Academic Advisor

Position Summary:

The Academic Advisor supports undergraduate students through their academic journey, serving as the primary academic advisor until students reach approximately 60 earned credits. In this role, Academic Advisors guide students in academic planning, degree exploration, and institutional navigation while helping students build the skills needed for long-term academic success.

Job Description:

Job Summary:

The Academic Advisor supports undergraduate students through their academic journey, serving as the primary academic advisor until students reach approximately 60 earned credits. In this role, Academic Advisors guide students in academic planning, degree exploration, and institutional navigation while helping students build the skills needed for long-term academic success.

Academic Advisors manage caseloads based on academic major, program or other cohorts, develop and maintain accurate academic plans in Workday, and monitor student progress toward key milestones. Academic Advisors intentionally prepare and support a structured transition to faculty advising, ensuring students move forward with a clear, accurate academic plan and an understanding of ongoing advising expectations.

This position directly advances the College’s Strategic Plan by supporting student persistence, retention and timely progress towards degree completion. Through proactive, equity-minded advising and early academic intervention, Academic Advisors contribute to Fort Lewis College’s commitment to being a student-ready institution – reducing structural barriers, improving student experience, and supporting successful outcomes of all students.

In addition to direct advising, Advisors contribute to shared advising initiatives, collaborate closely with academic departments, and support continuous improvement of advising practices within Enrollment Management.

This role is well-suited for individuals who value relationship-building, problem-solving, and equity-minded student support in a collaborative, fast-paced, high-impact environment.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Academic Advising & Student Success Support (55%)

• Manage an assigned caseload of undergraduate students and provide individualized academic advising aligned with degree requirements and student goals.

• Help students develop academic plans, understand degree requirements, select courses, and explore majors, minors, and co-curricular opportunities.

• Use advising systems and data to support accurate academic planning, track student progress and inform student decision‑making.

• Support transfer students by reviewing prior coursework, evaluating degree progress, and developing clear pathways to degree completion.

• Maintain and manage advising availability (appointments and drop-ins) and provide advising through individual, small group, and orientation sessions, including high-volume periods (e.g., orientation, registration, add/drop), while maintaining accuracy and a student-centered approach.

• Apply professional judgment and maintain broad working knowledge of academic policies, institutional processes, and related financial aid considerations to guide students through complex academic decisions and next steps.

• Help students identify challenges, address barriers, and stay on track toward graduation by providing accurate information and using sound judgment, connecting them to appropriate campus resources, and coordinating support with campus partners (including counseling, wellness, and support services) while maintaining clear advising boundaries.

Proactive Caseload Management & Outreach (20%)

• Advisors are responsible for actively managing their caseload of primary advisees through intentional outreach, engagement strategies, and use of data to support student progress and timely completion.

• Develop and implement proactive outreach strategies aligned with key academic milestones (e.g., orientation, registration, academic standing, course alerts, credit momentum, advisor transition).

• Monitor caseload engagement and outcomes, adjusting outreach and follow-up efforts to ensure students remain on track.

• Meet established performance expectations and measurable advising metrics – including outreach volume, timeliness, documentation accuracy, and quality of student engagement – to support re-enrollment and retention goals for your caseload, as defined by the Director

• Balance walk-in advising availability with planned, developmental advising interactions.

• Participate in team-based advising campaigns and shared outreach efforts to support student persistence and timely registration.

• Use academic plans, milestone tracking, and advising data to identify students in need of support and conduct timely outreach.

Collaboration & Departmental Engagement (15%)

• Serve as a primary advising liaison to assigned academic departments and collaborate to support student success and advising continuity.

• Monitor student progress toward the 60-credit transition point and communicate with academic departments to support timely advisor assignment and continuity of advising.

• Support students in understanding the distinct roles of professional advisors and faculty advisors and what to expect during the transition.

• Participate in group advising efforts and advising-related meetings with academic departments as appropriate.

• Interpret and communicate curriculum requirements, advising considerations, and policy updates to students and advising colleagues.

Professional Practice & Administrative Responsibilities (10%)

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential advising records, including documentation of student interactions and referrals, in accordance with institutional standards, FERPA requirements, and data policies.

• Apply institutional policy and professional judgment to ensure accurate academic records, degree audits, and external compliance requirements (e.g., scholarship verification, placement processes).

• Participate in required meetings, training, and professional development activities.

• Contribute to a collaborative advising environment that supports consistency, equity, and high-quality advising practices

• Maintain knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508 and produces and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.

• Perform other duties as assigned

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution

• Minimum of two years' experience working in advising, coaching, mentoring, education or student/client success support role.

• Demonstrated ability to apply professional judgement, manage competing priorities, and work effectively in a fast-paced, student-facing environment

• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to build rapport with students from broadly diverse backgrounds.

