Academic Support Advisor for Student Excellence and Leadership

Occupational Summary:

The Student Excellence and Leadership (SEL) Program is a U.S. Department of Education Student Support Services (SSS) TRIO-funded program. Our program is one that believes in focusing on students' assets and helping them understand how to use those assets to navigate college. The purpose of SEL is to provide academic, personal, career and financial preparation and services to students who are low-income, first-generation college, and/or have a documented disability. The Academic Support Advisor's (ASA) time will be 100% with SEL. The ASA is responsible for providing functions of financial administration and reporting, to include preparation, tracking, and adjustment of program budgets. Much of the ASA's time will be devoted to advising and supporting a caseload of approximately 40-50 students, support includes but is not limited to programming, advising, course selection, one-on-one meetings, and career counseling. The ASA will also provide assistance in the management of student enrollment and records, student assessment initiatives, and provides assistance for the program's Annual Performance Report. This position also provides direct support services to student participants by developing and facilitating participant meetings and events, including the annual Summer Institute and SEL Peer Mentor program. This position is grant-funded, and continuation of the position is dependent upon grant renewal.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Assure that potential students, active participants, and the campus community are fully informed regarding the objectives, opportunities, and responsibilities related to the SSS/SEL program with the development and distribution of promotional materials.
2. Aid in the development and management of the annual Summer Institute program and all other academic programming components to assist students with completing their post-secondary education in compliance with the Department of Education guidelines and the specific programming outlined in the Beloit College SSS grant proposal.
3. Develop and manage the annual Sophomore Impact Institute and/or Professional, Academic & Career (PAC) Institute.
4. Manage the Student Office Assistant Team, including recruiting, selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating assistants in compliance with established college and federal policies and procedures (10-15 students).
5. Interface with college faculty and other student service providers across campus to promote the SEL program, advocate for program participants and collaborate on the development and execution of program and campus services.
6. Synthesize and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and prepare related reports and presentations in a variety of formats.
7. Coordinate and execute programming, including all on- and off-campus events.
8. Develop and facilitate events and programming designed to encourage participant personal and academic success (i.e., Financial Literacy Workshops).
9. Provide direct academic, personal, and financial literacy support services to assigned caseload (35-45 students).
10. Manage the SEL Student Office Assistants team including recruiting, selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating assistants in compliance with established college and federal policies and procedures (10-15 students).
11. Provide feedback for grant-funded proposals and monitor outcomes for grant awards.
12. Represent the SEL program by attending appropriate meetings on and off campus.
13. Remain competent and current through self-directed professional readings, course enrollment, and professional training.
14. Ensure the success of the SEL Program by performing all other duties as assigned.

Credentials and Experience:

1. Bachelor's degree required or an Associate's degree and 3-5 years of relevant work experience
2. At least 2 years' experience working with SSS or projects targeted toward low-income, first-generation, and/or disadvantaged students
3. Possess financial administration and budgeting skills
4. Experience analyzing and developing qualitative and quantitative data reports
5. Familiarity with grant-funded programs
6. Experience in student retention programming
7. Experience in academic advising or counseling
8. Relevant life experiences
9. Understanding of issues related to campus climate for populations traditionally underserved by residential liberal arts colleges

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to understand and appreciate the mission of a residential liberal arts college and to work well, in a fast-paced office, with a diverse population of students and their families in a variety of situations.
2. Ability to develop and to contribute to learning and work environments welcoming to people from a diverse variety of backgrounds and experiences.
3. Knowledge of the needs of first generation, low-income, disabled and historically underrepresented students.
4. Knowledge of federal grants, laws, and regulations.
5. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including good command of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
6. Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing activities, expectations, and responsibilities.
7. Ability to supervise staff and student employees as well as establish and maintain positive working relationships with all internal and external points of contact.
8. Knowledge of accounting, budgets, and financial aid.
9. Knowledge of customer service standards and the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, administrators, families of students, students, staff, and the general public, including high school personnel.
10. Ability to handle a variety of tasks under pressure.
11. Ability to maintain confidentiality of department records
12. Willingness to look for improvements in personal and office performance and initiate proposals which enhance the work of the office.

This job description intends to provide the general nature and level of work required of employees who are assigned to this classification and shall not be construed as an all-inclusive list of duties and responsibilities. Employees may be instructed to perform job-related duties and responsibilities other than those specifically presented in this description.