Graduate Program Academic Advisor

Advertising Summary: 

The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for a Graduate Program Academic Advisor. Reporting to the Director of Academic Advising, the Graduate Academic Advisor provides holistic student support to graduate students enrolled in Wilder School masters-level programs. This position works with faculty, campus partners, and the greater academic advising community from recruitment through graduation to ensure student academic success while adhering to the Graduate School’s guidelines and academic policies. This position maintains on-going accurate records and data to monitor student progress throughout their studies and ensures that students are certified for graduation in a timely manner. This position develops, interprets, documents, implements, assesses, and applies University, State, Federal, and School policies and procedures in order to ensure the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective delivery of graduate student support services. 

• Assists graduate students by utilizing Navigate, Degreeworks, e-services, and Wilder internal databases to provide timely outreach and maintain organized student records.
• Offers regularly scheduled advising appointments and establishes rapport with assigned caseload each semester.
• Proactively reviews graduation applications and degree audit toward improving time to degree and ensuring students are meeting all requirements towards completing their program of study.
• Fostering innovation and supporting undergraduate academic advisors in helping their students navigate accelerated masters programs.
• Monitor graduate student academic performance and provide intervention when students are not in good academic standing.
• Develops, implements, and evaluate strategies in alignment with the Wilder School’s retention and recruitment goals.
• In addition to advising responsibilities, the Graduate Academic Advisor will work closely with the Senior Graduate Advisor and Director of Academic Advising in creating effective student-centered programming.

Unit: Graduate STyu

Department: L D Wilder Sch of Govt & Pub Affrs

Department Summary:

The Wilder School's mission is to:

• Engage, teach and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.
• Advance research that informs public policy and decision-making to improve our communities.
• Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance the quality of life.

The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 16% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 36 and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 8 in Homeland Security Programs, and No. 25 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,400 students and more than 12,000 alumni, with an established environment where multiple perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.

Our location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the communities we serve, providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and experience necessary for success.

For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website at https://wilder.vcu.edu/.

The Academic Advising and Student Services unit at the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs provides comprehensive academic advising to support undergraduate and graduate students in achieving their educational, professional, and personal goals. The office provides high-quality, student-centered advising that promotes timely degree completion, enhances retention and graduation rates, and fosters engagement within the Wilder School community. Advisors collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus partners to provide accurate information, proactive outreach, and targeted interventions that address academic progress, career planning, and student well-being.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Director of Academic Advising, the Graduate Academic Advisor provides holistic student support to graduate students enrolled in Wilder School masters-level programs. This position works with faculty, campus partners, and the greater academic advising community from recruitment through graduation to ensure student academic success while adhering to the Graduate School’s guidelines and academic policies. This position maintains on-going accurate records and data to monitor student progress throughout their studies and ensures that students are certified for graduation in a timely manner. Develops, interprets, documents, implements, assesses, and applies University, State, Federal, and School policies and procedures in order to ensure the most efficient, timely, and cost-effective delivery of graduate student support services.

Core Duties and Responsibilities:

Provide Academic Advising Services to Assigned Students – 30%

• Advise students regarding departmental, collegiate, and University policies and procedures; programs of study; and the development of appropriate academic plans and pathway mapping.
• Assist adult learner students with problem-solving and decision-making.
• Proactively communicate to students to assist with registration and program planning, inform of policy and/or curricular changes and important deadlines.
• Offer in-person appointments, phone appointments, and email advising; be available for walk-in advising.
• Assist students in identifying their interests, abilities, and academic goals and in making decisions regarding their academic career.
• Introduce students to opportunities that will enrich their academic experience, facilitate their academic and personal development, and support their educational success.
• Make appropriate referrals to other university resources.

Collaborate with University Partners on Matters that Impact Student Recruitment, Success, and Retention – 20%

• Participate in recruitment activities, programs, and initiatives.
• Provide advising information to prospective students.
• Provide advising services to students during new student orientation.
• Support departmental, school, and University retention initiatives.
• Contact continuing students who do not register for classes.
• Work with students to create academic performance plans to ensure the student regains good academic standing.
• Identify and advise on administrative barriers that may impact program completion rates.

Maintain Accurate and Confidential Records of Student Information, Including Advising Interactions – 40%

• Participate in recruitment activities, programs, and initiatives.
• Provide advising information to prospective students.
• Provide advising services to students during new student orientation.
• Support departmental, school, and University retention initiatives.
• Contact continuing students who do not register for classes.
• Work with students to create academic performance plans to ensure the student regains good academic standing.

Monitor Student Progression in Degree Program Using Advising Checkpoints – 5%

• Use DegreeWorks and internal auditing process to determine student’s progress in completing degree requirements.
• Ensure students are in compliance with the continuous enrollment policy.
• Conduct final audit of student account prior to degree conferral.

Provide leadership within the department – 5%

• Provide direction and guidance to program assistants.
• Collaborate with Director of Academic Advising to implement unit programs and initiatives (manage assessment of programming, and manage marketing and promotion).
• Lead new student orientation sessions.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in one of the disciplines in the School of Government & Public Affairs, student affairs, college counseling or a related field.
• Minimum of one year of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.
• Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication skills as well as customer service; must be detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in MS Office Suite and Google Drive collaboration services.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in the management, coordination, and execution of team projects and programming.
• Excellent writing, analytical, problem-solving, and public speaking skills.
• Demonstrated experience working autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum 3-5 years of demonstrated experience providing academic advising in a college or university setting.
• Previous experience advising graduate students.
• Demonstrated experience using Degree Works, Banner, and Navigate.
• Demonstrated ability to manage academic processes within and across academic units.
• Demonstrated experience recruiting graduate students.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a large volume of administrative work.

Salary Range: $51,500 to $53,100

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

Application Submission/Other Information:

All applications should include a cover letter and a detailed resume with the names and contact information of three professional references.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled, with priority review beginning May 22, 2026.

As a preeminent national, urban, public research university and academic health center, Virginia Commonwealth University is committed to an environment where all can thrive in their pursuit of excellence. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: 10211Y - Academic Advisor AA 1

Search Contact Name: Bridget Lyons 

Search Contact Email: belyons@vcu.edu 

 

Public research university and academic medical center in Richmond.