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The Department of Computer Science (CS) within the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering (CNSE) at the University at Albany, SUNY, invites applications for a full-time position to support the MS-CS and PhD-CS programs. This position plays a central role in guiding students through academic planning, course selection, program engagement, and career development. The advisor will work closely with students, faculty, and staff to ensure a supportive and enriching educational experience and help students navigate interdisciplinary opportunities and challenges in the computer science and software engineering fields. An integrative and student-centered approach is essential, as the role supports a diverse student body across multiple academic pathways, including several concentrations.

The successful candidate will join a department full of world-class educators and researchers who are deeply committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. In addition to advising responsibilities, the candidate will contribute to the broader academic community by participating in departmental and college-wide meetings, retreats, committees, and events such as orientation and graduation. The advisor is expected to learn our academic programs' rules and use exceptional communication and organizational skills to help students navigate the academic expectations to successfully complete their degrees. The advisor reports to the CS Department Chair and will work closely with the Graduate Program Director, administrative staff, and faculty. This is a unique opportunity to become part of a collaborative and supportive team dedicated to teaching future leaders in the software engineering field.

Primary Responsibilities:

+ Provide individualized academic advising and student support for graduate students in the CS programs, including course planning, degree progression, and referrals to university support services to address academic and non-academic challenges.

+ Organize and lead online group advising sessions to tell students how to register for the next semester (2 - 5 each semester)

+ Hold individual, one on one meetings to advise on specific problems and unusual situations

+ Process CPT and OPT and RCL requests

+ Respond to requests for non-CS electives

+ Review student requests to take non-CS graduate courses (e.g., ECE, Math, Informatics, Business Analytics)

+ Verify academic fit, prerequisites, and alignment with degree requirements

+ Coordinate with faculty to determine if the course can count toward the degree

+ Communicate decisions clearly and document approvals for graduation audits

+ Deal with requests for letters such as late arrivals and "yes we are STEM"

+ Help students with graduation application issues

+ Collaborate with faculty to stay informed about program requirements, curriculum changes, and emerging trends in the field, ensuring student advising aligns with academic and professional expectations. This role will participate in continuous process improvement as academic programs evolve. This is not a passive advising role; it requires initiative to ensure advising systems remain accurate and aligned with program modifications.

+ Responsibilities include:

+ Updating advising workflows, checklists, progression maps, and DegreeWorks materials when programs change

+ Incorporating new concentrations, course rotations, prerequisites

+ Recommending process improvements based on student trends, bottlenecks, and faculty feedback

+ Leading communication updates for advisors, faculty, ISSS, and admissions

+ Support students in identifying and pursuing experiential learning opportunities and career development resources that complement their academic and professional goals.

+ Explain and guide students through:

+ Graduate research opportunities (faculty labs, industry-sponsored projects)

+ Internships

+ Professional projects

+ On-campus employment (TA/GA roles, Learning Center, IT support)

+ Fellowships or scholars' programs

+ Make referrals, ensuring students know where and how to access career resources, and encourage them to create a plan aligned with their goals.

+ Coordinate with internal and external partners:

+ Communicating with Career Services, ISSS, and CNSE faculty

+ Connecting with companies who recruit CNSE students

+ Sharing internship or fellowship opportunities

+ Participate in recruitment, outreach, and orientation activities to promote the graduate programs, engage prospective students, and support retention and completion efforts.

+ Participation includes both recurring annual events and periodic recruitment/outreach initiatives:

+ Annual / Recurring Activities

+ Graduate Orientation (Fall and Spring) - presenting program expectations, academic policies, and advising procedures

+ Open Houses and Virtual Info Sessions - typically 2-4 per semester

+ International Student Welcome & ISSS sessions - 1-2 per cycle

+ Periodic Outreach

+ Responding to prospective student inquiries

+ Participating in recruitment webinars or industry-facing info sessions

+ Supporting pipeline programs (community colleges, industry-to-academia transitions)

+ Frequency

+ On average, 4-6 recruitment events per semester, plus orientation cycles, with some flexibility based on enrollment targets and departmental needs.

+ The advisor's role is representational and informational, ensuring prospective and incoming students receive accurate, consistent program guidance.

+ Maintain accurate advising documentation, contribute to departmental reporting, and ensure advising practices comply with institutional policies and accreditation standards.

+ Admissions:

+ Pull down all applications available to the department from SLATE and format into our reviewing spreadsheet

+ Review and correct GPA translations

+ Send results to grad admissions after each 2-week admissions sprint

+ Send welcome messages to admitted students - create and monitor SLATE campaigns

+ Organize and lead online sessions for admitted MS students

+ Pre-matriculation advising:

+ Oversee communication and outreach to admitted and deposited students to ensure timely course registration and completion of requirements for enrollment

+ Coordinate all logistics for the Discrete Math Exam, including scheduling, communications, exam delivery, getting proctors, coordinating with scan services for results and reporting results to faculty advisors

+ Plan and lead graduate student orientation, including developing agendas, coordinating presenters, preparing materials, and facilitating sessions to support successful onboarding.

