Academic Specialist

| August 28, 2023
  • Full Time
  • Main Campus
  • This position has been filled

Shawnee Community College

SUMMARY

The Talent Search Academic Specialist reports directly to the Talent Search Project Director and is responsible for providing service to the Talent Search participants.  The Academic Specialist will work cooperatively with other staff, target school counselors, and related support personnel in the college.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

  • Bachelor’s degree in counseling, education, or a related field.
  • Two years of experience in assessment, advising, career development, and/or financial aid.
  • One year of experience working with educational support programs or disadvantaged students.

 Preferred:

  • Demonstrated experience working with academically at-risk students.
  • Background in counseling, career development, financial aid, and academic advising.
  • Teaching experience.
  • Previous TRIO experience; ability to relate to the background of ETS program students.

 ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

LEADERSHIP

  1. Create and sustain a supportive College culture that engages employees, recognizes diversity, ensures equity, promotes inclusion, and creates a sense of belonging by fostering an environment of teamwork, accountability, communication and vision.
  2. Meet, individually and in groups, with participants on a regular basis to provide academic advisement, information, and assistance related to successful school completion and post-secondary entry and re-entry.
  3. Provide workshops for participants and parents. Maintain accurate and up-to-date student records and database, including documentation of eligibility, student academic records, and documentation of contacts, exit information, and follow-up information.
  4. Plan and coordinate college visitations, cultural activities, workshops, and events for students, teachers, parents, and the community.
  5. Assist participants with exploration, goal setting, planning, and follow-through and monitor all participants’ progress.
  6. Represent the ETS program in local and state organizations and meetings, and maintain contacts with outside agencies as appropriate.
  7. Provide academic and social counseling to individuals and groups of students in the ETS Program.
  8. Coordinate and evaluate program services/activities.

ADMINISTRATION/MANAGEMENT

  1. Maintain a pleasant professional, and welcoming demeanor; maintain an office atmosphere conducive to meeting the needs of disadvantaged students.
  2. Maintain the confidentiality of participants and staff information learned while completing duties.
  3. Maintain an accurate, up-to-date counseling and service record for ETS program participants, document all contacts, and submit for reporting purposes.
  4. Maintain formative and summative evaluations of all activities.
  5. Maintain an active working knowledge of TRIO grants.

ACCOUNTABILITY

  1. Prepare and maintain accurate records, including travel forms, summaries, timesheets, and time & and commitment forms. Supply completed records with the monthly report.
  2. Compile and analyze data for reports; prepare and submit reports as requested by the program director.
  3. Provide performance reports as required by the funding agency.
  4. Follows college policies and procedures.

FISCAL

  • None

OTHER

  1. Perform other related duties which may be required by the Project Director of ETS (i.e. duties that may not be specifically listed in the class specification or position description, but are generally within the occupational series and responsibility level associated with the employee’s class of work).
  2. General work hours are Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. – 4:15 p.m. Evening or weekend hours may be required to participate in other college activities outside of regular working hours.

SKILLS & ABILITIES include the following:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to effectively communicate in spoken and written standard English
  • Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
  • Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
  • Ability to adapt to the needs of the organization and employees.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software.
  • Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide all units of measure, and ability to compute percentages.

 SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

  • None

 CUSTOMER SERVICE STATEMENT

Consistently performs duties with concern, courtesy, and respect for all persons in a prompt and timely manner.  Must work cooperatively with students, employees, government agencies, and community members and be sensitive to issues of student and employee diversity.  Consistently exhibits responsiveness to others in the organization at all levels and responds to requests for assistance from students, staff, and community members in a helpful and timely manner.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Lifting:  Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position to position.  Lifting items up to 20 pounds in weight.

Sitting for prolonged periods of time.

WORK ENVIRONMENT 

Work is primarily in an office/school environment.  Noise levels usually are moderate.

 SALARY RANGE:  $41,500 – $43,500

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:  Cover Letter, Resume, Official Transcript(s)