Working title:

Biological Sciences Advisor

Official title:

STUDENT SERVICES CORD(T25DN) or ASSOC STU SERV COORD(T25FN)

Degree and area of specialization:

Undergraduate or graduate education in the biological sciences required. Master's Degree preferred. Additional background in student advising, educational or counseling psychology, or another field related to job responsibilities desirable.

Minimum number of years and type of relevant work experience:

Minimum of 2 years experience in academic advising, student services or related field required. Experience with program evaluation highly desired.

Principal duties:

The Biological Sciences Advisor must demonstrate a collegial style, with the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff and students across campus as well as prospective students and their families. The individual must possess strong organizational skills with attention to accuracy and detail, as well as excellent written and oral communication skills. Exemplary interpersonal and listening skills, as well as a commitment to diversity are essential. Sensitivity and compassion are important characteristics for this position.

This position reports to the director of ICBE and serves the majors housed in ICBE (currently the Biology Major, the Molecular Biology Major, and the Biological Aspects of Conservation Major) as well as students who are interested in biology but who have not declared a major. The incumbent will work with current and prospective students, their families and with faculty and staff advisors across campus. The Advisor will offer one-on-one and group advising sessions throughout the year, help current, transfer and prospective students find available biology options on campus and discuss appropriate courses and semester schedules.

Principal duties

40% General Biological Sciences Advising
- Gather and maintain information on degree requirements, program objectives and associated
career opportunities for biological science majors at UW-Madison.
- Advise undergraduates about biological science majors and related academic opportunities
at UW-Madison.
- Provide information about introductory biology course sequences and supporting sciences
(math, chemistry, physics).
- Gather and provide information to students regarding beyond the classroom enrichment
experiences (student organizations, research experiences, community service).
- Update and edit publications (print and electronic) that provide information about biology
courses, majors and other academic options on campus.
- Develop and maintain innovative materials and communication mechanisms for delivering
information to current and prospective students.
- Participate in SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising and Registration) to provide information
to students and parents. Counsel other SOAR advisors on biological sciences information.
- Advise students on prerequisites and application processes for postgraduate education in
biology and the health sciences.
- Provide information to prospective students (first-year and transfer) and their families in
collaboration with programs across the campus (UW Office of Admissions, CALS visit days,
UW Tour Office and others).
- Use ISIS, InfoAccess and other technologies to gather and analyze data for academic
planning and improvement of the undergraduate experience in biology.

40% Advising for ICBE Majors
- Provide advising and student services for the majors housed in ICBE, including information
about degree requirements, course options, fellowships, research opportunities and other
education enrichment opportunities.
- Provide support and recommendations to faculty/staff engaged with students in the majors.
- Gather, analyze and report information and statistics about student experiences and progress.
- Create, update and/or distribute information pertaining to the majors, including promotional
materials, undergraduate catalog and timetable entries. Explore and implement ways of
informing and engaging students via electronic means.
- Represent and promote the majors at the Majors Fair and other campus-wide events
- Research, develop and/or implement approaches for improving and enriching advising and
academic services for non-departmental majors, including advising seminars, peer advising
and others.
- Develop, implement and assess community-building experiences for students.
- Assume special projects related to the experiences of undergraduates in these majors
as assigned.

20% Campus-wide networking
- Represent the interests of students in the ICBE majors as well as undergraduate biological
science students in general on campus committees and other campus-wide initiatives.
- Establish and maintain contacts with Academic Affairs Offices in relevant schools and colleges
and with the departments that offer undergraduate majors in the sciences.
- Establish connections and provide appropriate referrals to advisors, administrative units and
other relevant resources across campus.
- Establish and maintain networks with appropriate contacts in professional schools on campus.