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Randolph-Macon College invites applications for multiple Academic Success Advisors. These positions are responsible for supporting the academic transition, early success, and persistence of first-year and transfer students at Randolph-Macon College. As a member of the Advising and Transitions team, the advisors provide proactive, developmental advising that helps students understand the academic expectations of college, develop effective learning strategies, and engage thoughtfully with the opportunities of a liberal arts education.
Responsibilities
Academic Advising and Student Development
- Provide proactive academic advising to a caseload of approximately 100 first-year students.
- Foster a welcoming and supportive transition for first-year and transfer students by providing personalized guidance and resources to promote a sense of belonging and academic confidence.
- Guide students in course selection, academic planning, and understanding institutional policies and degree requirements.
- Help students develop the academic habits, learning strategies, and organizational skills necessary for success in a liberal arts environment.
- Engage students in reflective conversations about their strengths, values, interests, and goals and assist them in connecting these insights to academic planning and co-curricular opportunities.
- Maintain regular contact with assigned students and monitor academic progress using institutional advising systems.
- Maintain accurate and timely advising records and documentation.
Career Exploration and Advising Collaboration
- Introduce students to early-stage career exploration as part of the academic advising process.
- Help students begin connecting academic interests with potential career directions and experiential learning opportunities.
- Collaborate with career advisors to ensure students receive developmentally appropriate career guidance and access to relevant career development resources and programs.
- Encourage student engagement with internships, study abroad, experiential learning, and other career development opportunities as appropriate.
First-Year Transition and Student Success
- Support students in their transition to college by helping them understand academic expectations, campus resources, and strategies for academic success.
- Teach sections of the College’s one-credit advising and transition course for first-year students.
- Facilitate class discussions and programming related to topics such as study strategies, academic exploration, wellness, and career development.
- Identify students who may be experiencing academic or adjustment challenges and coordinate appropriate support and referrals.
Transition to Faculty Advising
- Prepare students for the transition to discipline-based advising once they declare a major.
- Ensure students understand degree pathways and academic requirements associated with their intended field of study.
- Coordinate with academic departments and faculty to facilitate a smooth transition to faculty advisors.
Institutional Collaboration and Professional Development
- Collaborate with faculty and campus partners to support student success initiatives and advising programming.
- Maintain familiarity with the Randolph-Macon College curriculum, academic policies, and academic support resources.
- Participate in professional development activities to remain current with evidence-based practices in academic advising and student success.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, student development, or a related field.
- Two or more years of experience in academic advising or student support services in college or university setting.
- Demonstrated knowledge of student development theory and advising practices.
- Ability to master Randolph-Macon general education curriculum and requirements and expectations for multiple RMC academic departments, programs and/or concentrations.
- Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to build supportive relationships with students and work effectively with diverse populations.
- Strong organizational, planning, and time management skills.
- Ability to maintain accurate and detailed advising documentation and work effectively with student information systems or advising platforms.
- Knowledge of FERPA regulations and ethical standards related to student records and confidentiality.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working with first-year programs or student transition initiatives.
- Experience teaching or facilitating student success courses, workshops, or seminars.
- Familiarity with advising models, student development theory, and practices that support student exploration, goal setting, and success.
- Experience using data to monitor student progress or support retention initiatives.
- Understanding of and appreciation for the goals of a liberal arts education and the value of academic study across a broad range of disciplines.
The College
Founded in 1830, Randolph-Macon has about 1800 students and is located in Ashland, VA, a residential community 15 miles north of Richmond and 90 miles south of Washington D.C., thereby having all the benefits for its students, faculty and staff of a dynamic metropolitan area which serves as the state capital. Over 85% of students reside on campus. For more information about the College see www.rmc.edu.
Randolph-Macon College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, disability, or veteran status in its education or employment programs or activities.
Application
To apply for the position, submit the following documents to https://bit.ly/3Pk05B3 in Microsoft Word or PDF format: a current CV, cover letter addressing the position responsibilities and qualifications, and contact information for two professional references to Sharon Jackson, Director of Human Resources. The review and interview process will commence as strong applications are received and the search will remain open until the position is filled.
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