Academic Specialist, English

Under limited supervision, the Academic Specialist, English serves as a member of the TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) team and is responsible for designing, implementing, and delivering comprehensive academic support services that promote student persistence, academic achievement, retention, graduation, and successful transfer to four-year institutions. This position collaborates with program administrators, faculty, coordinator of developmental english, and campus stakeholders to develop and implement strategies that enhance the academic success of first-generation, low-income, and students with disabilities. The Academic Specialist provides individualized academic advising, mentoring, tutoring, instructional support, and success coaching to eligible TRIO participants while serving as the program's primary content expert in English, writing, reading, and communication. The incumbent is responsible for identifying tutorial needs, coordinating academic support services, facilitating workshops, monitoring participant progress, maintaining accurate participant records, and ensuring compliance with U.S. Department of Education TRIO regulations. In addition to TRIO responsibilities, the Academic Specialist teaches up to two Developmental English courses annually (Fall and Spring semesters), utilizing evidence-based instructional strategies that support student learning and college readiness. 

The TRIO Student Support Services Program is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education through a five-year grant cycle. This position is contingent upon annual reauthorization of federal funds. Continued employment is subject to the availability of funding and satisfactory performance. 

• Provide comprehensive academic support, individualized learning strategies, and success coaching to assigned TRIO participants.

• Coordinate tutorial services for participants enrolled in TRIO Student Support Services.
• Tutor participants individually and in small groups in English, writing, reading, communication, grammar, literature, and other related subjects.
• Conduct academic assessments to identify participants' strengths, challenges, and tutorial needs.
• Develop individualized academic success plans that support persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion.
• Monitor participant academic performance and implement timely interventions for students experiencing academic difficulty.
• Encourage the development of effective study habits, reading comprehension, critical thinking, writing proficiency, and communication skills.
• Conduct participant intake, orientation, and onboarding activities for newly admitted TRIO students.
• Maintain regular contact with assigned participants through advising appointments, outreach efforts, and follow-up communications.
• Support participant retention, persistence, graduation, and transfer initiatives through comprehensive case management.
• Recruit, recommend, and collaborate with tutors to address identified academic support needs.
• Monitor tutoring effectiveness and participant progress through ongoing assessment and documentation.
• Maintain accurate tutoring schedules, attendance records, and service documentation.
• Develop, coordinate, and facilitate engaging academic success workshops covering topics to include but not limited to Academic Writing, Essay Development, Reading Comprehension, Grammar and Mechanics, Research Skills, Communication Skills. 
• Assess workshop effectiveness through participant evaluations and learning outcomes.
• Teach up to two Developmental English courses annually (Fall and Spring semesters).
• Maintain complete and accurate participant records in accordance with federal TRIO regulations and institutional policies.
• Utilize Management Information Systems such as Blumen, Watermark (or equivalent), Colleague, Live Excel reports, Microsoft 365, and other institutional technologies to document services and evaluate participant outcomes.
• Collect, analyze, and report participant data related to tutoring utilization, workshop attendance, advising contacts, academic progress, persistence, and graduation.
• Ensure participant documentation complies with U.S. Department of Education reporting requirements and institutional standards.
• Maintain participant confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and college policies.
• Promote and participate in TRIO-sponsored events, cultural enrichment activities, recruitment initiatives, orientations, and student success programming.
• Participate in institutional committees, departmental meetings, and collaborative initiatives as assigned.
• Represent the TRIO Program professionally throughout the college and community.
• Remain current in English instruction, developmental education, student success strategies, TRIO regulations, instructional technology, and higher education best practices.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned by the Director of TRIO Programs.

Our Values:

At Pitt Community College, our culture is built on excellence, collaboration, innovation, accountability and a student-centered focus. We expect our employees to embrace the following cultural statements:

Minimum Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Work Environment: Primarily operates in a professional office and classroom setting within a college campus environment. Regular interaction with students, faculty, and TRIO program staff, often in one-on-one and small group settings. Work involves a combination of in-person and computer-based tasks, including tutoring, instruction, data entry, and reporting. May require work in various campus locations, including classrooms, tutoring centers, and student support offices. Environment may be fast-paced and student-centered, particularly during peak academic periods (midterms, finals, registration). Occasional participation in campus events, workshops, and outreach activities, which may occur outside standard office settings. Requires adherence to federal TRIO program regulations and confidentiality standards when handling student information.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met to successfully perform the essential functions of this position:

Normal Working Hours: Standard schedule, Monday – Friday; with occasional flexibility to meet program needs and during program-sponsored events.