Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students Full Time NEW

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Description Summary
The Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students is responsible for developing, providing, evaluating and assessing academic advising services, programs and projects for the Faculty of Arts in order to support the academic success, personal development and retention of Indigenous students enrolled in undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs in the Faculty of Arts.

Additional responsibilities for this position include: the creation and dissemination of print and electronic information related to the Faculty of Arts programs, assisting in the development and use of information technology as it relates to the Faculty of Arts and Arts Academic Advising, development and implementation of recruiting and retention activities that support the University Indigenous Strategic Plan and student success; participating in the administration of the office. Ability to travel outside UBC required.

Organizational Status
The Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students reports to the Associate Director, Arts Academic Advising. Incumbent works independently, with initiative and considerable autonomy under the general supervision of the Associate Director. The position contributes directly to the development of policy and priorities of the unit. Advisors interact regularly and consult with Arts Academic Advising personnel, faculty and university members, departmental advisors, Student (Peer) Advisors, Work-Study students, and student service personnel elsewhere on campus. Advisors hire and supervise the work of support staff, Student (Peer) Advisors and Work-Study students and assists in the hiring and training other advisors. A wide latitude of decision-making is required.

Work Performed

Primary responsibilities are sub-divided into several areas:

(1) General/Global, (2) Academic Advising, (3) Recruitment and Outreach, (4) Promotion, (5) Information Technology and (6) Administration.

(1) GENERAL-GLOBAL RESPONSIBILITIES
The Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students focuses on issues and programs relevant to Indigenous students. The incumbent participates fully in the strategic planning and evaluation of Arts Academic Advising for fulfilling, developing and honing its mandate. To this end they:

Evaluate and make strategic recommendations for areas of potential improvement and growth in Indigenous student advising services and develop programs and policies to suit.

Conduct research and prepare briefs, data and reports related to Indigenous advising services.

Maintain current knowledge of academic advising standards and best practice by attending and presenting at conferences and workshops and maintaining membership in academic advising organizations.

Develop and maintain a knowledge base of worldwide educational systems in order to advise students participating in exchange programs or considering taking courses outside of UBC and to advise students coming from other global educational systems.

Collaborate with the Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies student initiatives and projects that support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students.

Collaborate with other campus units on student initiatives and projects that support the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students.

Research and implement liaison initiatives between the Faculty of Arts and other Faculties and campus units.

Perform other tasks related to the support and development of Indigenous student advising and the operation of the Arts Academic Advising unit.

Participates in a number of committees with mandates relevant to Indigenous students (services, recruitment, retention, and the Indigenous Strategic Plan).

(2) ACADEMIC ADVISING
Arts Academic Advising consists of program planning with students, evaluation of students’ academic performance, conferring academic concessions and career planning. The Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students works primarily with Indigenous students; however, during peak periods the incumbent will also advise in Arts Academic Advising Services. The Academic Advisor’s primary advising duties are to:

(a) Program Plan

Direct students to develop a holistic view of academic and career plans in order to balance academic, professional, social and personal demands.

Assess and interpret student’s academic and personal goals and identify appropriate programs.

Provide advice on University and Faculty of Arts degree and certificate program requirements and admission criteria.

Assist students with course selection to ensure they meet Faculty of Arts degree requirements and selected program prerequisites.

Assist students in investigating alternate and/or additional educational options

Investigate and resolve complex student program issues

Evaluate and approve student requests to study outside UBC.

Interpret and advise on University and Faculty of Arts policies and procedures as they apply to individual student programs.

Plan and execute Faculty of Arts Advising events designed to improve the undergraduate experience and assist students with the cultural and academic transition to UBC.

Evaluate programs, make recommendations for improvements, and implement and oversee changes to programing.

Participate in advising and orientation events for other campus units.

(b) Evaluate

Annually evaluate the academic performance of Faculty of Arts undergraduate students to ensure they meet promotion and continuation requirements. Promote students in the BA and BFA programs and authorize student eligibility for future sessions.

Bi-annually adjudicate approximately 2,200 student records to determine graduation eligibility and degree standing.

Evaluate transcripts and course outlines to determine appropriate transfer credit and year level.

Evaluate applications and admit students to the Faculty of Arts Minor in Commerce Program, Education Minor, and other academic programs.

Adjudicate academic records for graduation.

Investigate and evaluate discrepancies in student records (e.g., un-graded courses, year levels, program specializations, changes in registration, credit loads). Authorize changes where appropriate.

(c) Confer Academic Concession (e.g. Standing Deferred, Course withdrawal, in-term concession)

Advise students, departments and faculty on University and Faculty of Arts policy, procedures and regulations.

Evaluate student requests for academic concession and provide appropriate advice, action and follow-up.

Identify students in crisis, either personal or academic, and advise on available academic options and personal support services on campus.

