Student Success Specialist

Position Summary

The GEAR UP Program is recruiting for one full time Student Success Specialist. This position is responsible for providing individual and group academic, career, college, and financial mentoring and advising to grant-funded GEAR UP participants to include: developing and coordinating programs and initiatives to increase college-going attitudes and habits; maintaining and analyzing program records to monitor participant progress; coordinating the mentoring program; preparing and hosting presentations/workshops for participants, families, and teachers at partnering schools; assisting with preparation of institutional and federal reports; and performing other duties as assigned by program Director.

*This position is grant funded; the anticipated grant period is seven years, 9/1/2024 -8/31/2031, contingent upon annual renewals.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Provides individual and group academic, career, college, personal, and financial mentoring and advising to grant-funded GEAR UP participants.
• Develops and coordinates programs and initiatives to increase academic success and college-going rates of participants, e.g., study skills, critical thinking, career planning, job shadowing, financial literacy, transfer programs, dual credit advising, test prep, summer bridge, college application assistance, financial aid application assistance, and parent and teacher engagement.
• Conducts intake interviews and assesses new participants to determine service needs.
• Analyzes, evaluates, and maintains records to monitor participant’s academic progress. Works individually with participants who fall below program/institutional educational standards.
• Maintains participant files, documents participant contact, generates reports, and complies with all FERPA guidelines.
• Assists GEAR UP Project Director with the preparation of federal and institutional reports.
• Accompanies participants on educational activities off campus.
• Collaborates as a team member on developing programs and initiatives to meet program objectives.
• Maintains rapport and coordinates closely with administrators, faculty, staff, teachers, and parents at assigned school site(s) to communicate GEAR UP purpose, services, schedules, and include diverse perspectives.
• Serves on institutional committees as requested.
• Participates in staff development and in-service training meeting.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the GEAR UP Program Director.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, psychology, sociology, communications, or related field.
• Three years of counseling, advising, or mentoring adolescents or adults.
• One year full-time previous experience working with the social, economic and cultural lives of at-risk individuals.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Computer literacy.

• Documented experience in planning and implementing academic and cultural enrichment activities preferred.
• Previous work experience in a public school or community college.
• Bilingual in English and Spanish.

The following benefits apply to all full-time positions scheduled to work 30 hours or more each week. These full-time positions are also eligible to participate in our TRS retirement plan.

Victoria College offers an excellent benefit package for eligible employees that includes group insurance as well as a generous amount of paid time off:

Group Insurance
Health insurance

• Full-time employees: 100% VC paid; employee pays 50% for dependents
• Coverage for the new employee/dependents is effective on the 1st of the month following a 60-day waiting period

• Coverage for the new employee/dependents is effective on the 1st of the month following hire date
  • Flexible Spending Accounts – health and dependent care
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Term Life
  • Short and long-term disability
  • Accidental death & dismemberment
  • As an added benefit, Victoria College issues a credit of up to $30 each month to full-time employees to help offset the cost of premiums

• Currently, the employee contribution is 8.25%. The state and Victoria College, together, contribute 8.25%
• Social security is deducted each pay period
• Payroll deduction for 403-b and 457 deferred compensation plans are available

• Workers compensation insurance
• Direct payroll deposit
• Tuition waiver for benefits eligible employees and their dependents through age 25
• Use of the Sports Center which includes treadmills, rowing machines, exercise classes, etc.
• Technology training

• Vacation for eligible employees (does not apply to faculty positions). Effective 90 days after start date
  • Full-time employees: 80 hours up to 10 years of service then 120 hours for 10 years of service
• Sick leave
  • Full-time employees: accrues at 8 hours each month
• Developmental and professional leave
• One week at Thanksgiving
• Two weeks for Winter Break
• One week for Spring Break
• Regular holidays
  • Labor Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
• Non-faculty employees get Fridays off during the summer

Note: Applicants who travel over 200 miles round trip will be reimbursed up to $500 for travel expenses according to the travel reimbursement procedure. However, applicants who decline employment offers will not be reimbursed. Travel reimbursements are not processed until after all interviews have concluded and an offer of employment has been extended to and accepted by the candidate selected for hire.