The Academic Advisor for the College of Health Sciences (PCHS) plays a vital role in supporting student success by providing holistic advising services beginning at the time of initial engagement, continuing through application, matriculation, and enrollment, and persisting through program completion and graduation. This position guides students through their academic journeys by helping them explore educational pathways and access key college resources, including prerequisite completion, program requirements, enrollment policies, financial assistance counseling, and transfer guidance. Utilizing professional advising and guidance skills, the Academic Specialist assesses the individual needs of students and offers tailored support to promote academic planning, progress, and timely degree completion.

As needs arise, the Academic Specialist must be adaptable and adept at responding to unexpected requests and responsibilities should they arise. Additionally, it is reasonable to expect that as the college grows and develops, the Academic Specialist’s duties will evolve within the area of student services to meet program and college performance metrics and objectives and provide support for the college’s students, schools, and programs.

Duties

• Advise students on program and graduation requirements, academic policies, and college/program procedures to support timely degree completion. 
• Process student registration and academic forms, including add/drop requests, cross-registration, and other related documentation. 
• Provide timely referrals for students requiring additional support with academic challenges, including tutoring, career planning, mental health, or other personal needs. 
• Utilize enterprise-level student data and record systems (e.g., EAB Navigate360) to monitor academic progress and support proactive advising and early intervention efforts for assigned student populations.
• Coordinate with the Director of Assessment and Accreditation to analyze data related to student academic progress and performance. 
• Align student information across advising systems, including but not limited to Wavenet, EAB Navigate360, and Salesforce.
• Track student progression through all PCHS programs in collaboration with academic deans, program directors, faculty advisors, and program coordinators. 
• Monitor and respond to student inquiries through the department's email account, process academic record requests, and ensure student files are accurate, complete, and up to date. 
• Collaborate with all PCHS departments and areas to holistically evaluate and assess student academic performance to effectuate a cycle of continuous improvement. 
• Use digital tools and social media to support innovative advising programs, outreach efforts, and student engagement initiatives. 
• Coordinate and participate in the advising-related components of new and transfer student orientation sessions, including programming for parents and families.
• Partner with the Office of Student Accessibility to support students with disabilities and proctor approved testing accommodation requests as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
• Uphold University mission through work performed.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 1 year of advising experience or 2 years of relevant experience in education.
• Superior interpersonal skills; excellent communication skills; excellent customer service skills; professional demeanor.
• Ability to interact comfortably with high-level administrators, faculty, students, applicants, and alumni.
• Ability to multitask at a high level.
• Ability to use discretion when handling confidential and sensitive issues.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Google applications and working knowledge of student database management systems.

Preferred:

• 2+ years of experience in student advising, education, or information systems.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks and prioritize accordingly.
• Experience supervising student employees.
• Experience working with individuals with disabilities and non-traditional student populations.
• Experience with PeopleSoft and EAB Student Success Platforms/Navigate360.

This is a Regular, Nonexempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $25.00 - $27.88 per hour.

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Pepperdine is committed to providing a work environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment. Engaging in unlawful discrimination or harassment will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the University.

Pepperdine is religiously affiliated with the Churches of Christ. It is the purpose of Pepperdine to pursue the very highest employment and academic standards within a context that celebrates and extends the spiritual and ethical ideals of the Christian faith. While students, faculty, and staff represent many religious backgrounds, Pepperdine is permitted under applicable law and reserves the right to seek, hire, and promote persons who support the goals and mission of the institution, including the right to prefer co-religionists who support Pepperdine's Christian mission.

Qualified individuals should be able to show respect for workplace differences, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Individuals will be required to disclose any criminal convictions on a designated form after receiving a conditional offer of employment; failure to disclose accurate information may result in withdrawal of the offer or termination of employment. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.