Student Retention Specialist - Pathways Program

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Student Retention Specialist - Pathways Program

Salary

$55,352.00 - $74,626.00 Annually

Location

Costa Mesa, CA

Job Type

Classified Staff

Job Number

O-013-19

Division

Orange Coast College

Department

SS/EOPS

Opening Date

07/06/2018

Closing Date

7/20/2018 11:59 PM Pacific

Definition

Summary
Assists students in making informed college major and career choices. Provides support in the transition to college and monitors students' satisfactory academic progress to receive timely feedback on those having difficulty succeeding.  Works with the student, faculty, and other academic skills specialists to offer resources and interventions that enhance success.
 
Distinguishing Career Features
The Student Retention Specialist - Pathways Program, is an entry-level professional within an advising and student services career.  On behalf of faculty, Specialists work with students by applying intensive motivational and case management strategies to ensure a smooth transition to college, encourage satisfactory academic performance and engagement into the college community.  Specialists work with and other counselors to remain current with transferability of courses, majors, and admissions requirements and up-to-date on student status. 
 
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Specific duties may vary among departments and jobs.  Incumbents typically perform a substantial portion or all of the following kinds of duties:

  • Works with counselors and other student/outreach services staff and faculty, assists students with orientations and acclamation to college life, and assists with developing and monitoring retention plans for ensuring student success. 
  • Monitors academic reporting systems for early alert to students' performance and academic progress risk, thus identifying those whose behaviors indicate a lack of academic success strategies.  
  • Analyzes retention and attrition data to identify trends and potential solutions.  Notifies counselors and faculty of student issues relating to performance, probation, and potential disqualification.  
  • Prepares and implements intervention plans to work with students by connecting them with support staff and other resources to improve academic standing.   Provides timely feedback to students about their academic progress.  
  • Assists and refers students for academic skills assistance, including tutoring, counseling, and/or career guidance.  Assists students to connect with advocate peers and draws upon support services such as counseling, financial aid, and targeted student resources. 
  • Assists with coordinating and conducting group orientations including connecting students with co-curricular activities, athletics, student leadership, and peer-to-peer relationships.  May coordinate services such as on-line workshops. 
  • Prepares communications such as announcements and newsletters to promote student success programs, events, activities, and initiatives.   
  • Provides direction to students for navigating academic and non-academic resources on campus, online, and in the community, including but not limited to, Steps to Success and other core services of assessment and education plans. 
  • Provides advising services with a focus on persistence and completion, career readiness, academic and social integration and transfer options.  Trains students in techniques to monitor their own progress toward achieving educational, personal, and career goals. 
  • Working with Information Technology, marketing and other departments, develops content and maintains portions of the college's Student Retention Program webpage. 
  • Maintains documentation of student interactions with counselors and faculty. Compiles, data and generates standardized reports and prepares documentation for program files and individual student records. 
  • Researches successful college/university retention programs to identify policies, practices, procedures, and consequences of academic standing impacting the transfer process.  Makes recommendations based on best practices identified through research. 
  • Assists with and may coordinate special projects that contribute to the college's retention goals. 
  • Works with faculty and other community college and university counselors to remain current with transferability of courses, majors, and admissions requirements. 
  • Performs other duties as assigned that support the overall objective of the position.

Qualifications and Physical Demands

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Knowledge and Skills:
The position requires working knowledge of student advising and retention strategies and of data-driven methods to identify students who may be at risk of not continuing.  Requires working knowledge of the transfer and occupational programs offered through higher education.  Requires a working knowledge of admissions/enrollment policies and procedures, graduation and certificate requirements.  Requires knowledge of and skill at using personal computer-aided applications for office productivity, research, decision support, and preparation of communications materials.  Requires sufficient math skills to read and understand statistical concepts.  Requires well-developed knowledge of and skill at using English grammar.  Requires well-developed human relations skills to make in-service presentations to student audiences and to facilitate discussions with students and faculty.
 
Abilities:
Requires the ability to perform the duties of the position.  Requires the ability to provide technical career-related information and assistance to students and the community.  Requires the ability to conduct research, identify and organize data, and make data-driven judgments.  Requires the ability to interview and develop working relationships with students.  Requires the ability to apply motivational interviewing techniques with students to encourage engagement.  Requires the ability to apply principles of positive reinforcement and goal setting.   Requires the ability to access and document student files and ensure privacy of information.  Requires the ability to communicate in a professional manner, in both formal and informal settings with students, faculty, and staff.  Requires the ability to respond to a diverse set of cultures, ethnic groups socio-economic groups, and their interests.

