Item 9.A-March 14, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/hr/compensation-and-evaluation for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable):
Position #(s):
Current Title: Academic Advisor and Coordinator, PreCurrent Range: 3
professional Advising (JCC:77935)
Department: Advising Center
College/Division: Provost’s Office
Account #(s): 1101-102-0301
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
(X ) Proposed Reassignment from Range 3 to Range 2
( ) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
Range:
JCC (Current
or new HR
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature Derek Furukawa, Dir, Acad Adv/Coord, UG Adv
Date
____________________________________________________________
__________________
Director/Chair/Dean
Joseph Cline, Vice Provost, Undergraduate Education
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review.
____________________________________________________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature
__________________
Date
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
77935 Range:
2
Pos #(s):
JCC:
EEO: 3A
Eff: 3/1/2014
Approved Title: Academic Advisor and Coordinator, Pre-professional Advising
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012
Position Description - Academic Advisor and Coordinator, Pre-professional Advising
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Academic Advisor and Coordinator of Pre-Professional Advising performs a major role in the
implementation of a comprehensive academic advising system which includes providing advising and
other transition functions for students who have not decided upon a major as well as students on
disqualification status and students pursuing a Bachelor’s of General Studies (BGS) degree.
Additionally, the individual is responsible for providing information and assistance to undergraduates
who are seeking admission into professional schools (i.e., medical, dental, physical therapy,
pharmacy, law, etc.) by advising individual students, holding workshops, maintaining an informative
website, and teaching a first year experience course for pre-med, pre-health and pre-law students.
The position reports to the Director, Academic Advising and Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
40% - Pre-Professional Advising Coordination
 Provide guidance and advising to undergraduates who are seeking admission into
professional schools (i.e., medical school, dental school, law school, etc.)
 Develop and maintain an informative webpage focusing on required academic preparation and
application strategies that can assist students in becoming competitive and successful
applicants when applying to professional schools
 Critique personal statements and other related professional school application materials
 Plan, organize and conduct workshops and lectures to assist students with the process of
applying to professional schools
 Monitor/track performance of UNR students on entrance exams (MCAT, LSAT, etc.) and
placement into professional schools
 Provide training specific to pre-professional school preparation advising to other advising staff,
as needed
25% - Advising of Undecided, General Studies, Disqualified, and Non-Degree Students
 Assist undecided students, students transitioning from one major to another, students pursuing
BGS, students with disqualification (DQ) status and non-degree students in planning academic
programs and course sequencing consistent with students’ interests, competencies and
aspirations
 Clarify academic policies and procedures and disseminate information on academic
requirements
 Provide expertise in core curriculum and major program requirements and guide students
through the major exploration process
 Create and maintain student records; monitor progress of undecided students towards
selection of a major; monitor progress of BGS students towards completion of degree; assist
DQ students in working towards satisfactory academic standing
 Perform advising-related functions for new and prospective students associated with events
such as Nevada Bound, Wolf Pack Advising and Registration, New Student Orientation
25% - Related Programming
 Contribute to the assessment of program effectiveness of the Advising Center to ensure that
its mission and goals are being achieved
Position Description - Academic Advisor and Coordinator, Pre-professional Advising
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Contribute to the development and coordination of print materials/handouts, presentations,
seminars, and other programs designed to meet the needs of students served by the Advising
Center
Participate in the development and implementation of collaborative programs with Residential
Life, Office of Prospective Students, the Honors Program and other entities on campus to
assist students in need of academic advising or intervention
5% - Service to University Community
 Serve as primary contact and resource for deans, department chairs, advisors, faculty and
staff to assist students with questions and preparing for professional school study
 Assist in mentoring and/or supervising graduate assistants or interns in the Advising Center
 Assist in interpreting general academic requirements and policies for the university community
including faculty and staff
 Serve on university committees/boards as appropriate
 Serve as faculty advisor and provide leadership and guidance to student/campus
organizations, as appropriate
5% - Professional Development
 Participate in professional development through membership and involvement in advisingrelated professional organizations (i.e., Western Association of Prelaw Advisors, National
Association of Advisors for Health Professions, National Academic Advising Association)
 As resources permit, attend conferences and workshops that can assist in enhancing the
quality of programs and services offered
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
The Advisor meets unsupervised primarily with students, but also with parents, faculty and staff, both
individually and in groups. In addition to providing general academic advising to students, the
individual is the primary person responsible for the delivery of academic guidance and advice to
students planning to pursue post-baccalaureate professional school studies and for disseminating
relevant and appropriate information on the professional school application process and the success
of our students to faculty and staff. Due to the complexity of entrance requirements for various
professional programs as well as their highly competitive nature, the person must be knowledgeable
about and sensitive to the goals and objectives of the students, the confidential nature of much of the
information she/he is handling, the regulations surrounding such confidentiality, and the requirements
for release of information. The position consults with the supervisor in more complex areas of
academic advising.
