First Year STEM Advisor

About North Park

Founded in 1891, North Park University is a Christian university affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church of over 3,200 students from around the country and the world. Located for over 125 years on the land of the Miami and Potawatomi tribes in what is today Chicago’s northside, NPU has recently been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution and is committed to serving diverse populations. Elevating North Park University’s core distinctives of Christian, city-centered, and intercultural, NPU values diversity among its Faculty and is committed to building a racially and culturally diverse intellectual community, and strongly encourages the nomination and candidacies of persons who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color regardless of gender.

North Park University is located in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, one of the most ethnically diverse zip codes in the United States. It is nine miles from downtown Chicago. The North Park campus has often been referred to as an oasis in the heart of the city – a place where students from urban, rural, and suburban backgrounds alike can call home. And all of this within the major metropolitan backdrop of Chicago: one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, renowned for its museums and music, and voted best large city in the U.S. for four years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler.

Mission

The mission of North Park University is to prepare students for lives of significance and service through education in the liberal arts, professional studies, and theology.

Vision

Building on our core institutional identity—Christian, city-centered, intercultural—our vision is to create a university of uncommon character and enduring excellence, where faith, learning, and service meet.

Duties and Responsibilities
Serve as a representative for the program to key constituencies

 Academic Advising

• Provide Proactive Academic Advising for all First Year students intending to major in a STEM discipline (Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering and Psychology).
• Advising tasks include: helping students develop course plans for their first semester, aiding students in selecting courses that align with their academic and career goals and helping students build four year academic plans allowing them to complete major and general education courses in a timely fashion.
• Educating students about general education and STEM course sequencing.

 Student Support

• Connecting students with appropriate campus resources to help them naviagte challenges.
• Identifying students who may be at risk academically and provide proactive support
• Work collaboratively across the division to identify students who need holistic support
• Helping students navigate the transition from high school to college including participating in new student Launch days.
• Plan and provide community-building activities for first-year STEM students and their families

 First Year STEM support course

• Teach sections (24 students/ section) of a first year STEM readiness seminar
• Execute the delivery and assessment of students participating in the seminar

 Data Collection

• Assist the program evaluation team in collecting relevant data on the effectiveness of the intervention
• Coordinate with Office of Institutional Effectiveness on gaining access to key data points

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Ability to work collaboratively across a range of academic disciplines
• Possess a clear understanding and personal commitment to North Park University’s mission of Christian higher education.
• Competency in working with diversity along multiple dimensions: first-generation college students, race, ethnicity, immigration status, gender, sexuality, national origin and ability status.
• Have good attention to detail and excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.
• Ability to work independently and with others, and to be proactive.
• Comfortable with using new technology.

Desired:

• Master’s degree preferred
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) Speaker
• Preference will be given to individuals holding degrees in a STEM discipline, Education or Leadership
• Previous experience in advising or teaching (secondary education or higher) 

Benefits:

• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Prescription Plan
• Flexible Spending Account
• Commuter Benefit
• Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Tuition Remission
• Helwig Recreation Center