Working Title: Academic Advisor - Department of Engineering (JMU Only)

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: College of Integrated Science and Engineering

Department: 100590 - Department of Engineering

Pay Band: N/A

Pay Rate: Commensurate with Experience

Specify Range or Amount:  

Is this a JMU only position? Yes. This is a JMU only recruitment, only current JMU employees are eligible to apply.

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 07/10/2026

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Situated in the heart of Virginia’s beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is a vibrant community with a population of approximately 52,000. Harrisonburg is conveniently located approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA.

JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and supportive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 21,000 undergraduate and 1,800 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

The Department of Engineering seeks a highly motivated individual to join the department as an undergraduate academic advisor. The successful candidate will hold in-person and electronic meetings with our students, manage and perform student advising, and coordinate our student ambassadors to serve and support the department.

Along with academic advising, this position will coordinate recruitment efforts.

This is a full-time, 12-month, Administrative and Professional Faculty position in the Department of Engineering, working under the supervision of the Academic Unit Head.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide academic advising to declared Engineering students.
• Advise assigned students, monitor academic progress, communicate regularly with advisees, and connect them with campus resources and opportunities to foster a sense of community and enrich student experience.
• Help Engineering students formulate meaningful and appropriate academic plans based on their interests and goals, providing guidance on the General Education curriculum, major and degree requirements, and academic opportunities.
• Communicate processes for succeeding in the engineering major and direct students to resources when not making progress.
• Serve the department through committees, service projects, and academic and curricular initiatives.
• Support students on academic probation and suspension by helping them understand academic expectations and identify strategies to improve academic performance.
• Participate in first-year orientation.
• Represent the department at academic open houses and other recruitment events and respond to inquiries about our academic programs.
• Manage departmental social media accounts.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Experience communicating through a variety of technology platforms.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to relate meaningfully with undergraduates.
• Strong attention to detail combined with appreciation for the big picture.
• Ability to work independently, collaboratively, and under supervision.

Preferred:
• Master’s degree.
• Academic advising or comparable higher education experience working directly with undergraduates.
• Exceptional work ethic.
• Excellent oral and written communication, time management, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Familiarity with national trends and best practices in academic advising profession and higher education.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU’s Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.