Associate Director TRiO SSS STEM - Pioneer Center for Student Excellence

TITLE

Associate Director, TRiO SSS STEM 

JOB SUMMARY DATE ISSUED: 09/23

FLSA: Exempt

PTO: VCS

The Associate Director, TRiO Student Support Services STEM will work in collaboration with the Director to establish, implement, and manage the newly created program. The Associate Director, TRiO SSS STEM will provide academic advising support to SSS STEM participants by utilizing specialized proactive individual and group advising.  The position will also provide personalized tutoring, career development, and financial literacy to program participants. The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) STEM program is federally funded by the Department of Education and will serve 120 first-generation low-income students and/or students with disabilities. Work is performed under general supervision and performance evaluation is based upon completion of assignments and results obtained. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with the University Policies & Procedures.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to:  Project Director, TRIO SSS STEM

Supervises:  Administrative Staff, Graduate Assistants and Student Assistants

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:

• Serves as the TRIO academic adviser to approximately 120 students.
• Establishes relationships with students, and monitors their progress in order to meet retention, persistence, and graduation objectives.
• Utilizes a holistic, student-centered advising model to support TRIO SSS STEM participants.
• Provides financial, economic, career, and personal advising/coaching to TRIO SSS STEM participants.
• Develops expertise in interpreting University policies, procedures, and curricular requirements.
• Ensures all activities and grant objectives are met. 
• Assists in recruiting, identifying, and selecting eligible students to participate in the program.
• Conducts or participates in student interviews.
• Maintains accurate records to monitor participants’ academic progress as well as services provided by program staff for tracking and/or reporting purposes.
• Conducts individual and group academic, personal and financial advising sessions/workshops.
• Assists Director in oversight of career, tutoring, and financial literacy platforms used by TRIO SSS STEM participants.
• Provides outreach and intervention to at-risk participants.
• Oversees the design and delivery of retention program activities. 
• Assesses, collects and reports student data as they pertain to program satisfaction and participant needs.
• Coordinates all aspects of graduate exploration trips, cultural opportunities, and career site visits, including travel logistics. 
• Remains current regarding best practices in mentoring, tutoring, advising, and retention.
• Directly recruits, hires, trains, and provides ongoing supervision and evaluation of key personnel. 
• Cultivates and maintains collaborative partnerships with departments as appropriate, e.g. The Office of Financial Aid, Academic Testing Services, Career Connections and Academic Advising.
• Identifies appropriates referrals for participants.
• Modifies and complements STEM curriculum based on best practices, university & programmatic data, and feedback from participants.
• Prepares regular reports to the Director, Executive Director, PCSE, and Cabinet.
• Assists Director with report compilations for federal reporting purposes, development of forms, reports, evaluations for the program.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Performs other duties as requested.

EDUCATION

Master's degree preferred in education, counseling, or STEM- related field from an accredited college or university required.

EXPERIENCE

Four years’ experience working in a TRiO federal program or similar related program for at-risk STEM college students that focus on improving their academic standing, persistence, and college graduation rates; two years of staff supervision; and three years of experience working in academic support programs.

REQUIREMENT

Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:

• Knowledge of assessment and data collection, learning styles, and learning assistance strategies and experience in utilizing a coaching approach to STEM student assistance.
• Knowledge of academic advising and college, career, financial aid, and economic literacy activities and related services for SSS STEM Eligible Students.
• Experience advising and assisting SSS STEM Eligible Students with the graduate school admissi