Emerson Prison Initiative Program Coordinator

Join our community and experience Emerson College!

Housed within the Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies at Emerson College, the Emerson Prison Initiative (EPI) provides an Emerson College BA degree pathway to incarcerated students at MCI-Norfolk, a men’s medium-security state prison, and continuing classes at Northeastern Correctional Center, a minimum-security prison.  Reporting to the Program manager, the Program Coordinator (PC) will provide general staff support to EPI, providing coordination of the inside program and the Reentry and College Outside Program (RECOUP).

COMMUNICATION AND EVENTS

• Submit tickets to web team for new uploads to EPI website.
• Organize EPI data, including maintaining:
    - EPI student database, student tracking spreadsheets, and other student records
    - EPI applicant and admission tracking system
    - EPI subscriber lists in Constant Contact
• Provide administrative support for EPI events on Emerson’s Boston campus and EPI participation in other Emerson events and external events.
• Support Program Manager on delegated tasks in planning of EPI graduations, including procuring materials and coordinating with invited guests.
   

PROGRAM COORDINATION

• Back-stop EPI Program Manager, taking progressively more program coordination tasks from the PM as they take more and more EPI management from the Director and Assistant Director.
• Support faculty and teaching assistant application process.
• Support PM in guiding EPI faculty and teaching assistants through their preparation and orientation to teach in prison, including EPI and Dept of Correction (DOC) orientations.
• Organize course syllabi and materials for submission to DOC, as well as organizing crite sheets and course evaluations.
• Organize class materials for drop-off to DOC.
• Collect student transcript authorizations and request transcripts from other colleges for transfer credits under PM.
• Send calendar invitations, distribute agenda and track follow-up tasks from monthly EPI Advisory Council.
• Attend regular EPI program coordination meetings.

RECOUP

• Assist the PM in providing case management and reentry support services for EPI students and alumni to ensure a successful transition outside. This includes working in-person with EPI students and alumni throughout the greater Boston-area and other communities as needed. Support EPI students on Boston campus with access to classes, financial aid, and support services by liaising with appropriate Emerson College offices.
• Support EPI students and alumni in completing steps towards their educational and professional goals.
• Provide logistical support for EPI student participation as guest speakers and panelists on college-in-prison inside and outside of Emerson, including helping with communication between the host and the guest and ensuring there is a transportation plan in place
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS – Qualifications are deemed required or preferred and represent what is needed to effectively perform the job.

• Bachelor's degree required in a wide range of fields acceptable
• Preference for lived experience with the carceral system.
• 3-5 years’ experience in mentoring, advising, or other peer-on-peer support.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES – May be representative, but not all-inclusive, of those knowledge, skills, and abilities commonly associated with the job.

• Demonstrated experience using: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat, Google Suite, and Constant Contact.
• Data management skills.
• Strong written, communication and organizational skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work with students and alumni from diverse backgrounds, communicate effectively, and network and build partnerships at both grassroots and institutional levels
• Must be self-motivated, and able to independently manage time and workload
• Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, particularly in relation to confidentiality, clear communication and consistent follow through on deadlines and project goals
• Willingness to travel
• Ability to manage volunteers, both Emerson students and those in the community who may volunteer their time to support reentry work or other EPI programs.

PHYSICAL ABILITIES – Activities commonly associated with the performance of the functions of this job. The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Requires ability to lift and move objects that are l