Academic Advisor I

POSITION TITLE:

COMPENSATION RANGE: 50,000.00 – 52,350.00 USD per year

EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATION: Professional Administrative

DEPARTMENT: Academic Support Office

TARGET HIRE DATE: 8/1/2026

BENEFITS: UNC’s Career Hub

Candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of application; UNC cannot provide H-1B sponsorship at this time.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 6/25/2026.

Position Description:

The is a professional staff position within Academic Affairs at the University of Northern Colorado. This position is within the Advisor Network and is designed to support student retention, persistence, and timely degree completion across all undergraduate degree and certificate programs. Advisors serve as primary points of contact for assigned undergraduate students’ academic advising aligned with UNC’s mission as a Student-First Institution.

This position is structured as a career ladder across three levels (Advisor I, II, and III), each with an increasing scope of responsibility, autonomy, and contributions to institutional leadership. At all levels, the position is grounded in a developmentally appropriate advising philosophy, the application of NACADA Core Competencies, and a commitment to inclusive and responsive student support.

Advisors work within the college advising centers, coordinated by a lead advisor/director. The Lead/Director reports to their college associate dean. UG Academic Advising consists of approximately 16 advising professionals: 5 leads/directors, 1 assistant director, and 10 professional advisors (ranging from Levels I, II, and III).

This position is appropriate for individuals committed to advising as a teaching and learning profession who can build trusting relationships with diverse student populations, navigate complex institutional systems, and contribute meaningfully to the collective success of the undergraduate advising team and the students UNC serves.

Multiple Vacancies:

Qualified candidates are sought to fill advisor positions across the Advisor Network. There are one or more vacancies in the following college advisement centers: Performance & Visual Arts (PVA), Monfort College of Business (MCB), Education & Behavioral Sciences (CEBS), Humanities & Social Sciences (HSS) and Natural & Health Sciences (NHS) .

Primary Job Functions:
Function I: Academic Advising & Student Support, 80%
Manage a caseload of approximately 300-350 undergraduate students with proactive, equity-centered advising. Support academic planning, course selection, degree audits, and graduation preparation. Guide students through program exploration and institutional navigation, with particular attention to first-generation and under represented populations. Facilitate transitions, including orientation, mid-year entry, re-entry, and graduation clearance. Maintain timely, detailed records in the university CRM and contribute to early alert processes.

Function II: Student Success, Retention & Equity, 10%
Monitor caseload data to identify at-risk students and initiate proactive outreach. Coordinate referrals to financial aid, counseling, tutoring, disability services, and other campus resources. Participate in early alert systems, probation advising, and reinstatement reviews. Contribute to equity initiatives by identifying and helping address systemic disparities in student outcomes.

Function III: Collaboration, Liaison & Institutional Partnership, 5%
Serve as the advising liaison to assigned academic departments, staying current on curricular changes and degree requirements. Partner cross-functionally with Admissions, the Office of the Registrar, Financial Aid, Bursar, Student Affairs, and the Center for Career Readiness. Participate in team meetings, network-wide staff meetings, and professional development activities.

Function V: Assessment, data & Professional Development, 5%
Participate in unit assessment cycles, including surveys and outcome reviews. Use institutional data, degree audits, persistence dashboards, and early alert reports to inform advising practice. Pursue ongoing professional development aligned with NACADA Core Competencies through conferences, trainings, and a professional growth portfolio.

Required Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree. Minimum 0-2 years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student affairs, or a closely related role. Relevant previous student employment, graduate assistantship, or practicum experience in advising or student services may be considered. New employees will require 6-12 months of structured onboarding and supervised practice to reach full independent performance. Additionally, a qualified candidate should demonstrate an understanding of how to build rapport with students from a variety of educational and demographic backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in advising undergraduate students is preferred as well as experience working in a student development or related program; experience with academic coaching methods in a university setting; experience providing academic, personal, emotional, and crisis intervention support in a paraprofessional capacity; advising and coaching first-generation students, and/or working for a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and/or advising and coaching students in success programs such as TRiO.

Applicants from all educational disciplines are encouraged to apply. Preference may be given to candidates whose educational and/or professional experience aligns with the colleges that are hiring: Education & Behavioral Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Monfort College of Business, Performing & Visual Arts, and Natural & Health Sciences.

After a three-month training period, advisors are typically permitted one day of remote work each week. Occasional night and weekend work will be required in alignment with recruitment events, programming, and celebrations.

Special instructions to all applicants:

Candidates should include a cover letter, resume/CV, and contact information for 3 references with their application. At least one of the references should be a current or recent employer. Application materials should clearly demonstrate how applicants’ experiences align with the minimum qualifications, job duties, and the role of the position. Candidates with conferred degrees and/or expertise in majors or programs offered by one or more of the listed college advisement centers are encouraged to highlight their connections to those programs/majors in their application. If applicable, candidates should describe their past professional experience helping students navigate complex academic situations with culturally responsive, equity-centered advising or student support practices.

The screening committee will begin reviewing complete applications (all required materials must be submitted to be considered a complete file) the week of 6/25/2026 and will continue reviewing applications until all positions are filled. If the initial call for application deadline has passed, please continue with your submission, as the application will remain open until all vacant positions are filled. Applications received after a slate of semi-finalists has been identified will be retained for potential review if additional candidates are needed. Applicants will receive periodic updates on the timeline and process.

Starting Date:

Somewhat negotiable. No later than August 2026

Benefits:
Benefits available include health, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance, as well as a selection of several defined contribution retirement plans for all full-time positions. Employees at UNC receive sick leave, and other leave options may be available based on position. Full-time employees are eligible to receive tuition waiver benefits, as well as dependents and spouses of UNC Employees who are employed at 0.5 FTE or above are eligible for undergraduate dependent tuition grants of up to 50%. These tuition grants will cover in-state tuition charges. Further requirements may exist. Other benefits may be available based on position.

About UNC
The University of Northern Colorado is a public doctoral/research institution located in Greeley, Colorado. UNC’s commitment to education began in 1889 and continues to be a transformational force for our students. Recognized as a top university for social mobility, UNC is proud to be a Hispanic Serving Institution and to serve more than 44% of our undergraduates who are the first in their family to attend college. UNC is also committed to providing our faculty and staff with the support they need to succeed as professionals, educators, and in life. Please visit UNC’s Career Hub, to learn more about UNC’s strategic plan, school programs, and employee benefits. Go Bears!

EEO Statement
The University of Northern Colorado offers an educational and working environment that provides equal opportunity to all members of the UNC community. In accordance with federal and state law, UNC prohibits unlawful discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, genetic information, and/or veteran status. UNC also prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, and gender expression. Retaliation against persons who oppose a discriminatory practice, file a charge of discrimination, or testify for, assist in, or participate in an investigative proceeding relating to discrimination is prohibited. Constitutionally protected expression will not be considered discrimination or harassment under this policy. It is the responsibility of all departments, employees, and students to ensure UNC’s compliance with this policy.

ADA Accommodations
The University of Northern Colorado is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to 970-351-2718 or human.resources@unco.edu.

Background Check
Satisfactory completion of a background check, educational check, and authorization to work in the United States is required after a conditional offer of employment has been made. The successful candidate must submit original transcripts within one (1) month of hire.

This position is contingent on funding from the Colorado State Legislature, approval by the Board of Trustees, and subject to the policies and regulations of the University of Northern Colorado.

Clery Act
In compliance with the Clery Act, the most recent University of Northern Colorado Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report is available online. A paper copy can be requested at the UNC Police Department. This report contains crime statistics and policy statements related to safety, conduct processes and Title IX investigations.

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