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Overview

SMFA Advising focuses on the academic aspect of students’ lives at the SMFA at Tufts.

We foster student growth and artistic empowerment by advising, nurturing, and celebrating our students, and by removing roadblocks so they can successfully navigate the University.

We also inform and guide students to all the artistic, academic, social, emotional, and spiritual supports the University has to offer.

We collaborate with faculty and staff to advocate for our student artists so they can reach their full potential.

What You'll Do

This is a hybrid position expected to be on-campus 3 days a week and remote 2 days a week.

The Senior Academic Advisor serves as a proactive academic advisor to BFA students at the SMFA at Tufts. The Senior Academic Advisor supports students in their engagement with the SMFA and Arts & Sciences curriculums, helps them navigate university procedures, and acts as an accessible source for information about curriculum requirements, course selection, and campus resources. Supporting the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising, the Senior Academic Advisor provides logistical support, programming, research, and data analysis for a team-based approach to academic advising, New Student Orientation, the SMFA at Tufts Experience, and undergraduate retention efforts.

Advising and Communications:

• Serve on the academic advising team for all BFA students in the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University. Recommend appropriate courses based on program-specific learning paths. Advise students regarding department and university academic regulations, requirements, and guidelines. Interpret college and university requirements as applicable.
• Provide individualized support to at-risk students: Assess students’ skills and areas for improvement, monitor progress through detailed record-keeping, and provide referrals to other resources such as the StAAR Center, CMHS, Career Counseling, DOSA, the I-Center, Global Education, and others
• Develop internal communications, including newsletters and email communications in collaboration with the SMFA Advising team. Write and design program materials. Produce material for website and develops/shares content for social media.
• Develop and deliver presentations that engage students with information about SMFA at Tufts and campus resources. Identify resources beneficial to student success and, where possible, develop new resources
• Conduct one-on-one and group advising sessions during critical advising periods (Add/Drop, Pre-Reg, study abroad, and graduation).
• Maintain records of confidential advising sessions regarding academic progress to ensure advising continuity
• Support Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising on additional projects as necessary.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Knowledge and skills as typically acquired by a Bachelor’s degree.
• Commitment to advising, mentoring, and guiding college students.
• Superior interpersonal skills, including flexibility and approachability.
• Excellent skills in written and oral communication; able to write, edit, and proofread educational documents and other publications. Confidence and experience in teaching, public speaking, or giving effective presentations before large groups.
• Proficient with technology, including various software programs and applications for writing documents, making spreadsheets, creating databases, producing brochures and slideshows, and communicating through web-based audio-video services.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree preferred; preferred educational background in the Art and/or Design, Education, Higher Education or Counseling.
• Two or more years of related experience as an instructor, advisor, tutor, mentor, or administrator in a college or university setting, preferrable with a focus in art or design.
• Additional experience working in other areas of university student services, such as student affairs, campus life programs, college learning center, multicultural affairs, bridge programs, and retention programs.
• Dedication to serving and supporting a diverse student population, including students of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, students with disabilities, and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes.
• Proficient with a variety of social media platforms and tools for sharing documents, images, and video online.
• Must be able to work independently, think on one’s feet, set priorities, and manage time effectively.

Special Work Schedule Requirements:

Occasional Evening or weekend hours may be required.