Graduate Assistant, Advising Center
Location: Hickory, North Carolina
The Graduate Assistant (GA) for the Advising Center serves as a central point of connection within BEAR Central, providing holistic, student-centered support that promotes academic success and persistence. As a first point of contact in the Advising Center, this role assesses student needs and provides individualized support and information about campus resources, while also meeting one-on-one with students facing specific academic challenges. The position designs and facilitates workshops on core academic skills, executive functioning, and college learning strategies and collaborates with professional advisors and campus partners to support students throughout their transition and academic journey. This role actively contributes to initiatives supporting first-generation college students, assists with program development and campuswide events, and engages in the academic community through partnerships with faculty, academic departments, and student support offices. In addition, the GA develops online resources, supports operational functions within the Advising Center and Academic Support Services, maintains accurate records and reporting, and promotes student success initiatives through strategic communication and outreach.
Primary Duties and Tasks
- Serve as a first point of contact for students visiting the Advising Center and assist in assessing their needs.
- Design and facilitate workshops and discussions on topics including core academic skills such as effective study strategies; executive functioning skills such as time management and organization; common academic challenges such as procrastination; and other skills related to college learning.
- Collaborate with first-year advisors to develop events and resources that support students throughout their transition to college.
- Support office initiatives to connect with first-generation college students, contribute to program development, and assist in planning campuswide BEAR Central activities.
- Obtain CRLA certification as an academic coach.
- Serve as an academic coach to a caseload of 15-20 academic probationary students during fall and spring semesters.
- Meet one-on-one with students whose individual academic challenges can be better addressed outside of a group instructional setting.
- Assist students in developing academic plans, setting goals, and maintaining accountability.
- Research and develop online tools, resources, and programs to support students success.
- Participate in the academic community by working closely with faculty and academic staff to develop workshops and training for specific disciplines and by liaising with academic departments, the Dean of Students Office, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Office of International Education, and Disability Services to target support for students in need.
- Assist with collaboration across BEAR Central, particularly between the Advising Center and Academic Support Services.
- Assist academic support staff by obtaining CRLA certification and supporting the TracCloud scheduling platform.
- Utilize social media and create content to share all BEAR Central information with our student body and facilitate communication among all parties involved with student success services and opportunities.
- Maintain flexibility to work daytime and evening hours based on departmental needs.
- Assist with promotional events on campus as needed and complete basic administrative tasks, including copying, filing and data entry.
- Maintain records, provide reports, and perform other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- Admission to a graduate program at Lenoir-Rhyne.
- Passionate about Lenoir-Rhyne University and enthusiastic about sharing this impression with current students.
- Professional and engaging phone, email and face-to-face communication skills.
- Professional appearance and representation of Lenoir-Rhyne University.
- Highly detail-oriented with excellent organizational skills.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize.
- Ability to work collaboratively with others in a small office environment.
- Self-reliant and proactive; ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Demonstrated experience with social media and multimedia creativity.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.