Academic Advisor, Vantage College and Faculty of Science

Staff

• Non Union Job Category M&P
• AAPS Job Profile AAPS Salaried
• Student Management, Level C Job Title Academic Advisor, Vantage College and Faculty of Science Department Student Advising and Engagement | Dean's Office | Faculty of Science Compensation Range $7,727.33 - $11,112.00 CAD Monthly The Compensation Range is the span between the minimum and maximum base salary for a position. The midpoint of the range is approximately halfway between the minimum and the maximum and represents an employee that possesses full job knowledge, qualifications and experience for the position. In the normal course, employees will be hired, transferred or promoted between the minimum and midpoint of the salary range for a job. Posting End Date October 4, 2026 Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date. Job End Date September 30, 2027 This is a 12-month term position for leave replacement. At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career. Job Description Summary The Academic Advisor, Vantage College and Faculty of Science Advising, is responsible for developing, delivering, and assessing academic advising services, programs and projects to promote the academic success, personal development, and retention of international students enrolled in Vantage College, and in over 50 undergraduate degree, dual and joint degree, and diploma programs in the Faculty of Science where it provides academic support for 9500 international and domestic undergraduate students.. Responsibilities include development and implementation of recruiting and retention activities in fulfillment of Vantage College and Faculty of Science goals, and those which contribute to student success, with programming to ensure the successful transition of all students in Science into university, and with general student advising throughout their undergraduate years in Science. Advisors are responsible for developing, delivering and evaluating Vantage College and UBC student academic advising services, strategies and programming to support student learning. Advisors work with campus partners to support students with complex issues pertaining to immigration and legal status, study permits, study abroad, coop work placement, health and wellbeing, safety, housing and funding. They are required to make decisions regarding the management and effective delivery of advising services and contribute to the development of policy and priorities of the unit. Additional responsibilities for this position include leading promotion and progression evaluation (ie., Sessional Evaluation process, At-Risk Evaluation process, Graduation Evaluation process, etc.). Initiates and drives technological change in order to support pedagogical values of the Faculty of Science. Sits on cross-campus committees as required. Organizational Status The position reports jointly to the Manager, Academic Advising, Vantage College (VC) and the Associate Director, Student Academic Services, Faculty of Science. The incumbent divides their time between Science Advising and Vantage College, working out of both locations. Works independently with considerable autonomy as well as collaboratively with the Director of the Science stream, staff and instructional team in Vantage College, and the Student Advising and Engagement teams in the Science Information Centre. Consults with faculty members and departmental advisors in Science, and student-service personnel elsewhere on campus, particularly with advising peers in other faculties and colleagues in units such as Enrolment Services, Centre for Accessibility, International Student Development, International Student Initiative, Centre for Student Involvement & Careers, Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office, Early Alert, and Student Housing. Work Performed Primary responsibilities are sub-divided into five areas: (1) Academic Advising; (2) Student Retention and Development; (3) Recruitment and Admissions; and (4) Special Projects. Academic Advising As an Advisor, the incumbent develops, coordinates and implements educational services geared to achieving, maintaining or improving student success, retention, and well-being, including guiding students through decisions around degree and career planning and discovery. Exercises considerable autonomy in applying and interpreting policy. 1) Academic Advising
• Draws on in-depth knowledge and understanding of complex degree requirements to advise and coach students with academic planning from admission to graduation and career planning and discovery, including assessing students' progress through annual Sessional Evaluation and Promotion reviews according to individuated Specialization Calendar requirements.
• Identifies and supports students in crisis, either personal or academic, identifying and implementing an appropriate action plan; manages the case to resolution; advises on available academic options and campus supports and services, including referrals to appropriate campus units. Works closely with UBC Managers, Student Support Services on highly complex student emergencies.
• Advisors are often the first student-service professionals to encounter students with mental health concerns. To encourage students to express their difficulties, advisors must create a safe and welcoming environment. Advisors must be able to perceive difficulties even students have not yet identified and proactively put into motion alternative supports, particularly through encouraging students to meet with health-care professionals.
• Leads investigation of complex student issues; assesses issues and identifies and implements solution. Uses judgment to evaluate and determine student accommodation and academic concessions. Exercises autonomy and considerable judgment in evaluating requests that require exceptions to Science and Senate academic policy.
• Contributes to the review of the academic performance of approximately 9500 Faculty of Science undergraduate student records to ensure they meet promotion, continuation, and graduation requirements. Investigates and resolves complex issues relating to registration, transfer credits, and other discrepancies in student records.
• Coaches students regarding post-graduation options (careers, post-graduate studies). Assesses student's level of self-awareness, knowledge and personal development and provides information, refers appropriately, and encourages students to take action. This requires that advisors maintain knowledge of career advising, graduate studies and professional programs.
• Collaborates on student development projects with other campus units.
• Identifies opportunities for, and implements liaison initiatives between the Faculty of Science and other Faculties and campus units.
• Evaluates and makes strategic recommendations for areas of improvement and growth in student advising services, and develop programs and policies to suit. 2) Student Retention and Development
• Evaluates the needs of Vantage College Science stream students and UBC Science students for services and programs, develops and implements new programs as needed, and implements enhancements to existing programs to increase the quality of the student learning experience at UBC.
• Adjudicates eligibility for award and scholarship recipients, study abroad/exchange, program admission, academic concession etc.
• Advisors are integral to the retention of students. They identify current student concerns and assess them for their effect on the Faculty's and University's mandate to recruit and retain the best students. Advisors design, implement, and evaluate programs mean