Overview of Educational Advisor
The Educational Advisor supports the mission of the TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program by providing academic, college, and career advising to first-generation and income-eligible middle and high school students. The Advisor works directly with participants in assigned target schools to help them develop academic success plans, explore postsecondary pathways, and prepare for college admission and financial aid processes. This position facilitates workshops that promote college readiness, personal growth, and leadership development supports the TRIO ETS Program Director and Coordinator in maintaining compliance with all federal, institutional, and programmatic requirements. The Advisor also assists with student recruitment, eligibility verification, data tracking, and program documentation to ensure alignment with federal TRIO regulations and grant objectives ensures consistent, student-centered support that empowers first-generation and income-eligible youth to achieve academic success and pursue postsecondary education. An ideal candidate is student-centered, organized, and passionate about educational access—committed to empowering youth to achieve their academic and career goals through consistent support, encouragement, and advocacy.
Click here for more information about the TRIO Educational Talent Search (ETS) program.
Work Schedule:
Typically 8am – 5pm with occasional evening work and weekends; will flex work schedule to accommodate
Budgeted Salary Range:
$48,000 - $51,000
Duties and Responsibilities of Educational Advisor
- Implements strategies that foster consistent student participation, engagement, and retention in program services.
- Utilizes interactive and experiential learning models to build student motivation, teamwork, and confidence.
- Designs and facilitates workshops and group sessions on topics such as on topics such as study skills, goal-setting, college planning, FAFSA completion, leadership, personal growth, STEM, etc
- Guides students through college exploration, application, and financial aid processes, ensuring access to information and resources.
- Creates evaluations for TRIO ETS workshops, events and trips.
- Monitor course selection and make periodic grade reviews.
- Promotes workshops and engagement activities through newsletters, flyers, digital tools, and school visits to ensure strong visibility and participation.
- Supports the coordination and supervision of student field trips, college visits, and summer or after-school enrichment activities.
- Collects and reviews student feedback and assessment data to inform continuous improvement of workshops and activities.
- Engages parents and guardians as active partners in their student’s educational journey through family workshops, newsletters, and one-on-one communication.
- Conducts outreach presentations and information sessions at schools and community sites to identify and recruit eligible participants.
- Provides ongoing advising to students in assigned target schools on academic planning, study strategies, goal setting, and time management.
- Guides students through the college exploration and application process, including financial aid, scholarships, and admissions requirements.
- Connects students with experiential learning opportunities, internships, or job shadowing experiences in collaboration with the Program Coordinator.
- Coordinates STEAM/SEL/ Financial Literacy/FAFSA/college/career exploration for assigned schools.
- Administer and review scheduled assessments to program participants.
- Builds positive working relationships with school administrators, counselors, and teachers to identify students in need of TRIO ETS support.
- Serves as the primary point of contact for assigned target schools, coordinating advising schedules, workshop sessions, and student follow-up.
- Contributes to annual recruitment strategies that maintain participant numbers and meet grant performance targets.
- Supports the TRIO ETS Program Director and Coordinator in maintaining compliance with all federal, institutional, and programmatic requirements.
- Assists in verifying that participant records meet eligibility and continuing participation requirements for each grant year. Monitors advising and activity documentation to ensure all services align with approved grant objectives and allowable activities.
- Supports the collection and organization of data for the Annual Performance Report (APR) and other required evaluations.
Benefits of Educational Advisor
- Full benefits – Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term Disability, Retirement, Life Insurance and more
- Accrue 15 days’ vacation your first year, then 22 days’ vacation your 2nd year plus rollover
- University contribution of 10% to retirement (3 year waiting period)
- University contributions to Health Savings Account –
- Plus a chance to earn more through participating in University Wellness Initiatives
- 10 paid holidays
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Paid Parental Leave after one year of service
- Tuition remission for you, your spouse and dependent children at any Purdue campus
For more information on our excellent benefit package, please visit: https://www.pnw.edu/human-resources/benefits/
Education of Educational Advisor
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Counseling, Human Services, Social Work, or a closely related field required.
Experience of Educational Advisor
- Three years’ experience in working with/advising students in areas of education, career planning, financial aid
- Demonstrated experience with developing programming.
- Experience working with low-income, and first generation and preferable with students at the secondary level
Core Competencies of Educational Advisor
- Knowledgeable of college admissions process.
- Proficiency and accuracy in word processing and email.
- Ability to operate and maintain office equipment.
- Must have excellent presentation, interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, organizational and time management skills.
- Exceptional customer service skills.
- Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, community partners, and higher education institutions.
- Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, handle and prioritize simultaneous projects.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publishing), Google Suites, Canva, etc.
- Ability to analyze problems or procedures and make logical and timely decisions.
- Commitment to the values and mission of TRIO, educational access, and student success.
- Must have the ability to work a flexible schedule as necessary to provide services outlined in the grant-some Saturdays, evenings, and to travel.
- Must be dependable in reporting for work as scheduled.
- Knowledge of high school curriculum, college and higher education programs a plus.
- Valid driver’s license – ability to travel to target schools, agencies, and workshops
Additional Information
Professional references will be verified prior to any offer of employment. Employment is contingent upon completion of successful background check along with a motor vehicle records check if applicable.
Purdue University Northwest is an equal opportunity/equal access university.
Purdue University Northwest (PNW) is a student-centered university that transforms lives through innovative education, impactful research and community engagement. Located in Northwest Indiana in the greater Chicago area and near the Indiana Dunes National Park, PNW serves approximately 9,000 students, including 6,000 core students, in a wide range of academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s and applied doctoral levels.
Purdue Northwest employs more than 1,000 faculty and staff members for operations at its main campus in Hammond, Ind., and its branch campus in Westville, Ind., plus additional sites in Northwest Indiana including the Gabis Arboretum near Valparaiso, Ind. PNW’s values reflect the university’s commitment to respect, innovation, a student-centric university, and excellence.
PNW is consistently ranked among the best public regional universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual Best Colleges report and is recognized as a First Scholars institution as well as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University. With its vision to cultivate leaders, inspire excellence, and impact our world, PNW advances the socioeconomic mobility of its students and positively impacts regional development.