About UMass Amherst
UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.
Job Summary
The Academic Advisor focuses on five key responsibilities within the School of Public Health & Health Sciences (SPHHS): Lead Management and Student Recruitment, Admissions, Advising, Database Management, and Operational Projects. The advisor will participate in various student recruitment activities including database management and creating ads and templates. This position will also provide administrative support for the Admissions committee, monitor admissions statistics, maintain student databases, and runs reports and surveys.
Essential Functions
Lead Management and Recruitment
- Provides high touch communications with all prospects throughout the funnel and life stages of student engagement.
- Develops and presents virtual information sessions for prospective students. Answers questions from the audience via chat and assists the presenter with managing audience participants. Provides follow-ups for all prospects.
- Manages the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) database and regularly assists in the reporting of the yield of leads and opportunities.
- Creates social media ads, CRM auto response templates, and Marketing Cloud Journeys for all programs.
Admissions
- Provides administrative support for the Admissions Committee for Graduate Professional Programs.
- Serves as initial reviewer for all admissions to the Graduate Certificate programs. Reviews all applications and provides recommendations to program director on a rolling basis.
- Monitors overall and individual admissions statistics of respective assignments (i.e. Years of Experience, GPA, and letters of recommendation) to ensure each admissions class is of high quality.
Advising
- Provides academic and programmatic advising to students via in-person meetings, phone, Zoom, and email while updating the programs advising portal.
- Plans and hosts new student orientation for fall and spring admissions.
- Provides information and addresses inquiries regarding add/drop/withdrawal procedures, readmissions, leave of absences, tuition reimbursement, incompletes, refund policy, university accounts, learning management system access, Master’s degree eligibility forms, and applying for graduation. Coordinates with graduate school to ensure appropriate documentation is completed.
- Monitors respective assignments regarding program completion, including a review of courses taken to be applied to degree, and overall GPA requirement to graduate.
Database management and survey
- Maintain the current student and alumni databases. Update as needed and provide simple data analysis, run reports on student demographics as needed.
- Runs surveys for the program including new admit survey, Ghana practicum survey, and others as needed.
- Assist as needed with the CEPH accreditation process.
Operations and Projects
- Plans and organizes the annual graduation celebration, including all aspects of event planning.
- Regularly reviews communication plans for non-degree, applicants, and matriculated students; suggests improvements to admissions workflow processes that directly impact the student; schedules key annual dates and deadlines.
- Continuously explores new and innovative ways to utilize the CRM tool to improve student services, communications, and performance measurements.
Other Functions
Perform other duties as assigned and travel as needed.
Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
- Bachelor’s degree and 1-3 years of professional work experience in advising, counseling, higher education.
- Demonstrated customer service experience and focus with exceptional interpersonal skills.
- High level of written and oral communications.
- Strong organizational and planning skills.
- Ability to take initiative and work both independently and collaboratively on a team.
- Ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality when interacting with diverse students, faculty, and staff populations.
- Open to using and experimenting with technology to be more efficient and effective.
Physical Demands/Working Conditions
Typical office environment.
Work Schedule
- Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Some nights and weekends and some travel is required.
Salary Information
Level 26
PSU Hiring Ranges
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must complete an online application and submit a resume and the contact information for three (3) professional references.
UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.