Liaison between students and faculty/departments to facilitate appropriate resolution of disputes between faculty and students.

(d) Career Planning

Advise students about development of career plans and provide referrals to other appropriate campus units for further exploration.

Educate students on searching for data related to employment, occupational trends and career information.

(3) RECRUITMENT/OUTREACH
The Arts Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students is central to the recruitment and retention of Indigenous students to UBC, outreach planning, implementation and follow up.

(a) Retention

Develops, implements and oversees programming to support the retention of Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts.

Identifies students who may be at-risk of academic failure and works proactively with them to encourage their success and continued enrolment at the University.

Collects and maintains retention and recruitment statistics on Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts.

Collaborates with other campus units on Indigenous retention initiatives and programs.

(b) Admission

Supports the Dean’s Office and Admissions in the evaluation and admission of Indigenous students to the Faculty of Arts.

Evaluate Indigenous admission procedures and make recommendations for improvements.

Contribute to, interpret and apply University and Faculty of Arts admission policies related to undergraduate programs and adjudicate internal transfer, readmission and continuation appeals via membership on the Arts Advisory Committee on Appeals.

Participate in the adjudication of entry awards, Faculty-based awards including bursaries and scholarships.

(c) Recruitment

Advise undergraduate Arts students about other Faculties at the University including Law, Graduate Studies, Science, Commerce, Education, Nursing, etc. in support of university-wide recruitment and retention strategies.

Collaborate on the development and implementation of Indigenous recruitment initiatives and programs with other campus units.

Develops, implements and oversees programming to support the recruitment of Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts.

(4) PROMOTION OF UBC FACULTY OF ARTS
Arts Academic Advisors participate fully in the strategic planning and preparation of promotional materials to support the Faculty of Arts promotional strategy. The Academic Advisor, Indigenous Students, is actively involved in all publications which promote services for Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts. To this end, they:

Develop, write, copy edit and oversee the design, publication and distribution of advising materials (print and electronic).

Consult and collaborate on the design, development, and editing of other promotional materials.

Plan and prepare multimedia materials for publicity initiatives to promote academic programs at recruitment and orientation events.

Evaluate promotional planning strategy on a regular basis with Associate Director.

(5) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Arts Academic Advisors participate fully in planning the adaptation and use of information technology. To this end, they:

Participate in the ongoing development of University-wide student information systems and services, and contribute to the ongoing development of UBC’s e-administration vision as it pertains to advising services in the Faculty of Arts.

Design, develop, and implement web technologies pertinent to the communication, outreach, and success of Indigenous students in the Faculty of Arts.

Report on applied information technologies pertaining to Arts Academic Advising to evaluate the usage, functioning and communication success of technologies in student advising, recruitment, retention, and development.

(6) ADMINISTRATION
Advisors contribute to the administration of the Arts Academic Advising Services office as follows:

(a) Personnel
Participates in the recruitment, hiring and training of other professional advisors and other staff as needed.

(b) Operations

Participate in development of operating policy to improve efficiency.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Misinterpretation of University and Faculty policies could cause students serious difficulty in attaining their educational objectives. Advising decisions directly affect the quality of student undergraduate experience. Poor performance in this position would contribute to inefficient operation and low quality service being provided by the Arts Academic Advising. This in turn affects the reputation and credibility of the Faculty of Arts and the University thereby affecting the recruitment and retention of students. Not considering the intercultural aspects of communication with and commitment to students can adversely affect the advisor’s ability to function in a culturally diverse arena.

Errors affect the quality of published materials and have negative financial implications.

Administration decisions directly affect the Advising Office’s ability to operate efficiently. Errors in decision making have a serious negative affect on the Office’s ability to carry out its program and service responsibilities.

Supervision Received
Position is under the general supervision of the Associate Director.

Supervision Given

Supervises Indigenous Student Advising student staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of four to five years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own.
– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications
– BA, BFA, BMUS, BSW, or related field strongly preferred.

– Experience in post-secondary advising or counseling and administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

– Knowledge of SIS/SISC an asset.

– Ability to collaborate with a diversity of people including students, staff and faculty in large, complex institutions. Exceptional interpersonal skills creative, diplomatic, inter-culturally sensitive, patient, tactful, etc.

– Experience working with Indigenous people, communities, and/or youth.

– Experience working with Indigenous students an asset.

– Preference will be given to candidates with Indigenous ancestry.

– Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

– Ability to prioritize and work effectively under pressure to meet deadlines.

– Ability to analyze and interpret data, determine implications, and provide recommendations.

– Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve.

– Ability to make thoughtful, informed, and thorough decisions.

– Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

– Ability to effectively use word processing, accounting, desk-top publishing, spreadsheets, report design, web design technologies, communications e.g. WWW and email at an intermediate level.

– Ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles in an appropriate manner. Valid BC Driver’s License.