Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator)

 

A college degree can be a life-changing ticket to career fulfillment and economic mobility. But for many Gateway U students, working adults, parents, returning citizens, and those navigating systemic barriers, academic success is only one piece of the equation. Gateway U was built to remove those barriers.

As New Jersey’s first hybrid degree pathway site, Gateway U combines flexible, competency-based college programs with high-touch coaching and wraparound support, ensuring students don’t just enroll, but persist, graduate, and thrive. The Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) plays a critical role in this mission by addressing the non-academic barriers that often prevent students from completing their degrees.

The Role

The Specialized Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) is a dual-role position that blends academic advising with intensive wraparound support coordination. This advisor will manage a caseload of students, ensuring they are progressing academically while also identifying, addressing, and removing life barriers that impact persistence. This role is ideal for someone who understands that: Students don’t drop out because they can’t learn, they stop out because life gets in the way.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic Advising & Coaching (50%)

• Manage a caseload of students to ensure consistent academic progress
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with students to support persistence and completion
• Monitor daily and weekly student progress data to identify intervention points
• Meet with students (in-person, virtual, or phone) to:
  • Set goals
  • Review academic projects
  • Provide feedback and accountability
• Support students in navigating the competency-based SNHU model
• Collaborate with the advising team to problem-solve barriers to academic progress
• Analyze trends across caseloads and implement strategies to improve outcomes

2. Resource Navigation & Wraparound Support (50%)

Serve as the primary Resource Navigator for assigned students: Conduct holistic student assessments to identify barriers (housing, childcare, employment, transportation, technology, mental health, etc.)

• Develop individualized student success plans that address both academic and life needs
• Connect students to internal and external resources (public benefits, workforce programs, childcare providers, mental health services, etc.)
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, service providers, and referral partners across Newark
• Track student progress against their support plans and provide ongoing follow-up and accountability
• Advocate for students navigating complex systems (financial aid, public assistance, re-entry services, etc.)
• Support students through crisis intervention and escalation when needed
  Maintain accurate documentation of services, referrals, and outcomes

3. Logistics & Operations (10%)

• Support daily operations of the student center (study spaces, student engagement)
• Assist with workshops, orientations, and student programming

4. Other (Flexible/Entrepreneurial Work)

• Participate in community engagement efforts
• Support recruitment and enrollment as needed
• Take on additional responsibilities aligned with Gateway U’s growth

About You

• You are deeply committed to educational equity and community impact and understand that student success requires more than academics.

You are:

• A relationship builder who meets students where they are
• A problem-solver who can navigate complex systems
  Community-rooted and knowledgeable about local resources
• Energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup environmen

Experience

• 3+ years of experience (academic advising, case management, social work, education, workforce development, or similar)
• Experience managing a caseload of students or clients
• Experience connecting individuals to resources and support services strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required

Skills

• Strong assessment and case management skills
• Ability to create and track individualized support plans
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Data-driven mindset with strong organizational skills
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and problem-solve in real time
  Comfort with technology platforms and student data systems

Success in This Role Looks Like:

Academic Goals

• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to master 8 projects by the end of their current term.
• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to graduate within 3 years.
• 70% of students on your caseload persist to the consecutive term. 
• 0% of your caseload receive pell recalculations

Engagement Goals 

• The Academic Department will host two events annually, achieving at least 75% attendance from active students.

Resource Goals

• 100% of actively enrolled students have a profile within Salesforce.
• 70% of actively enrolled students grow at least one step up within one year
• 48-hour response time for triage; 5 business days to provide a solution.

 

A college degree can be a life-changing ticket to career fulfillment and economic mobility. But for many Gateway U students, working adults, parents, returning citizens, and those navigating systemic barriers, academic success is only one piece of the equation. Gateway U was built to remove those barriers.

As New Jersey’s first hybrid degree pathway site, Gateway U combines flexible, competency-based college programs with high-touch coaching and wraparound support, ensuring students don’t just enroll, but persist, graduate, and thrive. The Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) plays a critical role in this mission by addressing the non-academic barriers that often prevent students from completing their degrees.

The Role

The Specialized Academic Advisor (Resource Navigator) is a dual-role position that blends academic advising with intensive wraparound support coordination. This advisor will manage a caseload of students, ensuring they are progressing academically while also identifying, addressing, and removing life barriers that impact persistence. This role is ideal for someone who understands that: Students don’t drop out because they can’t learn, they stop out because life gets in the way.

Key Responsibilities

1. Academic Advising & Coaching (50%)

• Manage a caseload of students to ensure consistent academic progress
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with students to support persistence and completion
• Monitor daily and weekly student progress data to identify intervention points
• Meet with students (in-person, virtual, or phone) to:
  • Set goals
  • Review academic projects
  • Provide feedback and accountability
• Support students in navigating the competency-based SNHU model
• Collaborate with the advising team to problem-solve barriers to academic progress
• Analyze trends across caseloads and implement strategies to improve outcomes

2. Resource Navigation & Wraparound Support (50%)

Serve as the primary Resource Navigator for assigned students: Conduct holistic student assessments to identify barriers (housing, childcare, employment, transportation, technology, mental health, etc.)

• Develop individualized student success plans that address both academic and life needs
• Connect students to internal and external resources (public benefits, workforce programs, childcare providers, mental health services, etc.)
• Build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations, service providers, and referral partners across Newark
• Track student progress against their support plans and provide ongoing follow-up and accountability
• Advocate for students navigating complex systems (financial aid, public assistance, re-entry services, etc.)
• Support students through crisis intervention and escalation when needed
  Maintain accurate documentation of services, referrals, and outcomes

3. Logistics & Operations (10%)

• Support daily operations of the student center (study spaces, student engagement)
• Assist with workshops, orientations, and student programming

4. Other (Flexible/Entrepreneurial Work)

• Participate in community engagement efforts
• Support recruitment and enrollment as needed
• Take on additional responsibilities aligned with Gateway U’s growth

About You

• You are deeply committed to educational equity and community impact and understand that student success requires more than academics.

You are:

• A relationship builder who meets students where they are
• A problem-solver who can navigate complex systems
  Community-rooted and knowledgeable about local resources
• Energized by working in a fast-paced, mission-driven startup environmen

Experience

• 3+ years of experience (academic advising, case management, social work, education, workforce development, or similar)
• Experience managing a caseload of students or clients
• Experience connecting individuals to resources and support services strongly preferred
• Bachelor’s degree required

Skills

• Strong assessment and case management skills
• Ability to create and track individualized support plans
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills
• Data-driven mindset with strong organizational skills
• Ability to navigate ambiguity and problem-solve in real time
  Comfort with technology platforms and student data systems

Success in This Role Looks Like:

Academic Goals

• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to master 8 projects by the end of their current term.
• 80% of students on your caseload are on track to graduate within 3 years.
• 70% of students on your caseload persist to the consecutive term. 
• 0% of your caseload receive pell recalculations

Engagement Goals 

• The Academic Department will host two events annually, achieving at least 75% attendance from active students.

Resource Goals

• 100% of actively enrolled students have a profile within Salesforce.
• 70% of actively enrolled students grow at least one step up within one year
• 48-hour response time for triage; 5 business days to provide a solution.