Education and Experience:
The position typically requires a Bachelor's Degree or equivalent in guidance or counseling and 1 year of program-based experience, which may be concurrent with education working with student-centered programs, community, and college resources, preferably in a college setting.
 
Licenses and Certificates:
May require a valid driver license.

Physical Abilities:
The position incumbent must be able to function indoors in an office environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary nature.  Requires ambulatory ability to sit for extended periods of time, to use microcomputers and peripheral equipment, accomplish other desktop work, and to move to various school campus locations. Requires the ability to use near vision to read printed materials.  Requires auditory ability to carry on conversations in person and over the phone.  Requires the ability to retrieve work materials from overhead, waist, and ground level files.  Requires manual and finger dexterity to write, use a pointing device and keyboard at an advanced rate, operate microcomputer, and to operate other standardized office equipment, requiring repetitive motions.

Working Conditions:
Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Conditions of Employment

This is a temporary, categorically funded, regular, full-time, 12-month per year, classified position. The normal hours of work will be 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Thursday and 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on Friday. This position may also be required to work on Saturdays to meet the needs of our students and college.

  • Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.
  • The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in Coast Community College District policies, procedures, and Title IX. (Reference: BP/AP 5910 ) The Coast Community College District celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive.
  • Individuals interested in advancing the District's strategic diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
Physical Abilities:
Incumbent must be able to function effectively indoors in an office environment engaged in work of primarily a sedentary nature.  Requires the ability to sit at a workstation for extended periods of time and to stand upright and forward flexing, for intermittent periods of time.   Requires the ability to interact with students at departmental service windows.  Requires near visual acuity to write, read written materials and computer screens, and observe students at service windows in need of assistance.  Requires sufficient hearing and speech ability for ordinary and telephonic conversations and to hear sound prompts from equipment.  Requires sufficient hand-eye and finger dexterity to write, use a keyboard and pointing device. Requires the ability to reach to access files and move supplies and equipment in and out of storage areas.  Requires sufficient hand-eye coordination to perform data entry at an advanced rate.

Additional Information

Applications must be received no later than the posted closing date. There are NO EXCEPTIONS. Electronic applications may be completed by visiting http://www.cccd.edu/employment. ; Once you have completed an electronic application, you may apply to open positions within the Coast Community College District by submitting the application and all other required materials. Required materials differ for each open position and must be complete when submitted for a specific posting. Instructions for completing applications and applying to posted positions are available online or by calling Applicant Processing at (714) 438-4714.
 
All application materials become the property of the Coast Community College District and will NOT be copied or returned. Information for TDD users is available by calling (714) 438-4755.

Application Requirements: 
To be considered for employment you must submit a complete application packet. A complete application packet includes:

  1. A complete online Classified/Management Employment Application.
  2. A current resume. (Attached as a separate document.)
  3. A cover letter highlighting your qualifications for the desired position. (Attached as a separate document.)
  4. Answers to Supplemental Questions. (clear and detailed responses required as they will be carefully evaluated to determine the most qualified candidate(s) to be invited for an interview; please do not paste your resume, or put "see resume" or "N/A", or leave blank).
 
To ensure consistency and fairness to all applicants, please do not submit materials in addition to those requested.  Additional materials will not be considered or returned.  Be sure to complete all questions and sections of the application. For questions which may not apply, indicate "n/a" (not applicable). If you do not know an answer, please indicate so, but do not leave any space blank.
 
All applications will be screened under a process of utmost confidentiality by a committee of representatives from the college community. Please note: Possession of the minimum qualifications does not ensure an interview.
 
Any documents that you are unable to attach can be faxed to (714) 782-6065. Faxes must clearly indicate the job you are applying to and your name.

Disability Accommodations:
If you require accommodations in the Application or Examination Process, please notify Human Resources by calling (714) 438-4714 OR (714) 438-4713.

The Coast Community College District is a multi-college district that includes Coastline Community College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College. The three colleges offer programs in transfer, general education, occupational/technical education, community services and student support services. Coastline, Golden West and Orange Coast Colleges enroll more than 60,000 students each year in more than 300 degree and certificate programs.
Since its founding in 1947, the Coast Community College District has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading community college districts in the United States. Governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees, the Coast Community College District plays an important role in the community by responding to needs of a changing and increasingly diverse population.
 
