental Academic Advisor

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1154

GRADE 41

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Department Head

MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR College Dean

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Departmental Academic Advisor assists undergraduate students (and as appropriate, graduate students) in the development of academic schedules appropriate for their stated educational goals and guides students in decision-making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions. The Advisor maintains necessary records and files to monitor the academic progress of students, reviews transfer evaluation forms on all transfer students, and may represent the Department during Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) sessions and other special events, and/or, with the appropriate educational background, teach a course(s) each semester.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A bachelor's degree is required; a degree in the discipline taught in the department is preferred. A master's degree is preferred.

Experience: This position requires no minimum experience, however experience in either teaching, counseling and/or advisement at the university/college level is preferred.

Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, in particular the ability to work with the public in person and by telephone, are required. Strong verbal and written communication skills are required. Computer literacy is required. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provides an essential student service of advisement to undergraduate (and as appropriate, graduate) students by assisting them in the development of academic schedules appropriate for their stated educational goals, guiding them in decision-making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions.

2. Facilitates the academic progress of students toward completion of a degree by auditing the academic records of students relative to degree program requirements, advising them of their status, and counseling students regarding curriculum deficiencies in terms of the completion of required courses for the degree and in terms of grades received in courses already completed.

3. Prevents unnecessary repeating of courses already taken at other institutions by transfer students by reviewing the transfer evaluation form to determine the equivalency of listed courses to required SMSU courses, and making a recommendation to the Department Head regarding its appropriate SMSU equivalent.

4. Manages the enrollment in courses by reviewing requests for class adds and drops, recommending approval for add requests, and approving drop requests which are appropriate for the student and his/her academic major.

5. May advise potential and declared majors regarding the requirements for the degree and/or the various areas of emphasis during the Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) Program and/or, with the appropriate educational background, may teach a class(s) each semester.

6. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Department Head.

7. Contributes to the overall success of the Department by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

SUPERVISION

The Departmental Academic Advisor receives general supervision from the Department Head (or designated administrator) and may be required to exercise supervision of others.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

REVISED JANUARY 2025

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 1.0 - 500 Points: Knowledge of principles, processes, methods, and procedures associated with a limited range of healthcare, technical, scientific, administrative support, communications, or social science program objectives or common problems. Knowledge permits the employee to complete routine medical and healthcare procedures, common administrative support tasks, operate basic equipment and instruments, carry out a variety of interrelated tasks and recurring assignments, assist individuals, answer common questions, and/or elicit information from a variety of sources. Professional knowledge, skill, and technical mastery at this level are typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience beyond a high school diploma.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 1.0 - 50 Points: Typically, little, if any, supervision of others is required. The job may require irregular but occasional responsibility to direct the work of student workers and/or temporary or part-time workers. The nature of supervision is largely confined to assigning tasks to others and does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities. The amount of time spent on directing the work of others is normally a small portion of total work time.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 3.0 - 250 Points: The purpose of interactions is to advise or counsel others to solve recurring and structured problems, and/or to plan or coordinate work efforts with other employees who are working toward common goals in situations where relationships are generally cooperative. Interactions are moderately structured and routine and may involve employees in different functions, students, and/or the general public. These types of interactions require normal interpersonal skills.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 2.0 - 250 Points: The employee carries out a group of procedures using the general methods and desired results indicated by the supervisor. Typically, standard operating procedures, handbooks, and/or reference manuals exist for most procedures, but the employee must select from the most appropriate of several guidelines and make minor adjustments to methods. Unforeseen situations are normally referred to others for resolution. Assignments are related in function and objective, but processes, procedures, or software varies from one assignment to another. Based on the assignment, the employee uses diverse, but conventional, methods, techniques, or approaches. Employees in jobs at this level may perform work that is moderately complex, but normally performed within a fairly narrow and specific functional area.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 2.0 - 400 Points: Work involves services including collecting, processing, and disseminating information and providing advice to others. Work activities may be complex and likely affect the accuracy, reliability, or acceptability of further processes or services to the extent that others rely on the advice given in order to make decisions. Work activities typically affect the efficiency of the department but have relatively minor effects on operations within the cost center. Individuals in jobs at this level are often responsible for actively documenting, monitoring, and controlling expenditures. Incumbents may recommend minor expenditures, but have no substantive authority over budgets.