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Senior Veterans Academic and Career Advisor
Join our dynamic team at Waubonsee Community College, where your career can flourish. We are committed to being an exceptional employer, offering a comprehensive benefits package with generous time off, low-cost medical, dental, and vision plans, and a secure pension plan through SURS. You'll also enjoy 14 paid holidays, including winter and Thanksgiving breaks. Be part of a transformative institution, dedicated to making a positive impact in our community and the lives of our students. Your future starts here – join us today!
Sugar Grove Campus
Full-time Support Staff
Hybrid Option: Yes
Waubonsee Community College promotes diversity in faculty, staff, and student recruitment and is committed to hiring and retaining exceptional faculty and staff who are committed to the college’s culture of collaboration, professional growth and student success.
TheSenior Veterans Academic and Career Advisor reports to the Academic and CareerAdvising Manager. This role isresponsible for the co-management and execution of the VA benefitscertification process and student outreach services. This role is the State ofIllinois mandated Veteran Coordinator and will serve as the back-up SchoolCertifying Official and maintains Waubonsee's compliance with VA regulations
Responsibilities
As the state mandated Veterans Coordinator,provides one-stop shop from Academic and Career advising from start to finish.This includes providingVA educational benefit information to active duty, veterans and dependentsregarding college admissions, application for benefits, regulations, deadlines,supporting documents, payment processes, verifications and eligible programs.
Maintain current knowledge with Department of Veterans' Affairs certificationregulations and practices to ensure compliance for all VA Educational programs.Closely collaborate the certification of enrollment with Financial Aid as aSchool Certifying Official.
Provide holistic Academic and Career advisingservices to a caseload assigned to both military and non-military affiliatedstudents, supporting them in setting and achieving their Academic and Careergoals through aspects of advising practices, including course selection,academic procedures and policies, choosing a major, degree pathways, universitytransfer planning, and Career exploration.
Manage a caseload of students by conducting regularcheck ins and utilizing college advising technology to monitor academicprogress, identify and provide intervention for students who are most at-riskfor academic challenges, and celebrate achievements.
Provide timely information on military andveteran state and federal education benefits to determine coordination ofbenefits that align with long term academic goals. Assist with applications,establishing VA benefit accounts to access benefit information includingverifying VA education benefit eligibility and transferring education benefits.offer continuing academic support for current students, coordinate college andcommunity support resources to promote academic success, utilize casemanagement and outreach practices to increase student retention.
Review federal and state benefit recipientschedules each semester prior to certification to ensure enrollment intocorrect major code and degree requirement courses, contact students forscheduling corrections as needed, track remaining degree requirements eachsemester, track schedule adjustments, track students not meeting SAP andperform outreach for support.
Perform official military transcriptevaluations on occupation training and prior college credits to determinecourse articulation and fulfillment of degree requirements. Maintain militaryarticulation database in Banner. Liaise with college departments to articulatemilitary occupational training to match college courses.
Referral source to community resourcessupporting military/veterans’ students, development and implementation ofprograms to support military affiliated students and training for staff.
Provides updates and maintains veteranfocused information and communication on college website in collaboration withMarketing and Communication.
Provide transfer advising to studentsinterested in attending four-year colleges and universities. Use transferarticulation technology and university partnership agreements to help studentsoptimize their course selection toward their four-year degrees. Assist thestudent in making contact with key staff at transfer universities, and withuniversity and scholarship applications.
Interpret and explain placement assessmentresults, transfer-in credit, and prior learning assessment and other equivalenciesto students (AP, etc). Advise and explain developmental course sequencing andrecommends appropriate courses for students’ program of major or degree path.
Support students in the career explorationprocess directing them to , collegeresources. Make referrals to counselors for students requiring in-depth careerplanning and job search assistance.
Monitor, contact and follow-up with studentsin assigned caseload. Utilize college advising technology to identify andprovide interventions for students who are most at risk for academicdifficulty.
Sustain extensive, current knowledge of Waubonseepolicies, Academic and Career programs, college catalogs, university transferagreements, and support system. Assists students with resolving issues byclarifying protocols and policies, directing them to appropriatedepartments/personnel.
Maintains standards and expectations onthorough and timely completion of student documentation in written form and/orin technology tools. Strictly adheres to college policies and federal policiesregarding students’ personal and academic information.
Perform other duties as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’sdegree required psychology, education, communications or related area. Master’sdegree preferred.
One– two years of experience working with military education benefits. SchoolCertifying Official training and understanding of military culture andsubcultures preferred. Experience withcase management is a plus.
Highlydetailed-oriented accompanied by strong written and verbal communication skillsand interpersonal skills. Ability to manage difficult conversations and providefeedback to explain reasons, policies and/or resolution. Bilingual (Spanish/English) fluency is a plus.
Excellentorganizational skills demonstrating ability to meet strict deadlines andprioritize multi-projects and tasks.
Strongtechnological skills including but not limited to college advising tools andplatforms and enterprise-wide systems and degree audit software.
Must bewilling and available to work at more than one campus, work a maximum of twoevenings per week (typically one evening per week) and up to four Saturdays peryear.
Please attach the following documents when applying:
- Cover Letter-Yes
- Resume-Yes
- References-Yes (Can be provided at interview)
- Transcripts-Yes (Can be provided at interview)
Position Details
req1760
Grant Funded: No
Minimum Starting Rate: 25.73
Compensation Type: Hourly
Work Schedule: M-F 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. One late night shift 10am - 6:30pm
Work Hours: 40 hrs/week
Testing: No
Targeted Hire Date: 7/1/2024
Special Instructions: Please attach all required documents at time of application.
EOE, including disability and veteran