Coast Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer
 
The Coast Community College District is committed to employing qualified administrators/managers, faculty, and staff members who are dedicated to student learning and success. The Board recognizes that diversity in the academic environment fosters awareness, promotes mutual understanding and respect, and provides suitable role models for all students. The Board is committed to hiring and staff development processes that support the goals of equal opportunity and diversity, and provide equal consideration for all qualified candidates. The District does not discriminate unlawfully in providing educational or employment opportunities to any person on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Comprehensive Medical, Dental and Vision
We know that the health of our employees and their families is a priority. That's why we offer extensive health care benefits to benefits-eligible employees. We offer the District's PPO plan as well as two HMO's, United Health Care and Kaiser Permanente. We also provide District-paid dental and vision insurance. 

Benefits are available to regular permanent employees working 20 or more hours per week.  Benefits are not available to temporary or short term employees.

District-paid Life Insurance
The District provides Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment insurance benefits, underwritten by ING. This District-paid benefit is equal to one time your annual salary and remains in effect until age 70.

District-paid Disability Benefits
Coast provides both short and long term disability benefits for eligible employees unable to work because of disability due to illness, injury, or maternity.

Voluntary Plans
A variety of voluntary plans are offered through the District to benefits-eligible employees such as Long Term Care, Hyatt Legal, and Section 125 compliant flexible spending accounts.

Enrich Your Profession
Professional Development Programs
The District offers a variety of Professional Development programs for faculty and classified staff that encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework and conferences. We encourage lifelong learning that maintains and improves professional competencies, enhances career progression, and keeps our employees on the cutting edge of their profession.

Sabbatical Leaves
Faculty members are encouraged to pursue professional growth leading to the development of increased competence and the improvement of instruction and/or redirection in their current teaching discipline. The District's sabbatical leave program is designed to assist in this pursuit and is available on a semester basis after completing six consecutive years of service.

Academic Senate
The Academic Senate is the governing body at each of our colleges for making recommendations to administration and to our Board of Trustees with respect to academic and professional matters. The Senate consists of elected faculty and has the responsibility for matters related to curriculum and general academic policy.

Time to Refuel
Vacation
Classified, contract staff earn vacation days commensurate with years of service. Classified Management and Administrators earn 22 days vacation per year.

Sick Leave
All contract employees earn sick leave as outlined in the CA Education Code. Sick leave may be carried over from year-to-year and, upon retirement, unused sick leave may contribute to your PERS and STRS retiree benefit.

Holidays
The District observes 21 paid holidays per year.

Jury Duty, Bereavement, Military Leave
Coast grants contract employees called to jury duty a leave of absence, without loss of pay, for the entire length of required service. Other available leaves include bereavement from 3-5 days and military leaves of absence in accordance with applicable state laws.

Great Expectations
Pension Plans
The District participates in the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) and the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) for contract employees. Non-contract employees participate in Public Agency Retirement Services (PARS) plan for the first 1,000 hours of their employment.
Additionally, it is the policy of the Coast Community College District that contract employees who retire from the District with ten or more years of service be afforded the same group insurance benefits until 70 years of age. A Medicare Supplement or GAP plan  is available to retirees and their spouses after age 70.

Annuities
The District maintains a program whereby qualified employees may request through Payroll to have a portion of his or her salary deposited under a tax sheltered annuity plan or an approved deferred compensation plan.

Schools First Federal Credit Union
The Schools First Federal Credit Union is a federally insured, full service, financial cooperative that is a not-for-profit organization. Earnings are used to benefit all members to provide a full range of financial services and offerings.

01
Please describe your education and work experience as it relates to this position.
02
What do you think are the most significant challenges or barriers for first-year students? How would you assist them to address these issues?
03
What is your experience in supporting students from diverse backgrounds, including age, ethnicity, and socio-economic backgrounds?
04
Describe your experience(s) in developing and coordinating events, such as workshops or events?
05
This position works closely with all levels of personnel throughout the college, district and community. What is your experience working collaboratively with others from different departments (faculty and staff), programs, community organizations, K-12 schools, and county/state services?
06
Discuss your knowledge of student support services and college matriculation processes.
07
What is your definition of student success and how will it be applied to this position?
08
I understand that a COMPLETE application packet is required for consideration, which includes the following: 1. A completed Coast Community College District Online Employment Application 2. A current resume (uploaded as a separate attachment - PDF recommended) 3. A cover letter (uploaded as a separate attachment - PDF recommended) 4. Clear and detailed responses to all supplemental questions (required for evaluation purposes)
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

Agency
Coast Community College District
Address
1370 Adams Avenue

Costa Mesa, California, 92626
Phone
714-438-4668
714-438-4714
Website
http://www.cccd.edu
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