ASA Position Description

Academic Student Advisor
Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center

Old Main 387     360.650.3100    aasac.wwu.edu

Position Title:    Academic Student Advisor (ASA) Position Classification: Peer Advisor 1        

Wage:    $16.28/hour ($17.28/hour starting May 1)

Reports to:   Kristin Alten, Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center (AASAC), altenk@wwu.edu

Hours/Week:  Spring 4-5 hours/week; Summer 24-31 hours/week during Advising & Registration (A&R) sessions; additional hours offered for scheduled sessions during the academic year. Must be available for all paid ASA training dates and times in spring and summer and all A&R session dates, see chart below.

Application Process:   Applications are available beginning winter quarter via the AASAC website at https://aasac.wwu.edu/become-academic-student-advisor and the Student Employment website at www.finaid.wwu.edu/studentjobs/. 
The position is open until filled with a priority deadline of 11:59pm on Monday, January 29, 2024. Applications received after that will be considered on an on-going basis until the position is filled.

Start date:    Employment and training begins spring quarter 2024.

Position Description:    

The Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center (AASAC) employs a diverse team of motivated, accountable, resourceful, and enthusiastic student leaders as Academic Student Advisors (ASAs) to welcome and assist new students in advising and registration in their transition to the student experience at Western Washington University. During Advising & Registration (A&R) sessions, ASAs make important connections with new students and families, share valuable campus and community resources, facilitate group advising information, and work collaboratively with peer and professional staff to create a positive and successful advising and registration experience in alignment with the AASAC mission and goals.

ASAs are required to work during training dates spring quarter as well as training and session dates for A&R sessions occurring in July, August, and September. Students who intend to enroll in a summer class are encouraged to apply. In specific situations, AASAC may be able to work around certain individual conflicts on a case-by-case basis. 

For the 2024 Advising & Registration sessions that take place in July, August, and September, ASAs will be working remotely. Spring quarter training will be hybrid with both in-person and online training sessions. 
 

Minimum Qualifications:
•    Eligibility for summer employment contingent on successful completion of spring quarter training.
•    Completion of at least one quarter at WWU and at least 25 college level credits (may include AP, IB, Running Start, College in the High School, or transfer credit) prior to Spring 2024.
•    A student must be an undergraduate with a minimum WWU GPA of 2.0 by the start of the position in April.  
•    Must intend to enroll in classes through Western’s Bellingham campus during fall quarter 2024.
•    Candidates must have strong interpersonal communication and public speaking skills.
•    Candidates must be able to work independently and with groups with a responsible, self-motivated, and proactive work ethic.
•    Candidates must be detail-oriented and conscientious about providing accurate information.
•    Strong leadership, presentation, and customer service skills.
•    Commitment to serving students, families, staff, and community members.
•    Confidential workspace with computer, webcam, headset and reliable internet access for remote work. AASAC may be able to facilitate access to this, if needed. 
 

Position Responsibilities:

•    Participate in all scheduled training and session dates listed below in timeline chart.
•    Participate in a variety of session assignments including greeting participants, session check-in, assisting new students with registration, and other duties as assigned.
•    Deliver advising and registration presentations to groups of new students during A&R sessions.
•    Help new students review transfer credit and understand Western’s graduation requirements, specifically the General University Requirements (GURs). 
•    Help new students identify their math course placement based on available assessment information, transfer courses, and major interests.
•    Assist new students in development of class schedules, utilization of registration resources, and to successfully register for their first quarter classes.
•    Model a positive faculty/staff to student relationship by collaborating with faculty/staff during academic advising sessions. 
•    Be punctual, reliable, and professional in the performance of all responsibilities.
•    Demonstrate a positive attitude, work ethic and energy throughout all session activities.
•    Must act and work in accordance with WWU and AASAC mission and goals, serving as a positive role model and representative of WWU at all times.

Benefits: 
•    Develop skills as a student leader.
•    Strengthen communication skills and gain experience presenting information to small groups.
•    Enhance your interpersonal skills through working one-on-one with students.
•    Expand your knowledge of academic information, policies, procedures, and services.
•    Gain experience in a remote work setting and enhance proficiency in technology through utilizing Zoom and Teams.

Timeline of Training and Program Dates
All dates are mandatory and essential to the Academic Student Advisor experience. Additional mandatory learning opportunities and/or session activities may be scheduled. Students who intend to enroll in a summer class are encouraged to apply. In specific situations, AASAC may be able to work around certain individual conflicts on a case-by-case basis. If any of the below dates present a problem for you, please contact Kristin Alten for further discussion.

*The Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center is currently in conversation with key campus partners to discuss dates for 2024 Advising and Registration sessions. Fall A&R sessions will be delivered virtually in Zoom. 

For more information, please contact Academic Advising & Student Achievement Center at (360) 650-3100 or Kristin Alten at altenk@wwu.edu.