Student Support Services Advisor

Position Title: Student Support Services Advisor

Department: Academic Affairs

Advertised Pay: Upper $40,000's

Campus Location: Washburn University

Review of applications will begin the week of January 5, 2026

Position Summary: The Student Support Services (SSS) Advisor provides comprehensive programming and individualized support to participants in Washburn's new federally-funded TRIO SSS program. The SSS program supports 140 eligible students evidencing academic need who are first-generation, low-income, or have documented disabilities. This role is responsible for advancing participants' academic success and personal growth and promoting a sense of community that leads to positive educational outcomes. This grant-funded position plays a critical role in achieving Washburn's institutional goals of increasing retention, academic performance, and on-time graduation rates for participants and sustaining the success of the TRIO SSS program.

This position is funded in full by a grant award.

About Washburn University: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body and cultivating a robust learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

Essential Functions:
• Advise a caseload of participants to place them in a position to thrive and to persist through graduation.
• Meet with participants to provide academic advising relative to their academic program or pathway, information on wraparound services that support student development, course scheduling, and other areas of educational counseling.
• Maintain familiarity with Washburn University regulations, policies, and degree requirements.
• Assist with outreach and recruitment efforts to SSS-eligible students (confirmed incoming and continuing), attending campus events to share SSS resources and/or give presentations about TRIO SSS. Examples of SSS recruitment events could include resource fairs, admissions events, orientation events, etc.
• Assist with application review and processing while adhering to required participant guidelines.
• Assist with orienting participants to campus and provide referrals and resources.
• Conduct intake assessments and exit interviews with participants.
• Help participants create individual success plans and adhere to those plans.
• Monitor academic status, progress, and performance of assigned students, providing proactive, timely, and appropriate interventions and resource referrals.
• Follow up with students on academic progress, academic alerts, registration holds, under-enrollment, credit completion, and other concerns.
• Develop, coordinate, and/or execute workshops and events for SSS participants on academic, career, financial, leadership, study skills, and wellness topics, etc.
• Identify, coordinate, plan and evaluate leadership, graduate/professional/law school and career development, and financial literacy opportunities for SSS students. May include participant day trips and overnights for events/workshops.
• Pursue professional development opportunities focused on improving academic advising to enhance knowledge and expand effectiveness as an advisor and on those opportunities focused upon TRIO SSS program regulations and services.
• Effectively use Navigate360 as well as Blumen to manage a caseload of students, maintain student records and detailed documentation of student contacts, perform data collection, and assist with data tracking and reporting to contribute to federal grant reporting requirements.
• Communicate/collaborate with faculty, staff, success coaches, and academic advisors to provide wraparound care for participants.
• Attend and contribute to SSS staff meetings, 1:1 meetings, CSSR advisor meetings, CSSR/Libraries meetings, and occasional campus-wide meetings.
• May serve as the advisor on a WU 101 teaching team for a section dedicated to SSS participants.
• Occasional evening, weekend work, overnight, and multi-day/night travel.
• Performs additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (education, social work, counseling, social sciences, etc.).
• Experience working in higher education student personnel or working directly with postsecondary students to promote success.
• Minimum two years of experience advising, mentoring, or delivering academic support services to disadvantaged students.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain professional relationships with individuals who may possess a broad range of academic skills and goals.
• Knowledge of the academic, economic, and other needs of low-income, first-generation, at-risk, and disabled students.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Ability to maintain accurate documentation as required by TRIO SSS Program regulations and the US Department of Education.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and with attention to detail.
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record under Washburn's standards.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in a relevant field (education, social work, counseling, social sciences, etc.).
• Previous experience in federal TRIO programs, or similar programs that support college access, success, and improved academic performance for disadvantaged students.
• Personal or professional experience working with students similar to those in the target population.
• Experience in academic advising and/or academic counseling.

Exempt, Full-time 
Background check and driving history are required