The Advisor for Graduate Programs is responsible for supporting graduate students success and wellbeing throughout their time at the Pardee School of Global Studies. This position plays a leadership role in directing and coordinating all aspects of academic advising as well as curricular & co-curricular initiatives for graduate students. This includes, though is not limited to, offering programs and resources related to career development and fostering a sense of belonging, shared community, and pride in Pardee. In addition to student affairs responsibilities, this position supports efforts related to student admissions and yielding and manages other duties as assigned. The Advisor for Graduate Programs is a member of the Pardee School Student Services team and reports to the Director of Student Affairs and Services. The Student Services team is dedicated to supporting graduate and undergraduate students and to contributing to the Pardee Schools mission of advancing human progress. Student Services staff work regularly and collaboratively with faculty and other colleagues and participate in school-wide meetings and functions.
Essential Functions:
Advising
- Develop and implement all aspects of a holistic academic advising program that supports students academic, personal, and professional growth.
- Organize academic advising for all graduate students, ensuring that students are regularly meeting with advisors for discussion of degree programs, course registrations, degree progress, career advice, personal concerns, and other matters.
- Interpret, uphold, and coordinate academic and student life policies and procedures.
- Provide 1:1 advising to graduate students in most Pardee MA programs.
- Collaborate and build relationships with key campus partners.
- Coordinate curricular and co-curricular initiatives such as travel grants, MA papers and defenses, and foreign language proficiency exams.
- Be the point person on student records and graduation procedures, coordinating with the Registrar and other relevant administrators.
- Update the MA Paper Handbook, the Graduate Student Handbook, and the Graduate Advising Procedures document, and graduate program webpages as needed. Maintain the graduate student list and electronic student files.
- Advise on course planning and updates to the BU Bulletin (Student Handbook).
- Develop and implement strategies to improve retention and on time graduation rates.
Student Affairs
- Take a leadership role in fostering a sense of belonging and community through school programs and communications.
- Conceptualize and organize new student orientation.
- Collaborate with relevant colleagues to run the Deans Ambassadors student leader program.
- Hire, train, supervise, and manage payroll for graduate student employees and graduate assistants.
- Manage graduate communications including the general email account, a weekly e-newsletter, a calendar of events and deadlines, and all messaging to incoming students.
- Advise graduate student organizations on their activities and manage the Pardee Graduate Lounge.
- Participate in the planning and successful implementation of signature Pardee School events and ceremonies.
Career Development
- In collaboration with faculty, staff, and alumni, the Advisor for Graduate Programs designs and implements career development initiatives for MA students.
- Manage the annual graduate student career trips to Washington DC and New York City, including organizing all aspects of site visits, logistics, and budget.
- Plan and support PardeeWorks events, such as panels of professionals and networking events, to help students explore possible career paths.
- Collect and share information on career outcomes for Pardee graduates.
- Admissions and Yielding Contribute to student admissions and yielding efforts.
- Be a first reader on a subset of applications.
- Evaluate and make recommendations on admissions decisions and scholarships.
- Manage onboarding communications to incoming students and collaborate on anti-melt strategies.
- Reach out to admitted students to encourage their enrollment at the Pardee School.
Required Skills
A cover letter and resume are required for consideration.
- 3-5 year of experience, preferably in higher education.
- Master's degree in higher education, student affairs, international affairs, or another relevant field.
- Prior experience in academic advising and/or student life preferred.
Additional Qualifications
- Ideal candidates will be interested in student success and learning and will be excited to develop substantive, long-term advising relationships.
- Due to the highly interactive nature of this role, candidates must possess superlative interpersonal skills as well as exemplary written and verbal communication abilities. Experience working within a student-centered, collaborative, and fast-paced environment.
- Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Candidate should be attentive to details and able to keep themselves organized in the face of multiple competing priorities.
- Demonstrated previous experience interacting and collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and parents of diverse backgrounds.
- Project and/or event management skills such as logistical planning and publicity.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google Suite software.
- Academic background in international relations and similar subjects is helpful but not required.
- Must be able to work occasional evenings and weekends.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Required Experience