Academic Advisor- SUCCESS Program (Academic Counselor - Grade 5)

Quinsigamond Community College Worcester, MA Full-time Education

Posted on May 6, 2024

Apply Now

Academic Advisor- SUCCESS Program (Academic Counselor - Grade 5)

Category: Professional
Department: Career & Academic Advisement
Locations: Worcester, MA
Posted: May 5, 2024
Closes: 6/16/2024
Type: Full Time
Position ID: 173732

About Quinsigamond Community College:

Quinsigamond Community College (QCC), the largest community college in Central Massachusetts serving over 13,000 students in degree and certificate programs, adult education and workforce development. QCC offers over 70 associate degree and certificate career options in Business, Health Care, Technology, Liberal Arts, and Human Services. Additionally, over 137 credit and 300 noncredit courses are offered online, as well as a wide variety of classroom non-credit courses, workshops, and seminars. Classes are provided on the main campus, in downtown Worcester (Healthcare, Workforce Development, Continuing Education), at the Worcester Senior Center (Hospitality & Recreation Management), at Burncoat High School (Automotive Technology), and in the city of Southbridge.

QCC is committed to 100% student success as evidenced by its ambitious strategic plan. This commitment is furthered by a college-wide Equity Appraisal-currently underway-designed to assist the College to better serve students who have historically been underserved and underrepresented in higher education.

QCC is especially interested in candidates who, through their research, teaching, and/or services, will contribute to the diversity and excellence of the college academic community.

Job Description:

General Statement

The Academic Advisor position, which is housed within the Academic Advising Center, is responsible for providing proactive advising to assigned students. The position will ensure that first time, at-risk, first generation, and low-income students are provided special attention to successfully persist through their first year of college, with basic career, academic, and transfer advising, and working collaboratively with other areas in the College. Employing developmental advising techniques, which includes holistic and proactive advising, the advisor will work with assigned student caseloads to develop academic plans that help them stay on track to persist and graduate. The advisor will work closely with all staff in the Advising Center to ensure that students assigned to the Advising Center receive comprehensive advising and assistance with advising related tasks, such as registration. Other responsibilities may include participation in dismissal meetings, intentional retention initiatives, and advising and retention-based projects.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Associate Director of Advising