• Ability to learn, retain and apply academic policies, institutional processes, and advising tools in support of student success

• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail, particularly in maintaining accurate records and documentation.

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, education, or a related field

• Experience in academic advising, student success, or retention-focused work within higher education

• Familiarity with degree audit systems, academic planning tools, early alert platforms or CRM Systems (Workday Student, Slate, etc.)

• Knowledge of proactive advising or caseload management models

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:

This employee reports to the Director of the Skyhawk Station and Advising

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic).

Ability to work in a confined area.

Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential function

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard reach, stoop kneel to install computer equipment

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision requirements due to computer work

Light to moderate lifting is required

Travel:

Less than 10% travel for conferences, trainings, etc.

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work/ and Salary Range:

Exempt

Full Time

Permanent

Full Year

Typical Work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Occasional evening and weekends may be required to support student registration, orientations, visit events, etc.

Compensation

The salary range is $50,500 to $54,000 , plus a comprehensive benefits package

Application Process 
A complete application packet includes: 

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position.

• Resume 

• Names and contact information for three current, professional references.

Application materials received by 11:59 PM on May 3, 2026, will receive full consideration.

The successful candidate will be required to submit official transcripts

and pass a background check.

About Fort Lewis College:

On a sage-brushed mesa overlooking downtown Durango and the La Plata Mountains, Fort Lewis College is Southwest Colorado’s premier public undergraduate research institution. With more than half of the 3,300 students identifying as people of color, FLC’s academic programming and campus life thrive on nurturing safe, diverse spaces for intellectual exploration and helping people achieve their career goals. A Native American-serving, Non-Tribal Institution, FLC is committed to promoting economic development in neighboring tribal communities and connecting students with the education they need to be the change in the world they want to see. Degree programs span the arts, business, education, health sciences, humanities, and social and natural sciences. Coursework builds on the natural, cultural, and historical resources found around the Four Corners region. Students work closely with faculty on research projects with real-world implications. Like the mountain town it resides in, FLC promotes a culture of work-life balance for students, faculty, and staff. Skyhawks enjoy unparalleled access to a healthy outdoor lifestyle thanks to 300 days of sunshine a year and more than 300 miles of hiking and biking trails in and around Durango

Notice to Prospective Employees:
 The Fort Lewis College is required by the Clery Act of 1990 to notify prospective employees, current employees, students and applicants where to access our Campus Security Report.  The report is updated and published annually in accordance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, Federal Student Right-to-Know, the Federal Drug-free Schools and Campuses Act of 1989. This report contains information about:

• Fort Lewis College's alcohol and other drug policy

• Sexual assault policy

• Campus security policies

• Campus/community resources

• The Colorado Riot Offense Statute restriction on enrollment

• Where to find registered sex offender information

• Crime statistics for the previous three calendar years

• Reporting crimes

 
 The Campus Security Report can be accessed in two ways:
By going to the internet website at:   www.fortlewis.edu/AnnualSecurityReport Fort Lewis College Student Affairs Office will also provide a paper copy of the annual security report upon request.   You can reach them at (970) 247-7331.

Equal Opportunity
Fort Lewis College does not discriminate on the basis of race, age, color, religion, national origin, sex*, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family or domestic status, political beliefs, veteran status, pregnancy, or genetic information. Accordingly, equal opportunity for employment shall be extended to all persons. The College shall promote equal opportunity, equal treatment, and affirmative action efforts to increase the diversity of students, faculty, and staff. The College is dedicated to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and staff committed to teaching and working in a multicultural environment. To file a report, get resources, read policies, or make an appointment, See www.fortlewis.edu/CARE.

Discrimination Questions?

Office of Compliance and Community Standards
David Pirrone, Director of Compliance
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7182 djpirrone@fortlewis.edu

Questions about Title IX sex discrimination?    
Office of the Title IX Coordinator
Madeleine Gillman, Assistant Director of Compliance and Title IX Coordinator
210 Berndt Hall
1000 Rim Drive
Durango, Colorado 81301
(970) 247-7049 mgillman@fortlewis.edu

Information about Fort Lewis College’s alcohol and drug policy, sexual assault policy, campus security policies, campus crime statistics, fire safety procedures and fire statistics, and campus/community resources can be found in the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. Hard copies are available upon request.

* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Fort Lewis College may be directed to FLC's Title IX Coordinator and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.

ADAA Accommodations
Any person with a disability as defined by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA) may be provided a reasonable accommodation upon request to enable the person to complete an employment assessment. To request an accommodation, please contact Kristin Polens by phone 970-247-7459 or email kpolens@fortlewis.edu at least five business days before the assessment date to allow us to evaluate your request and prepare for the accommodation. You may be asked to provide additional information, including medical documentation, regarding functional limitations and type of accommodation needed. Please ensure that you have this information available well in advance of the assessment date.