Academic advisors provide advice and assistance to students with academic problems, including course scheduling, disability services, and transfer requirements. They use student records to develop strategies for success and provide referrals to useful services and advice on classes and careers. No special accreditation is required, but familiarity with school policies and legal issues is helpful. The job requires regular office hours and computer skills, and salaries vary by region and experience.
An academic advisor is an education professional who provides advice and assistance to students who are experiencing academic problems. Counselors are available for everything from helping students develop a course schedule that allows them to meet graduation requirements to connecting students with disability services so they can get the accommodations they need. Many colleges and universities have an academic advising office with drop in hours in addition to appointments available to their students.
No special accreditation is required to become an academic advisor, although many have college degrees and may have received some training so that they can serve students more effectively. The advisor needs to be familiar with school policies, including graduation requirements and prerequisites for various programs. In addition, knowledge of legal issues such as accommodation for students with disabilities is helpful. In a community or college, counselors are expected to know about transfer requirements so they can help students who are preparing to apply to four-year institutions.
When a student approaches an academic advisor for assistance, he or she can pull out the student’s records and use them as a reference during sessions. The student is asked about the needs that brought her to the counselor’s office and the counselor will work with the student on a strategy. For a student struggling in school, for example, this might include tutoring, taking advantage of the writing lab, or encouraging a student to meet with instructors during office hours.
The academic advisor’s goal is to provide students with the tools they need for college success. This can include referrals to services students may find useful, as well as advice on classes and possible careers. If a student has special circumstances, such as a death in the family or an emergency, the guidance counselor can help the student work with the school to obtain necessary accommodations, such as time off, rescheduled tests, or extended due dates on essays.
This job usually has very regular office hours and academic advisors are not expected to be available after the office closes. It requires people to be indoors most of the time and computer skills are required in most offices as student records are often stored on computers. People who enjoy helping others, solving problems, and creating networks to cooperate in resolving situations can enjoy careers in academic counseling. Academic advisor salaries vary by region and experience, and often come with benefits such as free or reduced tuition for family members.
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