Position: Academic Advisor, Nursing Program
Department: Center for Nursing
Reports to: Director of Nursing Student Success
Classification: Exempt / Full-time, 40 Hours Per Week
Position Summary
The Nursing Academic Advisor for the Nursing Program provides comprehensive academic advising, student-success support, and progression guidance to students enrolled in Chestnut Hill College’s nursing programs. Reporting to the Director of Nursing Student Success, the Advisor works collaboratively with nursing faculty, Student Success, Enrollment Management, the Registrar, Financial Aid, and other College partners to help students navigate academic requirements from enrollment through graduation.
The Advisor monitors student progress; identifies potential barriers to persistence, progression, and degree completion; coordinates timely outreach, interventions, and referrals; and serves as a primary resource regarding nursing program requirements, course planning, registration, and College policies. The Advisor refers matters requiring faculty, clinical, or academic judgment to the appropriate nursing leadership.
About Chestnut Hill College
Founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph in 1924, Chestnut Hill College is an independent, Catholic institution rooted in a strong liberal arts tradition that fosters equality through holistic education. Distinguished by its strong mission, collegial environment, and dedication to personalized instruction through a small faculty-to-student ratio, the College promotes the spiritual, academic, social, ethical, and moral development of the whole person. Located in the charming Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Northwest Philadelphia, it serves a culturally diverse student body.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Academic Advising & Progression
- Provide individualized academic advising to an assigned caseload of students enrolled in Chestnut Hill College’s nursing programs.
- Assist students with academic planning, course sequencing, registration, prerequisites, degree requirements, and program progression expectations.
- Develop and maintain individualized academic plans that support timely degree completion.
- Monitor student progress toward graduation and assist students in understanding the academic implications of course withdrawals, unsuccessful course completion, schedule changes, leaves of absence, and other changes affecting their academic plans and progression.
- Maintain accurate and timely advising notes and student records in accordance with College policies and applicable privacy requirements.
- Provide clear, consistent guidance regarding College and Nursing Program policies and procedures; refer matters requiring faculty or academic judgment to the appropriate nursing leadership.
Student Success & Retention
- Monitor academic performance, progression milestones, and risk indicators to identify students who may benefit from timely support or intervention.
- Conduct proactive outreach to students experiencing academic difficulty or other barriers; develop individualized success plans, establish academic goals, and follow up to assess progress and promote continued engagement.
- Connect students with appropriate campus resources, including Student Success, tutoring, Accessibility Services, Counseling, Financial Aid, Career Development, and other support services.
- Collaborate with nursing faculty and Student Success staff to address barriers affecting student persistence, progression, academic achievement, and degree completion.
- Support initiatives that strengthen nursing student retention, engagement, academic achievement, and overall student success.
- Provide academic support and tutoring in clinical and non-clinical areas of the nursing curriculum, consistent with the Advisor’s areas of expertise.
Program Coordination & Collaboration
- Develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of the College’s nursing curricula, academic requirements, progression standards, and related policies.
- Collaborate with the Center Chair for Nursing and the Director of Nursing Student Success, nursing faculty, Student Success, the Registrar, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, and other College offices to resolve student concerns, communicate program requirements, and coordinate timely support.
- Participate in nursing orientation, registration, admitted student programs, recruitment events, and other student transition activities.
- In coordination with Enrollment Management, provide admitted students with information regarding nursing curricula, prerequisites, academic expectations, program requirements, and next steps for enrollment and orientation.
- Support communications to students regarding important deadlines, academic requirements, policy changes, and program information.
- Maintain accurate documentation of advising interactions, outreach efforts, referrals, and student progression; prepare reports and provide data to support retention efforts, program assessment, accreditation activities, and continuous improvement.
- Participate in departmental and College meetings, committees, programs, and professional development activities as appropriate.
- Coordinate with nursing leadership and designated College offices to communicate applicable student requirements related to progression, clinical readiness, compliance documentation, or academic standing; refer determinations and exception requests to the appropriate authority.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Master’s degree in nursing required.
- Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license required.
- Professional clinical nursing experience required.
- Minimum of two years of professional experience in academic advising, student success, student services, higher education, counseling, coaching, enrollment services, or a closely related field.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success and supporting students from diverse backgrounds and educational experiences.
- Effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organizational, problem-solving, and follow-through capabilities.
- Demonstrated ability to interpret academic policies, curricula, degree requirements, and student records and communicate information clearly and accurately to students.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and maintain accurate, confidential student information.
- Proven success collaborating with faculty, administrators, staff, and students.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office or comparable productivity tools and demonstrated aptitude for effectively using student-information, degree-audit, advising, case-management, and early-alert systems.
- Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the College’s Mission and Core Values, including a shared dedication to inclusive, mission-driven education that supports the development of the whole person.
Preferred Qualifications
- Three or more years working in academic advising, student success, retention, or a related higher-education function.
- Background supporting students in nursing, allied health, health sciences, or another professional academic program.
- Familiarity with the needs of traditional undergraduate, accelerated, and adult learners.
- Experience using early-alert, retention, case-management, degree-audit, or academic-progress monitoring systems.
To apply:
Interested candidates should submit application materials via ADP Workforce Now HERE.
No phone calls, please.
Chestnut Hill College is committed to a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core value. To foster an inclusive community and support our diverse student body, we embrace equal access. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives, and encourage applications from groups historically underrepresented in higher education. We are committed to increasing the diversity of the college community and the curriculum.
