Academic Counsellor (Academic Advisor)

at  Western University

ABOUT WESTERN

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Western challenges the best and brightest faculty, staff and students to commit to the highest global standards. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world application. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities.

ABOUT US

Ivey Business School acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lunaapéewak, and Attawandaron peoples, where Western University and Ivey Business School are located. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous peoples, whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of the community.
Ivey Business School (www.ivey.ca) at Western University (www.uwo.ca) is Canada’s leading provider of real-world, case-based business education. Drawing on extensive research and business experience, Ivey’s faculty provides the best classroom experience, equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and capabilities they need to confidently take on today’s leadership challenges and opportunities through Case-Method Learning. Ivey offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs, as well as Executive Education at campuses in London, Toronto, and Hong Kong.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education:

• University degree (required)
• Mental Health First Aid Certification and SafeTalk training preferred.
• Courses and/or training related to equity, diversity and inclusion would be an asset.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Proven track record in working effectively and accurately in an academic setting while providing superior service in a hectic, professional student-centric environment
• Demonstrated experience working with students in an academic setting and experience in recognizing and triaging serious personal matters of post-secondary age students
• Proven mature judgement to identify student problems and when to escalate for resolution with a demonstrated empathetic and compassionate nature is essential
• Proven ability to successfully manage projects independently; ability to proactively plan and problem-solve, to organize own work effectively, to multitask and to meet demanding deadlines
• Discretion, tact and maturity to deal with highly confidential and potentially emotional or distressing subjects or issues and the ability to ensure confidentiality and privacy is maintained through the appropriate retention and destruction of information.
• Ability to work in a team setting with preferred experience in guiding team members through a project, its process and implementation
• Work effectively and collaboratively with senior leaders on academic matters; bringing academic policy knowledge to the discussion to assist with various academic decisions
• Capacity and compassion to understand and respect equity issues including but not limited to cultural and gender issues and apply this to daily work and to consider issues from the perspective of others.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, both verbal and written
• Confidence and interest in presenting to a large student group on matters of academics and student leadership topics
• Strong database management and data base reporting experience; strong computer skills; Salesforce, Crystal reporting, Excel, Word, PPT, with a strong aptitude to learn new technology
• Knowledge of confidentiality, privacy and FIPPA legislations

**Please note that this position is expected to be filled by reappointment.

At Ivey Business School, the Student Experience Department is passionate about taking a holistic approach to supporting students as they navigate their journey at Ivey. We develop the frameworks, pathways, and connections to promote and maintain well-being of individuals and the broader student community.
We are committed to designing holistic co-curricular journeys that best support each phase of the student life cycle and engender a collective responsibility for the student experience. As part of this holistic approach, we enable the development of global citizens by fostering international opportunities, such as short-term and full-semester exchanges, across the London-based programs.
Our priority is to continually improve the student experience. We do this by leveraging data-driven insights and best practices to ensure that we align with the evolving needs of our students, society, and the school’s strategic objectives.
The Academic Advising Team will provide excellent in-program experience for over 1600 HBA students, 150 MBA students, and 300 MSc students. The role provides sound and consistent support to students virtually, by email, telephone and in-person for both one-on-one and group sessions and offers referrals to relevant university services when necessary, as part of a holistic response to students at risk.
The Academic Advisor assists students to achieve their degree objectives by providing academic advice, support for program planning and course selection, and by adjudicating students for admission, progression and graduation. The role interprets and accurately administers University and Faculty regulations, waiving such regulations if warranted. The Academic Advisor contributes to the development of academic programs in their portfolio and ensures programs are accurately represented in University publications.
Increasingly, this role is critical to the student experience, not just in elements of advising that involve academic matters, but in personal, sometimes quite serious matters that involve the well-being of our students, partnering with on campus resources to ensure all of our students have access to the attention they need.