The academic advisor is one of the faculty staff and the like, assigned by the academic advisory office to perform the functions of academic guidance for a group of students.

Characteristics of an academic advisor:

1. To be aware of curricula system and registration mechanism.
2. To play a vital role in academic guidance
3. To have the ability to conduct meetings concerning academic guidance
4. Must have the practical basic skills of academic guidance process
5. Must dedicate a part of his time to play his role effectively.

Skills an academic advisor must possess

1. Leading skills
2. Compassion skills
3. Planning skills
4. Listening skills
5. Decision making and problem solving skills
6. Time management and investment skills
7. Organization skills

Academic advisor tasks in general:

The role of the academic advisor is focusing on the university student performance since his admission to the university till graduation. It includes the following:

1. Student orientation as regards the elements of the study plan (basic and optional courses), their numbers and cognitive requirements, directing students to the best ways of making use of them, introducing students to the course of each major, the subjects within each major. He must not be biased for a specific major and he must link the major and labor market.
2. Introduce students to the names of buildings and lecture schedules and how to deal with the central library, especially new students.
3. Making sure to provide students with registration times concerning cancelling and adding courses, changing sections, dropping out from one major the right way by following regulations.
4. Teaching students how to calculate their scores manually, in addition to introducing them to subject grades and GPAs.
5. Conducting a study of the student’s academic record, including studied courses, his study plan and failure subjects and other data
6. Helping students in the selection and registration of courses in their study plan, based on their GPA.
7. Helping students to complete the form of Adding/ cancelling/Changing courses (so that the reasons for cancellation are discussed with students and they are guided to adding another course to replace the one cancelled). Also, directing them to the best course based on their academic records, capabilities and submitting them on time.
8. Making sure to conduct periodical meetings between the advisor and the student, through the advisor designating specific office hours or communication via email, to enable them to follow up their students and give them support, build a bridge of friendship between them and students, answer their inquiries and find solutions to difficulties and problems that they face in their education.
9. Developing reports and giving recommendations to students with low GPAs and provide the academic guidance office with these reports and recommendations.
10. Making sure to follow up the educational process of students in a good way and help them by introducing new sections according to their needs.
11. Defining the education courses that need to be introduced in the coming semester according to the needs of students and informing the academic guidance office of same.
12. Follow up the grades of students, encourage students with high grades and motivate them, offer guidance and advice to students with low grades and alert them as regards the followed procedures and holding extensive periodical meetings with them to help and guide them.
13. Motivating students to take part in academic activities and introducing them to how to make use of the King Abdullah University Library, how to manage their time and encourage them to make use of the available summer classes.
14. Maintaining confidentiality and mutual confidence between the advisor and the student as regards any information provided by the student to the advisor.