Functional and Supervisory Relationships:

+ Reports to Computer Science Dept Chair

+ Supervises the following positions: none

+ May supervise employees as assigned

Job Requirements:

+ Communication Skills: The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in person, through written documents, through email, and through online communication channels such as zoom

+ Interpersonal Skills: The ability to respond positively and proactively to a large variety of behaviors and communication styles. The ability to provide positive reinforcement as well as compassionately convey negative consequences related to department, college, and university academic policies.

+ Academic Advising Expertise: Knowledge of advising principles, graduate education processes, and student development theory

+ Organizational and Administrative Skills: Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, maintain accurate records, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced academic setting

+ Collaborative and Problem-Solving Mindset: Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within and across departments and use sound judgment when addressing student needs or challenges. Ability to develop individual course pathways, when needed, to support student learning and seek approval from appropriate offices for any required waivers.

+ Technological Proficiency: Competence in using student information systems, advising tools, and office software to support student tracking, communication, and reporting

+ Strategic Skills: Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategies that enhance student retention, engagement, and career readiness

+ Respectful Attitude: Exhibits commitment to student-centered advisement, inclusivity, and interdisciplinary collaboration

+ Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex academic requirements clearly to students, faculty, and external stakeholders.

+ Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information in compliance with FERPA and institutional guidelines.

+ Organizational and time-management skills sufficient to handle high-volume student caseloads with accuracy and attention to detail.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

+ Bachelor's degree from a college or university accredited by the U.S. Department of Education or an internationally recognized accrediting organization.

+ 3-4 years of professional experience in higher education settings such as academic advising, student support services, college counseling, graduate program coordination, admissions, or related student-facing roles.

+ Demonstrated ability to interpret academic policies, program requirements, and progression rules to guide undergraduate or graduate students.

+ Experience supporting or advising culturally diverse and/or international student populations.

+ Applicants must demonstrate an ability to develop inclusive and equitable relationships within our diverse campus community

+ Applicants must demonstrate an ability to support diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and belonging relative to their role

Preferred Qualifications:

+ MA, MS, or Doctoral degree from a college or University accredited by the US Department of Education or internationally recognized accrediting organization

+ Educational background or professional experience in a computing, engineering, or other STEM field

+ Experience in university student advising, college counseling, or student services in a higher education setting

+ Experience working with student information systems, degree audit tools, or case-management platforms (e.g., PeopleSoft, Slate, DegreeWorks, Starfish, or equivalent).

+ Ability to work across disciplines to support students in various academic and professional pathways and understanding of the diverse needs of traditional and non-traditional students, such as first generation, underrepresented, low-income, remote, international, and working students

Working Environment:

+ This position is in-person

+ This position will require occasional evening and weekend work to support events and community activities

+ Occasional travel within New York State and beyond may be necessary

Additional Information:

This is a promotional opportunity for current UAlbany employees.

Eligibility for Consideration:

+ You must be employed at the University at Albany campus.

+ You must be in a State-funded UUP professional position (MC employees are not eligible).

+ You must have a permanent, term, or probationary appointment. Only temporary employees employed by UAlbany for three or more consecutive years can be considered eligible.

For details concerning the University's Promotion Policy for Professional Employees, please see HR Memorandum 88-4 (https://www.albany.edu/hr/promotion.php) .

Professional Rank and Salary Grade: Senior Academic Advisor, SL4, $64,454

Special Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. If you currently need sponsorship or will need it in the future to maintain employment authorization, you do not meet eligibility requirements. Additionally, please note that UAlbany is not an E-Verify employer.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, or Clery Act, mandates that all Title IV institutions, without exception, prepare, publish and distribute an Annual Security Report. This report consists of two basic parts: disclosure of the University's crime statistics for the past three years; and disclosures regarding the University's current campus security policies. The University at Albany's Annual Security Report is available in portable document format [PDF] by clicking this link http://police.albany.edu/ASR.shtml (https://www.albany.edu/police/statistics-and-records)

Pursuant to NYS Labor Law 194-A, no State entity, as defined by the Law, is permitted to rely on, orally or in writing seek, request, or require in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current wage, or salary history as a condition to be interviewed, or as a condition of continuing to be considered for an offer of employment, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation, and for the purpose of verifying information, may such requests be made. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at [email protected].

THE UNIVERSITY AT ALBANY IS AN EO/AA/IRCA/ADA EMPLOYER

Please apply online via http://albany.interviewexchange.com/candapply.jsp?JOBID=195893