Student Success Advisor

at  Douglas College

WORK ARRANGEMENTS

This regular full-time (35 hours per week) position is available starting August 19, 2024. Regular hours of work are Monday to Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. Shift days and times may change depending on the Department’s need. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required. The position is located at the New Westminster/ Coquitlam campuses; however, successful candidate must be available for occasional work at both campuses. Douglas College is committed to supporting a healthy work/life balance for employees. A modified/flexible schedule and/or hybrid work from home arrangement may be considered, subject to the terms of the College’s Work From Home Policy.

WHAT DOUGLAS OFFERS

DO what you love. Be good at it. That’s how Douglas College defines a great career. It’s a philosophy that resonates through our classrooms, our offices and our boardrooms. It inspires our students and drives us to make Douglas College one of BC’s Top Employers. We love what we do. And we’re looking for passionate, motivated people to join us in making one of Canada’s best colleges even better.

3. KNOWLEDGE EXPERTISE AND CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

a. Participates as an active member on Canadian financial aid associations and help to provide professional input in development and delivery of student success (e.g. CASFAA, ASAP, NACADA, CACUSS, etc.)
b. Leads and actively participates and contributes to projects, when applicable
c. Evaluates programs and makes recommendations for improvements
d. Continuously contributes to the service values to ensure relevant, up-to-date information
e. Keeps abreast of changes and trends in employment opportunities for new graduates; this requires liaising with Career Services and academic departments and maintaining knowledge of reference and resources regarding career opportunities to ensure students are well informed about available options and skills required
f. Keeps abreast of FIPPA regulations
g. Follows best practices in advising and emerging trends that may impact advising and student retention and the means to overcome them
h. Participates in ongoing training to ensure a deep knowledge based in a wide variety of College service areas

THE ROLE

The Student Success Advisor is a key resource in student retention and success and acts as a transitional guide for students and external stakeholders in navigating student’s academic experiences. The Student Success Advisor is responsible for guiding, developing, and supporting students academically and financially throughout their entire student experience. The Student Success Advisor provides high quality and professional service, advice and counsel to students on the appropriateness of the selected program, presenting options in consideration of their unique situation, advising on options available when in academic difficulty and referral to resources available at the College and the community, advising on financial planning and the various student assistance options available to them. The Student Success Advisor will make appropriate recommendations to the Registrar or designate about student’s ability to continue studying at the College.
The Student Success Advisor position is unique in that the Advisor is assigned a portfolio of students to case manage, and is heavily customer facing and will serve students through phone, email, in-person daily while being responsible for various aspects of the administration of programs. The Student Success Advisor is also responsible for various aspects of the administration of a range of academic merit-based awards and financial need-based student awards and assistance programs, and other programs and projects that support the academic success, personal development and retention of students to ensure they meet their full academic potential through the course of the student’s academic career. The Student Success Advisor shares responsibility for outreach activities such as conducting workshops and representing the office, as required, on internal and external committee relating to student assistance programs. The Student Success Advisor is part of a network of advising and service professionals across the College that collectively contributes to improving the student experience to ensure success.
The Student Success Advisor acts as a liaison for students with internal and external departments and agencies, including other post-secondary institutions, provincial and federal agencies. The Student Success Advisor regularly interacts with other units across campus and within Enrolment Services to ensure effective delivery of service and advising to students. The Student Success Advisor works closely with the Assistant Registrars, and Associate Registrars in Enrolment Services. The Student Success Advisor cultivates relationships with key stakeholders across the campus and with other units in Enrolment Services, and identifies new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THIS ROLE YOU WILL NEED

1. Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field from a recognized post-secondary institution and 4 to 5 years related work experience or a combination of education and experience.
2. Minimum of 4 years of direct experience in service-centred and/or academic centred role evaluating complex student academic and financial issues; a proven ability to provide exceptional service in a fast-paced environment is required.
3. Experience with interpreting, applying and advising on policies and procedures.
4. Sound and current knowledge on best practices in enrolment or registrarial services or comparable work experience.
5. Ability to provide effective and appropriate guidance and counsel.
6. Proficiency with standard office software required.
7. Comfortable with evolving technology and processes.
8. Strong team player and adaptable to changing information.
9. Experience using a Student Information System or other enterprise database solutions/customer relationship management systems.
10. A skilled listener, with the ability to identify, respond and handle confidential and/or sensitive issues and/or material with empathy, diplomacy and discretion.
11. Must be resourceful and able to analyze problems, identify key information and issues and develop effective solutions.
12. Ability to independently exercise judgment to make decisions on matters of varying complexity.
13. Proven ability to use an inclusive approach to develop and cultivate relationships with students, faculty, staff and members of the external community.
14. Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills required.
15. Ability to multi-task, apply organizational skills to meet deadlines.
16. Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
17. Ability to collaborate and share expertise within a team environment.
18. Enthusiasm and capacity for continuous learning and development.
19. Experience working with different cultures.
20. The position requires interacting with people directly for long periods of time; the ideal candidate will enjoy and have strong communication skills in interacting with all types of customers through both face to face, verbally and written.