TRIO UB Residential Coordinator & Advisor - Military Veterans

Position Overview

The TRIO Upward Bound (UB) Residential Coordinator & Advisor serves as an expert in college access and readiness programming and development for first generation and low income high school-aged youth. Utilizing a holistic college access advising model, this position is responsible for academic advising and student development in all facets of college readiness including academic, personal, social, cultural and behavioral.

This position is also responsible for developing, implementing and managing program initiatives and services, recruiting students from high schools in the Minneapolis Public School system, co-instructing a non-credit academic year college planning course, coordinating all summer residential services, supervising and training summer residential support staff, and providing direct advocacy and development support for students at the assigned target high schools. This position works both independently and collaboratively with the TRIO leadership team and reports to the program director.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer.

Job Responsibilities

Direct Service to Students (45%)

• Provide academic, personal, social, and financial aid advising to students and families from a variety of cultures and communities to increase college readiness indicators towards meeting high school graduation and postsecondary enrollment program performance objectives
• Identify, understand, and apply organization and student development theory to guide students to reflect on important decisions that challenge and support their development
• Monitor and employ analytical reviews of student progress in high school and at UB to intervene, advise, and recommend alternative solutions to academic, social and economic difficulties in participants' ability to meet program objectives
• Develop annual student plans of action based on individual needs, interests, educational best practices, ensuring students' equitable access to services and effective intervention
• Evaluate student curricular and extra-curricular plans as well as behavioral development to promote timely high school graduation and college preparation
• Coordinate, implement and manage timely student recruitment process, including direct recruitment within target school(s), with commitment to the recruitment and retention of student populations who meet federally mandated and program admissions criteria
• Utilize multiple communication methods to develop and maintain relationships with and inform, participants' parents/guardians of student academic progress and development
• Comply with mandatory reporting state regulations and university policies
• Understand and communicate the interconnectedness of University, school and community resources to individual students to support their program and HS retention and an engaged student experience
• Influence student program retention, high school graduation and college matriculations through relationship development and establishment of trust through numerous and varying and personalized contact strategies across the academic lifespan
• Equitably and consistently enforce program and University policies, manage student behavioral issues that arise during summer residential services, communicate with parents when issues arise

Supervision of Summer Residential Program (15%)

• Train summer staff, prepare residential staff training budget, evaluate effectiveness of training, develop training methods, draft training manual and/or materials, analyze training modes and devise new ones when necessary
• Coordinate and supervise summer residential events for students participating in summer program
• Supervise and evaluate residential staff performance during summer program services; identify and manage performance issues when appropriate
• Communicate clearly and regularly, utilizing a variety of community methods, with all summer staff regarding program needs, expectations and student concerns
• Ensure compliance with safety, security and liability policies, promoting a culture of respect and safe learning and living environment for participants and employees
• Update, annually, job descriptions for residential program positions, based on University of Minnesota hiring standards and in accordance with grant guidelines and funding
• Recruit and interview eligible diverse applicants and recommend appropriate candidates for hire to program director
• Implement, track and report compliance with USDA Summer Foods Program, as scheduled
• Manage, track, dispense and reconcile student stipend during summer program
• Collaborate with University of Minnesota Office of Housing and Residential Life to hire residential staff for the scheduled summer residential services
• Collaborate with University Dining Services to secure residential hall space, update contract and audit final bill

Program Development and Operation (15%)

• Coordinate and implement academic year and summer experiential activities for students and/or parent/guardians with a variety of interests
• Assist with the design and implementation of holistic student and parent/guardian education workshops and orientation sessions geared toward students and families from diverse communities and cultures
• Develop, promote, and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders, utilizing a variety of communication methods which are effective, timely and sensitive, in the target schools and community to ensure the retention and academic success of program participants, in accordance with program objectives
• Design, implement and manage an effective student caseload to ensure the retention and academic success of program participants, according to program objectives
• Ensure compliance with liability when planning events, trips and workshops
• Coordinate, implement, manage and chaperone experiential program and program events with special focus in generating equal accessibility to information and opportunities and building social and cultural capital

Instruction (10%)

• Serve as instructor for academic year class in postsecondary education planning
• Assess student postsecondary plans and recommend appropriate alternative pathways and plans for students using informed college admissions standards
• Write recommendation letters, edit college and scholarship applications, essays and resumes for TRIO UB participants
• Revise, update, document and implement developmentally appropriate lesson plans utilizing up-to-date information regarding postsecondary and financial aid processes and best practices
• Monitor, track, document and report student postsecondary education planning progress, assignment completion and class attendance
• Refer students to TRIO Student Support Services programs and other identified programs aimed at serving TRIO-like students in respective matriculating institutions

Program Outreach (10%)

• Utilize and build relationships and networks at assigned target high school(s), across the University, with community programs, and with other TRIO programs to ensure holistic services, broad and effective advocacy on behalf of students, and increased efficiency of college readiness program services
• Build effective relationships with parents/guardians and families of participants to ensure readiness services are comprehensive and communicated broadly to those who influence high school student success
• Represent and publicize UB within target high schools and community including participation in classroom presentation, target school open houses, parent/teacher conferences, and other target school-related events as determined and/or assigned
• Advocate for participants in schools and community, actively seeking equal accessibility and exposure to adequate college-preparatory resources
• Serve on target school committees promoting targeted service intervention and community program collaboration, effectively communicating and reporting program impact on overall school performance outcomes
• Hold regular and consistent office hours at target schools and secure adequate resources to effectively represent UB at target school

Other (5%)

• Chaperone students to conference/field trips
• Participate in professional development, with a focused commitment of gaining perspective in diverse backgrounds, effective communication, and issues in accessibility
• Other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• BA/BA degree plus four (4) years of professional work experience, or MA degree with two (2) years of related professional experience
• Minimum of one year experience performing work relating to planning or supervising a residential or similar educational program (inclusive in the years of related experience listed above), including supervision of staff
• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for an inclusive environment for all backgrounds and identities
• Ability to work effectively and inclusively as part of a diverse team
• Experience in Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
• Experience advising one-on-one and/or in group settings
• Must possess a valid driver's license with a clean driving record
• Must have access to reliable transportation

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in education, social work, youth development, family social science, psychology, sociology
• Demonstrated experience working with low-income and/or first generation individuals and/or communities
• Knowledge of or experience working with Minneapolis Public High Schools
• Experience with classroom instruction and curriculum development, preferably at the high school level
• Comprehensive knowledge of high school graduation requirements and postsecondary planning, college admission and financial aid processes
• Experience with Blumen database software
• Ability to speak a foreign language â" Spanish, Oromo, Somali, Hmong, Amharic, etc.
• Personal experience with and a demonstrated understanding of the issues affecting the TRIO eligible population. Consideration given to individuals with experience overcoming academic, economic, and/or social obstacles to success