University of Chicago·Chicago, Illinois
Academic advisers provide student-centered support to undergraduates by guiding them through course selection, degree requirements, and academic planning. They maintain supportive relationships with a diverse caseload of students and collaborate with campus partners to ensure student success.
About the Department The College Academic Advising Office (CAAO) is situated in the Office of the Dean of Students in the College, which has broad responsibility for the success of all undergraduate students and reports to the Dean of the College.
The College Academic Advising Office provides student-centered support for undergraduates to explore their individual academic and co-curricular interests and plan a path to graduation through a rigorous liberal arts education.
CAAO staff assists students in self-reflection and making meaning of their UChicago experience, in addition to navigating University policies and connecting to campus resources.
The Dean of Students staff needs to understand and communicate with students about University policies and the College curriculum.
They also interact with faculty, parents, and partner offices.
The Office of the Dean of Students in the College and the College Academic Advising Office are committed to enriching the working environment for all staff by promoting a culture of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability.
We invite individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities to apply.
Job Summary Academic advisers serve as generalists in advising a caseload of first-year through fourth-year students across all academic major and minor programs of study.
Advising responsibilities include maintaining supportive relationships with students through one-on-one and group meetings.
Beginning in the summer before matriculation, advisers consult with students on course selection, curricular choices, academic programming, making progress towards meeting graduation requirements, study abroad planning, and connecting students to opportunities which match their interests.
Academic advisers also help students navigate challenges and regularly make referrals to partner offices and resources as needed.
Employees in this role also participate in College initiatives and serve as a liaison to the academic programs of study.
Advisers must be knowledgeable about the curriculum, University policies, multiple systems for tracking student information, University resources for students, while also having a strong relational focus for building relationships with students.
Supports undergraduate student progress on academic programs across all years and areas of study. Conducts regular one-on-one meetings with students to discuss academic programs, choice of major, academic progress, long-term goals, and making meaning of their UChicago experience. Meets with incoming and transfer students during the summer months to support their successful transition by building supportive relationships and initial course planning for Autumn Quarter. Employs counseling and relational skills for assisting students in distress and establishes good working relationships with a diverse student population. Manages an advising caseload by using University databases to run lists and queries of assigned students, record notes on student interactions, and monitor students’ progress towards completion of their degrees. Maintains collaborative relationships with campus partners and makes timely referrals as needed to connect students to resources and support services. Develops deep knowledge of Core curriculum and programs of study outlined in the College Catalog. Remains informed on study abroad programs, internships, campus jobs, student activities, and joint-degree/4+1 graduate programs. Serves as a liaison to one or more academic departments and updates staff on developments to majors and minors. Understands and interprets University policies and deadlines and communicates them effectively to students. Documents and processes special approvals to students’ degree programs as necessary. Provides guidance on student petitions as needed. Responds in a timely manner to student, staff, faculty, and parent communication. Participates in staff development trainings, class visits, and weekly meetings. Assists senior staff members on voluntary projects. Advises students with minor academic difficulties and counseling while responding to queries from faculty, staff and parents. Writes letters of recommendation for students for jobs, scholarships, and graduate schools. Performs other related work as needed.
Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications: ---
Education: Master’s degree, with a 5-year minimum gap between date of college graduation and appointment.
The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Scheduled Weekly Hours 37.5
Pay Rate Type Salary FLSA Status Exempt Pay Range $58,656.00 - $61,000.00 The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Eligible Yes The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.
Candidates must have a college degree and 2-5 years of related work experience. A master's degree and professional experience in higher education are preferred.
Market context
Academic adviser openings in Illinois are typically tied to student retention, enrollment support, and academic planning needs at colleges and universities. Competition can be stronger for roles that prefer a master’s degree and higher education experience, so candidates should emphasize advising outcomes, student support work, and familiarity with campus systems. Review the AI-summarized requirements and benefits here to save time, then confirm how your degree, experience, and advising approach match the original posting before applying.