STUDENT RETENTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST

Req #: 221246 Department: UW TACOMA Job Location: Tacoma Campus Posting Date: 04/21/2023 Closing Info: Open Until Filled Salary: $4,916-$5,140 per month Other Compensation: Shift: First Shift Benefits: As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For a complete description of our benefits for this position, please visit our website, click here.

Although open until filled, priority application date is May 5, 2023.

As a UW employee, you have a unique opportunity to change lives on our campuses, in our state and around the world. UW employees offer their boundless energy, creative problem solving skills and dedication to build stronger minds and a healthier world.

UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

The Office for Equity & Inclusion’s Center for Equity & Inclusion (CEI) has an outstanding opportunity for a Student Retention & Community Development Specialist (SRCD).

The successful candidate will enjoy working with staff, faculty, students, and community organizations in supporting students from historically marginalized communities with the goal of helping them succeed and thrive in their college experience. They will work collaboratively with other members of the Equity & Inclusion team as well as various cross-campus teams to support the mission, vision, and values of the Office of Equity & Inclusion and UW Tacoma while also working independently as a self-starter. We are looking for a colleague who brings their authentic best self to the campus and a strong commitment to collaboration.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Under the direction of the Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion, the Student Retention & Community Development Specialist is responsible for developing, maintaining, and assessing a comprehensive array of retention and advocacy programs appropriate for the University of Washington Tacoma campus. The desired outcomes of these programs are student success, retention, completion of degrees and their development as engaged citizens and leaders. These programs will enable students to explore their personal, social, and future professional identities, to apply their foundational (community-based) and acquired (classroom) knowledge across curricular and co-curricular contexts, and to cultivate mentoring and coaching relationships with faculty, professional staff, and local community members. Such programs are to include RISE (Race, Identity, and Social Engagement) Scholars and the Social Justice Summer Internship program. The position is charged with developing and implementing these and other cohort-based programs and initiatives using a learning community model designed to achieve this outcome through managing a portfolio that includes the following:

40% The Student Retention & Community Development Specialist will provide student- centered services that engage students’ academic success, career development, identity development, and leadership development.

Coordinate, Facilitate and Evaluate identity-based leadership development programs including RISE (Race, Identity, and Social Engagement) Scholars and the Social Justice Summer Internship program

Support student-driven programs and training initiatives that foster learning and engagement about social justice-focused issues related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, religion and other intersecting social identities with the goal of fostering inclusiveness within and across affinity-based student groups and preparing students to lead and thrive in an increasingly diverse and interdependent global society.

Coordinate collaborations among affinity-based registered student organizations to promote cross-cultural learning, identity development, and social justice on campus.

Supervise and mentor student employees with special attention to their personal and professional development.

35% The Student Retention & Community Development Specialist will have responsibility for collaborative initiatives and programs, to include:

Partner with the CEI team, Office of Equity and Inclusion colleagues, Student Transitions and Success, First Gen Fellows, Pack Advisors, the Teaching and Learning Center, Undergraduate Education and other faculty and staff who lead Student Success initiatives at UWT, implement innovative program offerings such as welcome programs, alumni-student interfaces, history/heritage month events, and year-end celebrations.

Work closely with the Equity and Inclusion team to enhance opportunities for all students to explore issues of equity and diversity and to increase student success and retention at UW Tacoma, in alignment with the mission, vision, and goals of the Office for Equity and Inclusion and UW Tacoma.

Participate in campus committees, working groups, and boards relevant to the work of the SRCDS, CEI, and OEI.

Work closely with established boards, committees, and others to garner input and receive feedback on the priorities, focus, and effectiveness of CEI programs and services.

Maintain a flexible work schedule in alignment with office priorities, including regular office hours and occasional evening and weekend work.

25% The Student Retention & Community Development Specialist will have the following assessment, reporting, and strategic planning responsibilities:

Lead assessment and evaluation activities within the Student Retention and Community Development Specialist’s portfolio and provide support for ongoing assessment efforts for the Office of Equity & Inclusion.

Maintain a detailed program budget and spending plan that covers estimated costs of the program and tracks expenditures in a timely manner.

Prepare manuals, reports, grant proposals and other documents to further program goals and document efforts and achievements, as requested by the Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion (VCEI).

Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Sociology, Social Justice, Social Work or a related field.

3 years of direct experience working with college access and student success programs, such as TRiO, retention projects, leadership development initiatives, service-learning initiatives, mentoring programs, etc.

Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing programs that promote student learning about identity and difference within the context of a multicultural society.

Experience in providing leadership development and support to identity-based student organizations.

Experience working with students of color, LGBT-identified students, and other historically marginalized student communities.

Knowledge of diversity theories and practices and needs assessment and evaluation in higher education.

Excellent interpersonal, analytical and problem-solving skills with strong oral and written communication skills.

Successful experience in a work setting that requires teamwork and cooperative working relationships.

Strong demonstrated proficiency in use of technology to support CEI administrative functions as well as promote learning and engagement in and outside of the classroom (such as MS suite)

DESIRED:

Master's Degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Social Justice Education, Counseling, Social Work or a related field OR five years of experience including demonstrated success developing and implementing learning community programs in a higher education setting.

Demonstrated success with supervising students and volunteers.


Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Work Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready.Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed.