Position Description: Academic Advisor, American Baptist College
The Academic Advisor plays a vital role in advancing the mission of American Baptist College
by empowering students to become agents of transformation within their communities and
beyond. Through holistic academic advising grounded in the College's Christian mission, the
Academic Advisor promotes student persistence, academic achievement, leadership
development, and timely degree completion. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs, the Academic Advisor provides comprehensive academic advising and success support
for prospective, new, transfer, continuing, and returning students. The advisor collaborates with
the Academic Dean, Faculty Chairs, faculty members, the Registrar, Student Affairs, and other
campus partners to strengthen retention, persistence, and graduation outcomes. This position may
be performed in a hybrid or fully online work environment, consistent with institutional needs
and College policies. The successful candidate must effectively advise students using virtual
communication and advising technologies while participating in required on-campus meetings,
registration events, commencement, and other institutional activities as assigned.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Academic Advising and Student Success
- Provide comprehensive academic advising from enrollment through graduation.
- Assist students in developing academic plans aligned with educational, vocational,
ministry, and career goals.
- Advise students regarding degree requirements, institutional policies, registration, and
graduation.
- Monitor student progress, identify students needing intervention, and implement retention
strategies.
- Maintain regular communication with students through in-person and virtual advising.
- Collaborate with faculty and staff to support student success and communicate advising
trends to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Registration, Degree Planning, and Student Support
- Guide students through registration and degree planning to ensure timely completion.
- Review degree audits, graduation eligibility, transfer credit, prerequisites, and curriculum
requirements in collaboration with the Academic Dean, Faculty Chairs, and the Registrar.
- Assist students in understanding academic policies, including probation, withdrawal,
appeals, and graduation requirements.
- Connect students with appropriate campus resources, including tutoring, counseling,
disability services, financial aid, career services, ministry formation, and other support
services.
- Maintain documentation of advising interactions and referrals.
Institutional Collaboration and Assessment
- Participate in orientation, registration, recruitment, commencement, and other
institutional events.
- Maintain accurate student records using institutional advising and student information
systems.
- Prepare reports supporting advising, retention, assessment, accreditation, and Title III
initiatives.
- Use student success data to improve advising practices and remain current on curriculum
changes, FERPA regulations, accreditation expectations, and best practices in academic
advising.
Teaching and Professional Engagement
- Teach at least one course annually, as assigned and consistent with academic
qualifications.
- Participate in ongoing professional development.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Commitment to the mission and values of American Baptist College.
- Knowledge of academic advising principles, student development, and student success
strategies.
- Proficiency in virtual advising technologies, learning management systems, student
information systems, degree audit software, and other digital communication tools.
- Ability to manage a hybrid advising caseload while maintaining accurate records and
effective communication.
- Ability to build effective relationships with students from diverse educational, cultural,
socioeconomic, and faith backgrounds.
- Knowledge of FERPA and ethical standards governing student records.
- Strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving
skills.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or a related
field.
- Minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in academic advising,
student success, or higher education administration.
- Experience supporting first-generation, adult, transfer, and historically underserved
students.
- Demonstrated understanding of student retention and persistence strategies.
- Collegiate teaching experience and willingness to teach at least one course annually.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience at a Historically Black College or University (HBCU), or minority-serving
institution.
- Experience with Title III grant initiatives.
- Familiarity with accreditation standards, institutional assessment, and student success
metrics.
- Experience using student information and advising systems such as Degree Works,
Jenzabar, Colleague, Banner, or similar platforms.
- Demonstrated success advising students in hybrid and/or fully online higher education
environments using virtual advising and student engagement technologies.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Performance will be evaluated using measurable outcomes that support student success and
institutional effectiveness, including:
- Advise and register newly/continuing/readmitted students each academic term as
assigned.
- Collaborate with Faculty Chairs and the Academic Dean to ensure timely advisement and
registration of continuing students each semester.
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date advising records for all assigned students.
- Conduct proactive outreach and intervention for students identified as academically at
risk.
- Submit bi-monthly advising activity reports to the Vice President for Academic Affairs
documenting student appointments, referrals, interventions, and outcomes.
- Prepare monthly reports supporting Title III initiatives and other institutional reporting
requirements.
- Participate in weekly meetings with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and assigned
institutional committees.
- Assist in the continuous improvement of advising policies, procedures, technologies, and
student success initiatives.
- Contribute to institutional goals for student retention, persistence, graduation, and
enrollment growth.
- Teach at least one course annually.
- Maintain ongoing professional development and scholarly engagement through research,
writing, presentations, or professional service.
