Position Purpose and Summary

The Academic Advisor, Adult Specialization supports adult students on their academic journey such as helping them explore degree options and competencies that apply to calling and career, navigating TWU academic expectations, policies, processes, and systems, answering questions related to academic planning, assisting students with course selection and graduation plans, and working together with the Office of the Registrar on complex cases. This person also serves as a point person with Admissions for students beginning an adult degree completion program and may be assigned to advise other special student populations according to need.

Key Areas of Accountability

Academic advising

• Advises students in 1:1 sessions to explore questions, interests, and plans related to their academic journey. This includes interpreting degree requirements, discussing how to increase GPA and balance workload, and navigating university systems.
• Holds expert knowledge of all policies and procedures related to undergraduate degrees and graduation, and assists students in course selection, registration, transfer, and graduation procedures;
• Creates, updates and safe-keeps advising notes for each student;
• Refers students to other TWU staff and resources
• Applies a holistic, care-giving approach

Point person for degree completion students

• Collaborates with Admissions for students entering degree completion, staring with the BA Psychology and adding more programs as they develop
• Creates digital advising resources for adult students and other specific student populations.
• Works closely with Deans, Chairs, and Program Coordinators regarding course offerings, schedules, and program updates.
• Communicates with degree completion students with timely reminders and announcements related to academic advising.

Administrative tasks

• Works closely with the Office of the Registrar regarding degree checklists, course prerequisites, graduation procedures, transfer credit, etc.
• As a member of the Office of Advising and the Learning Commons, contributes to the overall work of academic support, such as leading workshops, participating in projects and reports, and providing data and other metrics.

The Person

Skills and Abilities

• The ideal candidate must have strong social-emotional engagement with diverse people while also attending to detail and procedures.
• This position is student-facing and requires interpersonal energy.
• The candidate must be collaborative with many different stakeholders.
• The candidate must be able to apply policy to complex information
• The candidate must have high capacity for learning vast amounts of complex information.

Personal

Driven and inspired by the idea of positively impacting the various marketplaces of life through the development of godly Christian leaders by serving the Trinity Western University community.

A dedicated and mature evangelical Christian with an earnest desire to serve in family, church, work, and community. Affirm and support TWU’s mission, values, Statement of Faith, and Community Covenant. Strength of character and reputation, integrity, focused. A winsome personality with a positive and friendly attitude.

Servant-Leader Way of Life**:**Act in a manner that exemplifies Jesus Christ in all on and off-campus contacts thereby living out the servant leadership mission of the university and contributing effectively towards achieving the institutional and Kingdom goals of the organization.

Key Internal Interactions

Reports**:**N/A

Reports to**:**Executive Director, Learning Commons

Standards & Requirements

Education: Minimum Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s preferred

Experience:

• At least 2 years of professional experience in an advising or academic support role in higher education
• At least 2 years experience with learning, managing, and interpreting details and data
• Familiarity with the Canadian and British Columbian post-secondary education system
• Ideally knowledge of TWU liberal arts curriculum
• Understanding of the role of policy and how to apply it

Duties and responsibilities that do not constitute a major change may be added, deleted or changed at any time at the discretion of the supervisor either orally or in writing.

Benefits Of Working at TWU:

• A comprehensive benefits package which includes extended health, dental, and insurance and an RRSP matching program.
• Annual statutory holidays (14) with generous vacation accruement.
• Tuition Benefit for TWU undergraduate and graduate level courses to enhance knowledge and professional competency.
• Torch tuition scholarship for dependents of eligible employees attending TWU.
• Free access to TWU’s fitness/gym facilities and the Norma Marion Alloway Library.
• Discounts and perks for the on-site Trinity Western Outfitters Campus Store cafeterias and bookstore, as well as shops and restaurants in Fort Langley.
• Wellness benefits (i.e., counselling, sick days, personal days, and health/wellness spending account).
• Free recreational equipment rentals (e.g., paddle boards, snowshoes, kayaks, etc.).
• Free employee parking on campus.
• Special community events throughout the year.
• Employee and Family Assistance Plan (EFAP).
• A positive Christian fellowship environment.

Trinity Western University encourages applications from all eligible candidates who are able to commit to the University’s mission, values, and Christian identity as articulated in its Statement of Faith and Community Covenant. We are committed to an ethic of inclusion and to the equal treatment of all persons without discrimination in accordance with human rights law.

We particularly invite applications from indigenous people, women, persons with disabilities, and visible minorities. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. Persons with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations during the application process should contact Human Resources.

Trinity Western University is located on the traditional ancestral territory of the Sto:lo people.