Impact:
Academic advising is an essential component of a positive student experience that impacts the
recruiting, retention, and graduation rates of students. The information presented and the decisions
and judgments made by the individual can have a significant impact in the following ways: facilitates
the integration of entering students into the university community; facilitates student engagement;
helps prevent students from registering for inappropriate and/or unnecessary courses thereby
potentially minimizing time to degree completion and education costs; makes students aware of
available campus resources to assist them in successfully meeting their academic and career goals,
and assists students in acquiring the skills necessary for academic success.
Position Description - Academic Advisor and Coordinator, Pre-professional Advising
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4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Academic advising and/or student counseling (i.e., theories, literature, professional ethics and
standards)
 A variety of academic disciplines in terms of course requirements and career paths
 Higher education policies and procedures, especially those pertaining to undergraduates
 Characteristics and needs of a diverse undergraduate population
 Legal and ethical parameters concerning the delivery of advising
 Computers, student information systems, and commonly used office programs and practices
 Professional school application process and strategies that enhance applications
 Academic issues as they relate to the exploration of professional degree opportunities and
subsequent academic decisions to actualize the plans
 Profession-specific entrance requirements and professional certification steps
 Administration and interpretation of assessment inventories (MBTI, Strong Interest Inventory)
Skills in:
 Effective interpersonal verbal and written communication to include presentations (e.g.,
workshops, lectures)
 Collaboration and problem-solving
 Classroom/group management and giving effective presentations
 Time management and organization
 Critiquing personal statements and application materials
Ability to:
 Mentor and/or train staff and/or student workers
 Learn and use a variety of computer software systems
 Work and accomplish goals within a range of established guidelines
 Work with a diverse range of people, individually and in groups
 Work both independently and as a collaborative team member
 Exercise sound judgment
 Effectively impart information to others in a variety of settings
 Respond to unique challenges and opportunities in program implementation
 Maintain confidential working relationships with students
 Identify trends and respond to such trends to benefit students
 Solve problems through customary and/or creative means
 Produce reports as required and requested
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
Students
Reason for Contact
To provide advising services, answer questions, resolve problems,
and assist in preparation for professional study; to conduct
workshops and serve as a course instructor; to make available
appropriate resource materials
Position Description - Academic Advisor and Coordinator, Pre-professional Advising
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University faculty and staff
To serve as primary contact and resource person for questions
related to professional school preparation; answer questions,
collaborate on programming, provide assistance in interpreting
policies and procedures, and serve as a member on appropriate
university committees
External
Parents, spouses, and family
members
Reason for Contact
To answer questions and provide information on university
programs, policies and procedures within legal limits and while
respecting the student’s confidentiality
To provide clarification and support to prospective students
seeking academic, career and professional school information
To convey information about the University and the Advising
Center related to our purpose and services offered; represent the
University and encourage lifelong learning, reentry, and
professional school study; maintain cooperative working
relationships with high school counselors to provide information
and guidance so they can better advise and assist their students
To communicate and collaborate as appropriate with advisors and
professional counterparts at other institutions within NSHE
To communicate with professional schools and national
boards/organizations to keep up-to-date with specific admissions
requirements for their respective programs
Prospective students
Community and high school
counselors
Nevada System of Higher
Education
Accreditation organizations and
other professional schools
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Bachelor’s Degree and two years, or a Master’s Degree and one year, of
university/college-level academic advisement and/or administrative experience in
program development, assessment and evaluation
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None