Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.
Missing levels within the leveling matrix can be added based on business need.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Academic Advising

The Academic Adviser provides comprehensive academic advising and student success services that support student persistence, retention, and timely degree completion; delivers holistic advising by evaluating academic progress, identifying barriers to student success, and developing individualized academic plans; interprets and applies institutional policies and degree requirements, while guiding students through complex academic decisions and circumstances; contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of advising programs, student success initiatives, and enrollment strategies; manages advising programs and projects; analyzes student success data and advising practices; leads strategic initiatives; provides guidance on complex student cases requiring collaboration across academic and administrative units; serves as a resource to students, faculty, staff, and University leadership while maintaining accountability for advising outcomes, student engagement, compliance with academic policies, and continuous improvement of advising services; may teach first-year seminar or student success courses.

• Provide holistic, proactive academic advising to undergraduate and/or graduate students by evaluating academic needs, developing individualized academic plans, and advising on course selection, registration, scheduling, degree requirements, transfer credit, and academic policies
• Monitor student academic progress and degree completion; identify students experiencing academic challenges; develop intervention strategies and academic success plans; connect students with appropriate university resources, wellness services, and tutoring
• Discuss students' academic, personal, and professional goals; assist with educational planning and career exploration; recommend experiential learning opportunities including internships, undergraduate research, study abroad, service learning, leadership, and other co-curricular experiences
• Interpret, analyze, and apply University, college, and program policies, academic regulations, and curriculum requirements; provide guidance on complex academic situations, policy interpretation; collaborate with faculty and administrative offices
• Manage complex advising cases involving academic standing, degree exceptions, transfer evaluations, curriculum changes, reinstatement, graduation eligibility, or other specialized student circumstances while ensuring appropriate documentation and follow-up
• Utilize student information systems, advising technologies, and student success platforms to document advising interactions, monitor student progress, analyze student success metrics, maintain confidential records, and generate reports that inform decision making and continuous improvement
• Develop, coordinate, implement, and evaluate advising programs, orientations, workshops, first-year initiatives, peer advising programs, student success programming, and other initiatives that promote student engagement, persistence, and degree completion
• May teach first-year seminar, student success, transition, or other academic courses designed to support student learning, engagement, and academic achievement
• Participate in recruitment, enrollment, retention, and graduation initiatives; conduct presentations for prospective students, families, high school counselors, and campus partners; represent assigned academic programs at University events such as Commencement, Parents and Families Weekend, and Summer Bridge programs
• Serve as a liaison among students, faculty, academic departments, and administrative offices to facilitate communication, resolve issues, and promote effective student support
• Develop advising resources, educational materials, communications, and training for students, faculty, and staff to enhance understanding of academic requirements and student success strategies
• Analyze advising practices, student outcomes, enrollment trends, and policy impacts; recommend and implement evidence-based improvements to advising programs, technologies, and student success initiatives
• Participate in institutional committees, strategic planning efforts, accreditation activities, assessment initiatives, and policy development related to academic advising and student success
• May provide functional leadership for advising initiatives, coordinate advising operations or specialized programs, lead project teams, supervise or mentor student employees and staff, and participate in hiring, onboarding, training, and performance management activities

Level:

– Advanced Professional

Base Description:

– Completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates proficient and comprehensive knowledge of defined skill areas/applications. Applies knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures of a particular field to decision-making and problem–solving. Works under minimum supervision on varied and sometimes difficult work assignments, conferring with supervisor or subject matter experts on unusual matters. May lead others or a team in completion of complex assignments. Interprets and communicates information clearly, accurately, and persuasively. Researches and tries new approaches when solving difficult or novel problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Indirect supervisor or mentor for other full–time employees
– May serve as direct supervisor for part–time, student, and/or temporary workers, volunteers, or a full–time employee

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– May monitor/track budgets and funding

Problem Solving:

– Encounters generally routine problems with progressively more complex and/or varied problems
– Typically follows recommended course of action and procedures to resolve problems
– May apply specialized knowledge and skills to resolve complex and/or varied problems, with supervisor oversight
– Researches and tries new approaches when solving problems

Independence of Action:

– Works with minimal supervision on more difficult work assignments, conferring with supervisor on unusual matters
– Follows precedents and procedures
– May set priorities and organize work within general guidelines established by supervisor

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally and externally within working unit and the University
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Promotes open communication in a manner that builds relationships among team members
– Applies appropriate strategies for managing conflict; negotiate reasonable compromises; propose and evaluate possible solutions
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 7
• Minimum – $49,188.00
• MidPoint – $60,216.00
• Maximum – $71,340.00

• Advising
• Consulting
• Customer Service
• Data Analysis
• Data validation
• Database management
• Document management
• Records management
• Reporting
• Scheduling
• Writing