Senior Academic Advisor, Transition and Transfer

The Senior Academic Advisor, Transition and Transfer serves as the central point of contact for prospective and incoming transfer students, providing guidance on complex issues such as transfer credit articulation, early degree planning, and academic navigation at the University of Arizona. The person in this position meets directly with students to assess transferability, develop personalized academic plans, and ensure smooth handoffs to college advisors.

The Senior Academic Advisor oversees daily functions, contributes to student-facing resources, and interfaces with the STU 210 course to enhance student transition experiences. Acting as a strategic connector, the academic advisor facilitates internal coordination with academic colleges and collaborates with statewide partners such as AZTransfer, serving as the key link between students and institutional stakeholders.

The Division of Undergraduate Education supports collaboration and provides leadership for transformative learning opportunities across all undergraduate programs at the University of Arizona through high-quality programs facilitating student empowerment, persistence, and well-being that lead to degree completion.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position offers a hybrid work arrangement. While many responsibilities may be completed remotely, the role requires weekly onsite presence at the Tucson, Arizona campus to fulfill duties that must be performed in person.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

Incoming Student Support

• Use extensive knowledge and experience to serve as a frontline contact and dedicated guide to build meaningful, formative relationships that empower incoming students, drive engagement, and support personal and academic success.
• Simplify and convey to students complex information that contributes directly to their improved retention, successful university transition from initial engagement to orientation, integration into academic college, and graduation.
• Evaluate transfer credit to determine how prior coursework meets degree requirements and provide clarification on procedures and requirements of programs or majors.

Continuing Student Support

• Support current students by helping them set realistic academic and career goals, choose appropriate courses, and explore majors and minors.
• Monitor progress toward degree completion, advise on satisfying requirements, and assist students facing academic challenges through action plans and resource referrals.
• Sustain student success by identifying current and potential needs or problem areas and guide them through their decisions, including the possible outcomes and implications of their choices.

Institutional Coordination

• Serve on university committees or similar as a subject matter expert to initiate change and resolve transfer and transition related academic issues.
• Work to influence others within the outside of advising and the Division of Undergraduate Education regarding policies, practices, and processes.
• Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate efforts across colleges with leadership, external partners such as AZTransfer, and other key stakeholders such as Enrollment Management.

Professional Development

• Lead transition and transfer professional development efforts on campus by building and delivering training, developing specialized programs, guiding or mentoring staff and advising personnel.
• Improve advising practices by staying current on institutional policies and national best practices to enhance student success.
• Foster a culture of continuous learning, improvement, and innovation around transition and transfer advising.

Additional Duties as Assigned

• Work closely and collaboratively with leadership to administer, facilitate, and/or coordinate assigned programs and projects that accomplish Undergraduate Education's priorities.
• Improving four-year graduation rates.
• Closing attainment gaps.
• Improving communication and collaboration among units in support of undergraduate student academic success.
• Defining and curating impactful and sustainable academic programs for undergraduate students.
• Reducing bureaucratic complexity experiences by students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Effective academic advising abilities through being able to effectively communicate relevant content to transfer students and apply a strong understanding of transfer articulation advising to support desired academic and career outcomes.
• Knowledge of student development theory and understanding the development of students as they progress through an undergraduate degree.
• Flexibility and adaptability skills to solve complex problems working through the ambiguity with new approaches, methods, or techniques requiring innovation and creativity.
• Skills in working proactively without appreciable direction, exercising considerable latitude to support students as needed, consulting with supervisor in highly unusual or complex situations, or for sound judgment and accuracy.
• Effective communication skills to support different individuals to foster campus connections and coordinate undergraduate advising efforts.
• Time management skills to manage projects under pressure, ensuring that deliverables are completed on time while maintaining high quality standards.
• Ability to be tactful and practice discretion while handling confidential and sensitive information, including under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA).

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Current academic advisor or academic student support professional.
• Institutional, state, and national knowledge of transition and transfer strategies, articulation, practices, policies, and processes.