Duties and Responsibilities

Use the developmental advising approach and employ proactive and sustained outreach strategies to ensure the success of a caseload of students promoting their persistence through completion and/or transfer.
Perform all functions related to career and academic planning. Functions include, but may not be limited to individual and group advising sessions, career exploration, academic planning, degree audit consultations, short- and long-term goal planning, early alert monitoring and follow-up, articulation of policies and procedures, collaboration with faculty and program advisors, course selection, registration, and transfer services, etc.
Serves in a back-up capacity; assists with general questions and/or registration for Advising Center assigned students (drop-in students) through different modalities (on-campus, over the phone, virtually, or over email).
Foster a community of support and celebrate the cultural wealth our students bring to the College; facilitate workshops and activities designed to include students in SUCCESS Scholars Program on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, academic skills and self-confidence, leadership development, personal efficacy, self-advocacy, community engagement, 21st Century life skills, and celebrations of student successes and cultural heritage.
Build meaningful relationships with students by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging.
Conduct individual and group developmental advising sessions with students to provide support for academic and personal concerns, create action plans for success, and maintain all relevant records to student profiles and progress.
Identify risk factors and appropriate interventions, with an emphasis on student strengths, retention and persistence. Address and diffuse situations of conflict and crisis and make appropriate referrals when needed. Collaborate with other departments to recognize and resolve identified patterns of concern with students.
Foster linkages between academic and student support programs/services to build a holistic network that provides options, referrals and alternative solutions for students facing obstacles and challenges. Collaborate with campus and community-based resources to provide responsive wrap-around services for students.
Proactively collaborate with College-wide departments, faculty, tutors, and academic support staff to advocate, identify, and meet the academic needs of students.
Assist students with educational financing concerns by collaborating with Enrollment Coaches, Financial Aid, the Business Office/Student Accounts and the Registrar to ensure they understand processes, have completed necessary paperwork and met institutional and federal deadlines.
Participate and assist with planning visits to 4-year schools and/or targeted employer sites to assist students in fall and spring semesters and summer sessions, in conjunction with Career and Transfer Services
Assist in the development and execution of on-campus orientation programming for SUCCESS Scholars in fall and spring semesters and summer sessions.
Motivate and encourage students through pro-active interactions and discussions, and regular follow-up on action plan progress and/or when an academic alert is raised by a faculty member.
Assist in retention efforts designed to support students facing academic difficulty; conduct advising meetings with QCC students who have been academically dismissed and help them to understand their options; provide pro-active outreach to caseload students on academic probation.
Act as a liaison for Academic Advising and the SUCCESS Scholars program to the academic schools of the College; participate in school-wide meetings.
Assist in project-based work to support retention efforts within the Advising Center. Examples of such work may include: collaborating with faculty to support program goals, visiting classes to promote program initiatives and deliver presentations about Advising resources to First Year Experience courses, degree planning for advising center students, developing and planning communications (texts, emails, flyers, etc.).
Leverage and promote the usage of Career Coach to strengthen students' understanding of the employment outlooks and align their Career Coach assessment results to the appropriate programs offered at QCC Participate in annual evaluation of performance of duties.
Maintain knowledge of QCC guidelines and program requirements; conveys college rules, regulations, policies and academic options with students to help facilitate student academic success.
Develop professional relations with students, faculty and other support offices that foster support and collaboration.
Participate in other relevant, college-wide committees to represent and align the work of the Advising Office.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Participate in organized advising and registration events, and advisor training and staff meetings.
Use identified College-wide systems, such as Navigate, student information systems, and other software, to provide comprehensive advising services.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

Master's Degree in counseling, education, human services, or related field.
Experience successfully planning, executing and evaluating programs and initiatives.
Experience working on college retention efforts and student success initiatives.
Three years of experience and/or training involving college admissions, academic advisement, career development, or program/project management; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
Ability to communicate effectively and to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working at a comprehensive community college.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Experience with developmental or proactive advising.
Experience with preparing and giving presentations.
Experience with providing student support services.
Bilingual or multicultural.

Additional Information:

Quinsigamond Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

Quinsigamond Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Diversity, inclusion, and equity are core values at Quinsigamond Community College. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and equitable environment for all students, staff, and faculty. Every member on our college campus enriches our diversity. We support inclusion and are dedicated to ensuring equity in access to opportunities.

Quinsigamond Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Members of underrepresented groups, minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to diversity and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI/SORI) request.

Application Instructions:

Salary is competitive and commensurate with MCCC salary schedule and dependent upon such factors as education and experience. Minimum starting salary for a Grade 5 (Academic Counselor) with Bachelor's Degree is $63,288-$65,692 with a Master's Degree is $64,292-$66,732 and includes a comprehensive benefits package. 37.5 hours per week.

**Actual salary will be determined in accordance with classification determination of MCCC/MTA salary schedule commensurate with education and experience.

Hours

Monday through Thursday 11:00am-7:00pm, Friday 9:00-5:00pm Based on student needs, some evenings and weekends may be required.

Visit our Web Site at www.qcc.edu/human-resources for information about our positions.

All applicants must apply online by submitting:

Resume
Cover Letter
Names and contact information for three (3) professional references

Equivalency Statement
Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as stated above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience have prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

Quinsigamond Community College only accepts application materials through our online application system. We are unable to accept application materials through mail, email, fax, or hand delivery. If you don't have access to a computer, please visit Human Resources Office Monday- Friday from 8:30am-4:30pm.

Quinsigamond Community College understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance, please contact the Human Resources Office 508-854-2883 or humanresources@qcc.mass.edu.

To apply, visit https://qcc.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=173732

Apply Now

Academic Advisor- SUCCESS Program (Academic Counselor - Grade 5)

Quinsigamond Community College

Sites & Partners

Services