Specialist, Academic Achievement (Multiple Openings)

Guilford Technical Community College   Jamestown, NC   Full-time     Education
Posted on September 15, 2021
#RPM

Guilford Technical Community College (GTCC) is currently the fourth largest of N.C. Community College System’s 58 institutions. On our six campuses and through our online offerings, we annually serve approximately 27,500 students, 60% of whom are students of color. We strive to offer programs that provide equitable educational outcomes for all students representing all backgrounds, including, but not limited to, ability, age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. At GTCC, we are committed to cultivating a workplace culture of inclusion that welcomes, develops, supports, and empowers employees. We are looking for an exceptional employee, who shares our institutional mission, vision, and values, to join the team as our new Academic Achievement Specialist.
 
The purpose of the Academic Achievement Specialist is to increase the retention and academic success of students at the college by providing outreach, academic and career coaching, and case management. The selected individual will communicate with students in response to early alerts issued by instructors, identify appropriate intervention strategies, and guide students in the use of those strategies to address challenges. They will plan, direct, and implement programs designed to improve GTCC student retention and success. The Academic Achievement Specialist will identify academic and support service needs, and provide proactive communication and measures for student success. Further, they will maintain current knowledge of academic programs within an assigned division and reviews and analyze student retention and success data.  The position works in a team environment and collaborates with units throughout the college to reduce retention challenges and to improve successes of at-risk students.  They perform work with considerable independence and assume other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 
Duties/Functions
Student Retention 
  • Serve as the first point of contact for early alerts as part of the institution’s instructional strategies for student retention. 
  • Coach students to find appropriate solutions to academic/non-academic issues. 
  • Provide initial assessment, appropriate referral, case management, and interventions.
  • Coordinate student meetings. 
  • Assist students with understanding the colleges’ policies and procedures; provide academic and career coaching related to specific programs of study; provide students information about alternatives and possible consequences of academic decisions (e.g. adding, dropping, and withdrawing from courses, and changing majors). 
  • Review student records for retention issues; follow up on progress through personal contact, and correspondence. 
  • Conduct proactive outreach and monitor assigned students’ progress toward completing their educational goals. 
  • Plan, organize and supervise various student-centered educational, workshops, training, services, and initiatives to enhance participation, retention, goal completion, and graduation. 
  • Develop and implement strategies that promote campus activities and services to maximize student involvement. 
  • Maintain and regularly publish an up-to-date calendar of workshops, events, and activities.  

 
Process Management
  • Develop and manage a process to identify and intervene with at-risk students whose progress is not satisfactory. 
  • Develop and implement student follow-up procedures from one academic term to another, including program goals and objectives. 
  • Work with a variety of technology tools (i.e., student databases, appointment scheduler, degree audit/planner, etc.) and able to use these tools effectively to assist students.  

College engagement
  • Participate in college-wide, division, and department events. 
  • Support programs that promote student retention and graduation. 
  • Provide training and workshops for faculty and staff. 
  • Participate in outreach and recruitment as needed. 
  • Support the college’s retention initiatives and collaborate with college faculty and staff to facilitate student success, retention, and persistence. 
  • Participate on college committees and task forces as required. 
  • Work with faculty and staff to develop student-focused processes.  

Data Collection and Analysis
  • Maintain accurate and confidential records of every student interaction including in-person visits, phone, and online consultations. 
  • Record attendance and individualized comments for each student after each session. 
  • Document progress, goals, to-do list, and any other information requiring follow-up. 
  • Monitor and use predictive analytic technology to support student perseverance to enhance retention goals.  

Supervision
  • Hire, train, and supervise work-study students and/or peer mentors.
Difficult Challenges
Establishing communication with students who may not provide current contact information or who may be disengaged from the college. 
Contacts
  • Students
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Director of Center for Academic Engagement
  • Deans
  • Associate Vice President for Instruction
  • Vice President for Instruction 


Education Required
  • Master’s degree in Counseling, Human Services, Education, or other closely related fields from a regionally accredited college or university.  
Education Preferred
  •  Doctoral degree in Counseling, Human Services, Education, or other closely related fields from a regionally accredited college or university.  
  • Academic coaching certification.
Experience Required
  • 3 years of experience providing learning support services to high-need post-secondary students to include outreach, academic and/or career coaching, and case management.
  • Experience using technology including Microsoft Office suite, a relational student information system, e.g. Colleague, Banner, etc.
  • Experience with higher education legal requirements particularly related to FERPA. 
  • Experience developing and implementing instructional programming to promote skill acquisition.
  • Experience collecting, analyzing, and acting upon student data.
Experience Preferred
  • Greater than 3 years of experience providing support services to high need post-secondary students to include outreach, academic and career coaching, and case management.
  • Experience with collaborative and experiential methodologies to improve student learning. 
  • Proficiency in a second language.
  • Experience in student mentoring, tutoring, supplemental instruction, first-year issues, and/or working with students with academic challenges.
  • Experience at a community college.
KSA Required
  • Excellent interpersonal communication skills (verbal and written) including effective listening behaviors.
  • Strong critical thinking ability.
  • Ability to work in a team environment collaboratively and to build effective working relationships.
  • Excellent time management and problem-solving techniques and use of professional judgment in a complex team environment.
  •  Value diversity and understand multicultural and cultural competencies.
  • Ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students and families and other constituents from different backgrounds and cultures. 
KSA Preferred Department/Job Specific Requirements
The following (compliance) training is required and must be completed within the first 30 days of hire with annual refresher training thereafter: 
  • Ethics
  •  Safety/Shooter on Campus
  • Personal Information Protection Training (PIP)
  • Anti-Discrimination/Harassment & Title IX
  • Other training may be required as determined applicable. 
Physical Demands
Physical Activity:  Primarily sitting
Environmental Hazard(s):  <15%
Lifting:  <=20lbs.
Posting Type Staff


Guilford Technical Community College

Jamestown , NC
https://www.gtcc.edu/