ACADEMIC SKILLS COORDINATOR (JEFFERSON HIGH SCHOOL)

The Academic Skills Coordinator is a generalist student success and college admissions advocate for Upward Bound students with a focus on increasing student success and college placement. The Academic Skills Coordinator performs outreach, recruitment, retention management, career guidance and intervention to assist students develop the skills needed to become successful college students. The Academic Skills Coordinator works to provide opportunities for Upward Bound participants to develop social skills, cultural competence, study skills, and academic skills appropriate for their educational goals. The Academic Skills Coordinator - Upward Bound assists in planning, organizing, and presenting group workshops and summer camp, planning and supervising participants’ attendance at cultural events, and assists with the recruitment, selection, and retention process for all participants.

1. Recruits, interviews, and selects students for Upward Bound program and assists them in the development of appropriate educational goals, guiding them in decision-making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions, directing them to resources that provide assistance in making career and academic major choices, and providing opportunities to develop social skills, cultural competence, study skills, and writing skills.
2. Coordinates the annual summer program for Upward Bound participants by planning and organizing the classes to be offered, enrolling students into classes, coordinating classroom assignments, textbooks, and supplies, and providing daily supervision of summer activities and curriculum.
3. Plans, organizes, and supervises school meetings, workshops, and other programs for participants to help develop social skills, study skills, and writing skills and provide academic advising and career counseling and testing. Works with faculty to develop workshops specifically designed to enhance college placement, admissions and success (ex. FAFSA completion and financial aid navigation).
4. Plans, organizes, and supervises events and trips designed to help develop cultural competence in Upward Bound participants by taking them to attend sporting, theatrical, historical, musical, and other educational and cultural events that they otherwise may not be able to attend.
5. Recruits and helps to select Upward Bound participants by making presentations to eighth grade students in targeted schools, contacting parents, interviewing applicants, and ranking applicants based on eligibility criteria, and propensity to go on to higher education. Discusses requirements of participation including curriculum and activity requirements as well as benefits of participation including tutoring services, college readiness, field trips, and preparation for college enrollment.
6. Hosts Upward Bound open house two times per year (or as needed based on retention) to interested students to highlight program services to potential participants. Delivers presentations, which includes, but are not limited to, information on career choices, educational requirements, employment statistics, goal setting, college selection, application, financial aid, and scholarships. Disseminates request for additional information form.
7. Coordinates yearly assessment and standardized testing of all participants, updates personalized Education Development Plans (EDP), monitors participant grades, develops student specific intervention plans, document progress and provides academic advising and other support services to participants. Reassesses 100% of participants annually, using MEAP, PLAN, PSAT, ACT, or Michigan MERIT exam depending on grade at time of assessment. Adjusts student’s EDP accordingly.
8. Develops working relationships with public school administration to coordinate goals of Upward Bound program between colleges and schools. Attends school activities and events to interact with Area Public Schools faculty, staff, students, and parents.
9. Ensures the effectiveness of the academic process by maintaining participant files, regularly updating academic reports, and validating the information contained in the participant files with the student database.
10. Ensures the success of the tutoring program by training, supervising, and evaluating student and teacher tutors, monitoring participant grades, and coordinating tutoring sessions between participants and assigned tutors.
11. Performs proactive outreach to offer academic support fully aligned with faculty/course instruction (such as weekly scheduled appointments for tutoring and coaching).
12. Interacts with youth organizations and community agencies to schedule recruitment events and inform them of referral procedures. Refers students to appropriate internal and community-based programs and support services.
13. Provides career guidance, concurrent academic advising, including financial aid. Completes student’s Education Development Plan (EDP), reviews with student, and signs contract agreement.
14. Works with faculty/instructors to actively monitor student course preparedness and progress.
15. Helps to assure Upward Bound students and potential Upward Bound students have full information on opportunities and responsibilities by preparing materials used to promote Upward Bound programs, such as mailings to prospective students, coordinating assessments and other tests involving participants, directing participants to the appropriate resources for academic advisement, and providing basic information in response to questions about matriculation issues. Posts on Area Public Schools website and distribute fliers to all 8th – 10th grade students informing them about the Upward Bound program, goals, objectives, eligibility, and contact information.
16. Executes responsibilities in accordance with applicable laws and the College’s policies, which includes the Code of Ethics.
17. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
18. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the supervisor.
19. Contributes to the overall success of Upward Bound department by participating in the establishment of goals and standards conducive to the successful development of ongoing and enhanced capabilities, assisting in the formulation of strategic planning for both short- and long-term activities, and performing all others duties as assigned by the VP of Enrollment Management.

• QUALIFICATIONS:
  
  • Bachelor’s degree required
  • Teaching experience/Certificate required OR Master’s degree in a counseling or education related discipline, and experience working with low-income/first generation and academically at-risk students
  • Experience working with low-income/first generation and academically at-risk students
  • Experience with college financial aid preferred
  • Flexibility required to work some evenings and weekends

Monroe County Community College welcomes and embraces individuals’ unique perspectives, diverse identities, and cultures. We are dedicated to building a workplace in which employees are respected, valued, and celebrated. We are steadfast in our commitment to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion, connectedness, and belonging.