Academic Advisor, Radio/Television/Film & Theatre

The Office of Undergraduate Programs and Advising (OUPA) in the Northwestern University School of Communication (SoC).is seeking to hire one full-time undergraduate academic advisors to join a vibrant, creative and intellectually engaging community committed to supporting undergraduate students' access to academic, co-curricular, wellness and career resources.

The School of Communication grants two undergraduate degrees: the Bachelor of Science and the Bachelor of Arts in Communication (BSCMN or BACMN) and participates in dual degree programs with the Bienen School of Music and the McCormick School of Engineering. The School offers six undergraduate major programs (Communication Studies, Human Communication Sciences, Dance, Performance Studies, Radio/Television/Film, and Theatre) seven minor programs, a robust modular curricula, and a certificate in Music Theatre. The School of Communication is also a key collaborator in offering a Certificate in Human-Computer Interaction.

Students in the School of Communication are assigned to an academic advisor at the time of matriculation and are required to meet with their academic advisor throughout their undergraduate career. Academic advisors serve as resources for students, providing guidance regarding course selection, degree progress, University policies and procedures, campus resources, professional development opportunities and personal goals.

School of Communication undergraduate academic advisors hold appointments in the OUPA and concurrent non-tenure eligible (NTE) teaching-track appointments in academic departments or programs in the School. This position reports to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs and Advising. Academic advising and related service constitute the primary responsibilities of these positions.

These positions are located on Northwestern University's Evanston campus in the greater Chicago area.

Employment term: 10-month appointment, renewable on an annual basis. Salary is competitive based upon experience. Starting date for the appointment is June 1, 2025.

Primary Responsibilities:

Academic Advising (75%)

• Manage a cohort of approximately 150 School of Communication undergraduate students from their time of admission through graduation
• Convene individual and group meetings with advisees and participate in Undergraduate Programs and Advising activities and working groups
• Provide accurate, current information on undergraduate curricular programs, School and University policies, procedures, and academic requirements
• Assist students with enrollment transactions and program changes (ex: declaration of minors and modules, interschool transfers, term leaves)
• Maintain a shared system of notes and documentation to track and support student progress
• Serve as liaison to selected academic departments and schools as assigned; work with department chairs, program directors, and administrative staff to ensure accuracy and consistency in communication of program requirements
• Assist with the planning and implementation of student engagement efforts, including but not limited to information sessions for prospective students, new student orientation (Wildcat Welcome), academic probation and midterm warning support
• Assist the OUPA Associate and Assistant Deans in addressing School and University priorities
• Participate in OUPA, SoC and University activities, committees, working groups and initiatives as relevant and appropriate. These include, but are not limited to: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), curricular development, Honors Convocation, awards and Commencement activities.

Curricular Support & Teaching (25%)

• Assist the OUPA with curricular initiatives, assessments and special projects within the School of Communication, most notably summer transition programming, modules, first-year seminar, capstone, and EPICS internship courses
• Teach 2 courses or their equivalent in The School of Communication each academic year

The academic calendar yields heavier and lighter periods of work, including some evening and weekend events.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Terminal degree or equivalent experience in a related discipline reflected in the school's major offerings, student personnel administration, higher education administration, or counseling and guidance from an accredited college or university
• Familiarity with curricular development and support, contemporary issues that impact student success, assessment, and technology
• Primary commitment to long-term, student-centered academic advising evidenced by college level experience mentoring, advising and/or teaching
• Experience teaching or otherwise working with undergraduates that demonstrates the potential for excellence in the classroom and in advising
• Interest in becoming an active faculty member of a School of Communication department or program
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills and attention to detail
• Ability to exercise considerable judgment and discretion in establishing and maintaining good working relationships and federal privacy regulations (FERPA)
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a creative and dynamic environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience supporting first-generation, low-income (FGLI) and historically underrepresented and minoritized students
• Interdisciplinary interests and expertise teaching in one or more of the following areas:
  • Acting, Dance, Music Theatre, Directing, Design, Theatre for Young Audiences, Media History (with a particular preference for theory/history of video games)

Application Documents:

• Cover letter describing relevant interests, preparation, and experience; candidates should specifically address how previous experiences relate to minimum and preferred qualifications
• Current CV
• Teaching evaluations
• Advising evaluations (if any)
• Contact information (name and email address) for three letters of recommendation, of which at least one should address teaching qualifications

Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until 5/13/2025.

Department: SoC Theatre

Please read ALL instructions and make preparations before proceeding to the application page:

• Applications will only be accepted via online submission (see link below).
• Please prepare all documents in advance as Adobe PDF files, and please be sure all information is entered correctly and accurately (especially names and email addresses), as there will be no opportunity for online revision after your application has been submitted.
• Please also prepare a list of names and email addresses for your external academic references; your references will be contacted directly by the online system and invited to upload their letters on your behalf.
• All required fields in the application form are marked with an asterisk and must be filled before clicking the "Submit" button.
• Be aware that incomplete applications cannot be saved.

Applications accepted here: Apply for Job

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