Graduate Advisor
Aerospace Engineering
The Grainger College of Engineering
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Department of Aerospace Engineering at The Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for a Graduate Advisor. Aerospace engineering graduate students at The University of Illinois study with world-renowned faculty in state-of-the-art research facilities, while pursuing a master's degree, Ph.D., or specialty certificate. This position will support the administrative, advising, recruiting, and admissions operations of the department's graduate programs.

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

Advising

· Serve as a primary contact for aerospace engineering graduate students (PhD, MS, and MEng) regarding department and campus policy and procedures. Monitor degree progress and meet with students as needed to discuss department requirements.

· Advise the department's graduate students without a research adviser.

· Perform reviews of degree audits, thesis reviews, petition submission, organize recommendations and input from faculty for graduate student annual reviews, qualifying, preliminary and final examination processes.

· Assist with the organization of teaching assistant assignments for the department.

· Assist the faculty in working with The Grainger College of Engineering to establish new courses and the Associate Head for Graduate Programs to monitor consistency with college and campus policies and procedures are followed.

· Provide course revisions, new course proposals, Program of Study Updates and reports as requested by The Grainger College of Engineering and campus.

· Assist Associate Head for Graduate Program in maintaining the non-transcript-able certificate.

· program for the department including admissions and records, non-degree requests, and enrollments.

· On behalf of the Associate Head for Graduate Programs, work with the International Programs Engineering Office (IPENG) for exchange programs, and work toward providing input for new exchange programs and assist students in current programs.

· On behalf of the Associate Head for Graduate Programs, serve on campus and college committees such as the Graduate College Advisory Board. Attend meetings for the Director of Graduate Programs as requested.

· Serve on the department Graduate Admissions Committee, the Graduate Policy Committee and the Graduate Student Advisory Committee.

· Assume additional appropriate related graduate advisor duties to further the mission of the department.

Program Administration and Student Placement

· Processing and tracking graduate student appointments.

· Work with the Associate Head for the Graduate Program on annual assessment of the graduate program.

· Assist with comprehensive program reviews and annual reports. Track and maintain admission,

enrollment, and graduation statistics. Collect feedback from current students regarding course selections, access to desirable courses, professional development experiences, and general satisfaction.

· Collect and analyze outcomes data from graduating students and alumni.

· Evaluate and assess student data to determine student need and research best practices for postgraduation placement efforts.

· Develop and implement graduate student post-graduation placement protocol.

· Collaborate with the department, faculty, alumni and industry members to establish connections and organize events.

· Collaborate with The Grainger College of Engineering and the University career services offices for appropriate tools and resources and actively share these opportunities with students to support their academic and career success.

· Implement student exit and satisfaction surveys; collect data to inform future practices.

· Meet with prospective and admitted graduate students to guide them through the admissions process, answer questions about requirements, and discuss their academic options. Assist students with understanding application decisions, deferral options, and funding opportunities, and ensure their materials are accurately processed within the graduate admissions system. Work closely with the Graduate Admissions Committee to communicate next steps and support students throughout their transition into the program.

· Provide guidance on fellowship opportunities by helping students understand available funding options, timelines, and eligibility, and assist with connecting them to competitive fellowship awards within The Grainger College of Engineering and the department.

· Assist with recruitment process, including corresponding with prospective students prior to admission and assisting faculty with prospective student campus visits.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

· Bachelor’s Degree.

Experience:

· Two years of experience providing student support in a private, public or academic environment.

· Demonstrated project management and customer service skills.

· Experience working with people with varied experiences.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience:

· Demonstrated experience with graduate student academic records and registration, electronic records systems (SCT Banner).

· In-depth knowledge of campus and department academic and student personnel policies and the ability to assess the teaching and research needs of the department.

· Proven track record of customer services with particular emphasis on interactions with faculty and graduate students and must be results-oriented with strong organizational and time management skills.

· Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple activities.

· Strong, interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is an Academic Professional position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range for this position is $55,000-65,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. Hybrid work options may be available for this position, with the ability to be on-site at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus as needed per the University’s Workplace Flexibility policy. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

In order to receive full consideration, applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on December 17, 2025. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three professional references. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. For further information about this specific position, please contact Allie Langley at ardonne2@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois must also comply with applicable federal export control laws and regulations and, as such, reserves the right to employ restricted party screening procedures for applicants.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify.

Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Accommodations may also be requested on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, and related conditions, or religion. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal, or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu.

Job Category: Education & Student Services
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu