Job DescriptionThe pre-health advisor is a member of the Pre-Professional Advising team within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) Academic Advising Center. In this role, the pre-health advisor develops and facilitates workshops and group information sessions on topics of interest to pre-health students. In individual appointments, the pre-health advisor engages undergraduate students in promoting their academic, professional, and overall development from their orientation to graduation. In individual appointments, the pre-health advisor evaluates students’ progress in pre-health related course work and provides education and guidance on graduate level pre-health fields and programs, course registration and selection, and available University resources. The Pre-Professional Advising team is the chief resource for pre-health and pre-law information at the University and works with students from across the University as well as alumni. As such, the pre-health advisor is a primary resource for students in personal statement development, mock interviewing and interview skills, and assisting students in identifying appropriate pre-health professions and programs. Opportunities also exist for teaching a first-year seminar course, thereby supporting students in their transition to college and the University to further encourage academic success and development.
Duties
- Engages in individual advising appointments, walk-in advising sessions, group advising sessions, and email/phone communication with current and incoming undergraduate students and alumni for the purpose of evaluating students’ progress in pre-health related course work, course registration and selection, and available University resources.
- Provides education and guidance on graduate-level pre-health fields and programs, so that students may develop a broader understanding of health professions fields and the competitive nature of the application processes
- Identifies current and potential needs of students. Intervenes, and refers students to resources throughout the University community, as appropriate.
- Exercises professional discretion and judgment to troubleshoot problems as they arise.
- Documents each academically pertinent interaction with individual students for the purpose of maintaining a centralized database of all LAS students, and updates the computerized information system, as needed, to ensure that student records reflect degree progress and academic status accurately.
- Creates and facilitates workshops and group advising sessions on topics of interest to pre-health students.
- Assists students/alumni in the process of developing personal statements for health professions programs, including support in idea formulation and writing, reviewing personal statement drafts, and providing written and/or verbal feedback.
- Provides coaching and verbal feedback on mock interviews for students applying to health professions programs. Conducts mock interviews in person and through InterviewStream and provides constructive criticism on content and delivery of interview responses.
- Serves as a staff advisor and resource to Pre-Health student organizations.
- Participates on committees or teams, as assigned, which involve contributing to one or more of the following:
- The development of student initiatives and programs to promote student success, development, and retention
- Degree certification
- Special admission decisions
- Scholarship award decisions
- Petition decisions
- The development of the advisor training program and professional development initiatives
- Participates in regular LAS Student Academic Affairs staff meetings and professional development activities to expand knowledge and maintain currency.
- Serves as a College representative for select admissions events/initiatives. Educates prospective students and their family/friends about LAS degree programs, pre-health support and initiatives, and aids in the recruitment of new LAS students.
- Assists in the facilitation of training and development of new advisors, as needed.
- Performs other related duties and participates in special projects, as assigned or necessary. For fullest consideration, please submit an online application at https://jobs.uic.edu, click on the job board and then the job (Academic Advisor (Pre-Health) -- LAS Student Affairs) and upload a resume, cover letter and the names and emails of three references by April 25, 2019.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required in education, liberal arts and sciences, business or a related field
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in higher education student personnel, student affairs, or administration, college student development, or a related field
- At least one year of academic advising, career services, and/or admission experience in higher education
- Working knowledge of graduate admission processes, MCAT/DAT/GRE testing, and pre-health resources for students
- Advanced listening and communication skills
- Capacity to support students of greatly diverse backgrounds
- Experience with student databases and degree audit systems
- Familiarity with student development theory and FERPA
The University of Illinois at Chicago is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer, dedicated to the goal of building a culturally diverse pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching in a multicultural environment. We strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and covered veterans. The University may conduct background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer. Background checks will be conducted in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.