Baccalaureate Advisor

Unity Environmental University is seeking a Baccalaureate Advisor to support student success and retention. The role involves guiding students in achieving academic and career goals, providing customer service, and engaging with both active and stopped-out students through various communication methods. The position focuses on monitoring academic progress, assisting with registrations, and implementing retention strategies. This role is designed for a flexible, online learning environment.
About Unity:

At Unity Environmental University we are on a mission to make
environmental education accessible and affordable to all. Our
unique model combines a functional hierarchy and project-based
structure through our four Sustainable Education Business Units
(SEBUs) to promote collaboration and innovation (Distance
Education, Sustainable Ventures, and In-Person Education). We
prioritize our students' needs above all else, offering a variety
of modalities, including in-person, and online. Our innovative and
inclusive culture prepares students to tackle real-world challenges
and cultivate the next generation of environmental professionals
and leaders who can make a positive impact on our world.

Our Mission:

We are dedicated to delivering quality education and experiences
that produce outstanding environmentally competent professionals
and inspire individuals from all walks of life to steward
sustainable ecosystems.

About Distance Education: Distance Education provides an
entirely asynchronous, online learning experience that adapts to
the unique circumstances of each student. Our fully accredited
bachelor's and master's degree programs, as well as non-degree
credits, empower learners to shape their own educational journey.
With 8 five-week terms for undergraduates and 5 eight-week terms
for graduate students, our model offers unparalleled flexibility.
You can learn at your own pace, and take breaks as needed. By using
your everyday environment as your laboratory, you'll integrate your
studies into your daily life. This makes our education ideal for
busy professionals who seek to advance their careers while still
honoring their commitments. We are committed to empowering our
students to become the changemakers our world needs, wherever they
are.

The Opportunity:

The Baccalaureate Advisor supports student success, retention, and
completion by guiding students to achieve their academic and career
goals. The position will provide exceptional customer service to
both active and stopped-out students. Advisors will help guide
students through their educational experience by planning and
processing registrations, monitoring billing and payments, tracking
course participation and academic success, assisting with career
preparations, advising regarding university policies and
expectations, tracking progress towards completion, monitoring
stop-out terms, supporting academic success and engagement with the
university and program of study by being proficient in general
knowledge and responsibilities.

Advisors will proactively engage active and stopped-out students,
performing regular outreach through phone calls, texts, emails, and
video meetings. As the primary point of contact for all
out-of-class needs, this position should be able to address common
student questions and de-escalate basic concerns. All student and
inter-office communications must be professional and timely. The
advisor will maintain regular communications and deploy retention
strategies to engage stopped-out students to help them remain
connected to their academic and career goals and re-enroll in their
program of study. Advisors will be equipped to support any current,
stopped-out or reapplying student contacting the university for
general assistance.

Day to day responsibilities:
• Retention and Completion
• Support student success by providing exceptional customer
service and guiding students through their educational and career
preparation journey.
• Focus on retention and completion by persistently engaging
stopped-out students and supporting reapplies in enrollment to help
students meet their academic and career goals.
• Must have a broad knowledge of university programs, policies,
and processes, including FERPA, SAP, the baccalaureate degree
programs, military benefits, student resources, and supports, and
be highly proficient in assisting with financial aid, billing, and
payment options.
• Help students achieve their academic and career goals by:
• Accurately registering students for the courses needed in their
programs of study
• Supporting students through term starts (add/drop) by tracking
balances, participation and working with students to make payment
arrangements for tuition and fees, including financial aid
documentation
• Assist students with career preparations
• Follow up with university offices and individuals to answer
student questions and provide the support needed
• Tracking participation and academic success in courses
• Providing students with resources and tools to succeed
• Reviewing and executing academic plans for students through
graduation
• Celebrating successes and milestones
• Under the direction of Assistant Deans, support strategies for
effective advising and retention efforts.
• Stratus & Communications
• Must work proficiently in Salesforce/Stratus, maintaining an
accurate record of all communications in Stratus and completing
tasks related to registration, student questions, and data
integrity.
• Proactively communicate with students through phone calls,
texts, emails, and video meetings - other effective technologies as
part of the student support process, addressing general questions
and de-escalating common concerns.
• Provide students with excellent customer service and support by
responding to inquiries professionally and timely, within 1
business day, with additional attention provided over term start
weekends.
• Answers general phone queries for any matriculated student,
regardless of assigned advisor, both registered or stopped out,
through completion.
• Evening and weekend availability to support student needs, and
ensuring that there is coverage amongst the team so phone lines are
covered until 8 PM EST.
• Promote Unity, its students and goals:
• Meet or exceed term and annual goals.
• Support the work of DE Student Success by contributing to
improving and documenting processes, scripts, templates and
workflows.
• Understand how to work with non-traditional and adult
learners.
• Be proficient, accurate, and positive in an organization
committed to evolving practices that best meet our student
needs.
• Submit timely reports on all retention activities as
needed.
• Proactively communicate challenges, successes, and failures
with their supervisors.
• Participate in training and professional development
opportunities to stay current, effective, and efficient.
• Attend and help organize institutional/DE events such as
orientations, open houses, commencement, etc.
• Promote University enrollment initiatives and student
engagement opportunities.

Qualifications

Do you have the skills?
• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience in customer service, sales, student advising or
support
• Excellent initiative and organizational skills with the ability
to work both autonomously and in a team.
• Great time management skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with strong
interpersonal skills.
• Ability and willingness to work with students from diverse
political/socioeconomic backgrounds and a wide range of physical
and academic abilities.
• Good skills in word processing, spreadsheets and computerized
database systems.
• Detail-oriented.
• Personal commitment to the environmental focus and mission of
the Institution.
• Ability to function effectively within a matrix organizational
structure, maintaining open lines of communication while being
discreet, courteous, and well-poised.
• Valid state Driver’s License with a good driving record.

Preferred skills:
• Master’s degree
• Previous experience working with online learning
platforms.
• Working knowledge of career services, financial aid, or
registrar functions
• Knowledge of database systems such as CRM and SIS, ideally
Salesforce
• Exceptional track record in customer service, sales, student
advising or support

Are you thinking about applying but unsure if it's the right
fit? We encourage you to reach out anyway. We recognize that
everyone brings different experiences and skills to the table. Take
a chance and submit your application; you might be exactly who
we're looking for

Location: Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, Maine

Just a half hour from Portland, Unity Environmental University
Headquarters, Unity Environmental University Distance Education,
The Technical School for Environmental Professions, and the School
of Environmental Business & Sustainable Ventures are based at
the Pineland Farms campus. The facilities are within easy access to
one of the fastest-growing cities for startups in the
country.

Work Schedule:

Work hours are specific to the requirements of this position and
can include days, evenings, and weekends. Working extended hours
required as needed. Must be flexible and cooperative in fulfilling
responsibilities and meeting the Institution’s needs. Although
Unity Environmental University employees are generally scheduled to
work at their specifically assigned locations, there are times when
travel is necessary and employees are required from time to time to
attend events, meetings or work temporary assignment at any Unity
Environmental University location.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, it is regularly required
to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to
stand or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up
to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include
close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception,
and the ability to adjust focus. The use of either hand for
repetitive movements such as grasping, grasping and turning, and
fine manipulation is required as is the ability to use the
telephone for internal and external communications.

Company Perks:

Unity Environmental University offers a comprehensive and
competitive compensation and benefits package for its faculty and
staff. Benefits for eligible employees include:
• Paid holidays off
• 4 weeks of PTO
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Short- and Long-term disability
• Life Insurance
• Retirement Plan with up to 8% match
• Relocation Assistance