Job Details

Degree Counselor II

Position Number: 6306067
Location: Dallas, TX
Position Type: Academic Advising

Degree Counselor II

Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs.

SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools: Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies.

SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem - paired with entrepreneurial drive - creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas - the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions - offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

The Meadows degree counselor works with the graduate and undergraduate students, faculty and staff of the Meadows School of the Arts. This position works on the team that ensures all Meadows graduate and undergraduate students reach retention check-points and on-time graduation in accordance with SMU-in-Four, SMU's Quality Enhancement Plan, and the Moody Graduate School's goals. Those goals are four-year graduation for undergraduates and two to five year degree completion for the various graduate programs, respectively. The Meadows degree counselors ensure accuracy of all academic records by working closely with the Meadows School's academic areas and the central university registrar's office.

Essential Functions:

Academic Advising for approximately 40% of the Meadows Undergraduate Majors: Provide undergraduate academic advising on General Education requirements and overall progress toward on-time degree completion. Provide orientation, advising and initial enrollment to new high-hour transfer students and all new Film & Media Arts students, Studio Art students and Art History students
Maintain and update Meadows graduate student records in collaboration with the six Meadows divisions with graduate programs, the Moody Graduate School and SMU central registrar's office.
Coordinate with the director to certify graduation of all graduate and undergraduate students across 6 degree conferral dates per year. Coordinate student credentials for the Meadows Graduation Ceremony every May and December. Audit timely degree progress for various student groups. Audit and certify various enrollment reports from the Registrar's office across every enrollment term.
Supporting Meadows Academic Areas and Faculty Advisers: Assist faculty and staff with any advising and/or academic policy questions. Support graduate faculty advisors with advising efforts. Communicate early and midterm progress reports to academic areas to address at risk students.
Use of queries and dashboards to support degree progress and timely graduation. Organize and share data with academic areas as needed in support of improved major advising and 4-year graduation.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of professional work is required. Prior experience in higher education and/or administrative support is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills are critical for this position. The ability to effectively communicate broadly across the University, in order to develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituents is required. Strong written communication skills are also critical. Candidate must possess strong organizational, planning and time management skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet competing deadlines while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Must demonstrate strong listening and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify, analyze problems and devise solutions. The ability to show initiative and work as part of a team is essential.

The candidate must possess a strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs (e.g., Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Proficiency with Excel is especially important. Experience with PeopleSoft, is highly desired.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

July 25, 2025

Priority consideration may be given to those submissions received by July 11, 2025.

EEO Statement

SMU is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.

Primary Location: USA-TX-Dallas

Job: Student Services

Organization: Meadows School of the Arts

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Staff

Employee Status: Individual Contributor

Job Type: Full-time

Job Level: Day Job

Travel: No

Job Posting: Jun 17, 2025, 3:21:36 PM

To apply, visit https://smu.taleo.net/careersection/ex/jobdetail.ftl?job=MEA00000144&tz=GMT%2B00%3A00&tzname=UTC