Position Overview

Under the general direction of the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, the Academic Advisor position is responsible for providing a range of services oriented toward supporting the academic progression and well-being of trainees in UME.  Services include direct consultation and referral contacts with trainees as well as collaborative efforts with medical education staff and faculty charged with ensuring trainees make satisfactory academic progress (SAP).  The Academic Advisor will report to the Director of Student Affairs.

Duties/Responsibilities

Advising

• Provide individualized student support and advising by applying a thorough knowledge of curriculum, requirements, policies, institutional history, climate, and academic planning skills.
• Advise students on specialty specific clinical elective scheduling 
• Work with specialty experts and departments to determine suitable elective choices for students interested in particular specialties
• Monitor each studentâ™s progress in order to intervene, advocate, and recommend resources and solutions to academic difficulties and barriers.
• Create and utilize a network of relationships with students, faculty, and staff to effectively deliver advising and support services.
• Consult with and serve as liaison to faculty and staff to ensure successful implementation of academic plans and follow-through.
• Use interpersonal techniques such as active listening, empathetic responses, questioning, etc. to develop trusting relationships and rapport with students.
• Identify students in mental health distress or crisis and refer to appropriate mental health resources.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity and inclusivity by creating and establishing practices that are appropriate for studentsâ™ individual needs and identities. 
• Serve as a first point-of-contact to students throughout their medical education.
• Maintain strong understanding of and relationships with medical school, campus, and community resources that students are likely to access and refer students to those resources when needed. 
• Support and guide students through the processes and policies related to the medical school academic progression committee (Committee on Student Scholastic Standing) 

Case Management

• Develop and maintain academic plans for students in consultation with key faculty, staff, and students, especially in relation to remediations, deceleration, leaves of absence, etc..
• Communicate plan details to involved faculty and staff. 
• Track implementation of and compliance with plans in collaboration with involved stakeholders.
• Communicate with involved medical school and campus (e.g. Disability Resource Center) resources to ensure compliance with plan implementation.
• Communicate individual student progress to the medical student progression committee (Committee on Student Scholastic Standing)

Programming and Initiatives

• Contributes to program development and development of advising practices, systems, and processes, including related Student Affairs policies and procedures..
• Participate in ongoing Student Affairs initiatives and programming, including New Student Orientation, Intersession, Transitions Series, etc...
• Actively engages in program development in the student affairs department in areas of academic progress, career development, and mental health and wellbeing.
• Collaborates with the Office of Learner Development to connect students for support on academic performance, wellbeing, and mental health.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus at least four years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree in Higher Education, Psychology, or Counseling plus at least two years of relevant experience. 
• Commitment to the role of medical education in developing competent physicians
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Working knowledge of commonly used word processing and presentation tools (e.g., Microsoft office programs, Prezi, etc.) including Google Suite (Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etcâ¦)
• Ability to effectively engage and collaborate across programs

Preferred Qualifications

• Three years of relevant job experience providing student services to students at the postsecondary and/or graduate education level(s).
• Strong organizational skills
• Strong advocacy for students
• Empathic
• Collaborative

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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