Career Center

Location: Willmar

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Employment Condition: Unlimited

Job Description:

• This position provides supportive services to enhance the retention and academic performance of SSS-TRIO program participants including preparing and facilitating completion of SSS-TRIO education/career plans for each program advisee assigned. This position requires collaboration including working with support staff, college faculty and community agencies to acquire information on participant's needs. Duties include: meeting with program participants at least twice each term to develop strategies to improve academic performance, to monitor progress toward goals, and to modify academic plans, as needed. Assist participants in acquiring, utilizing and understanding career, academic, and financial information; and offering financial literacy, FAFSA and scholarship assistance. Assist participants in understanding and assessing campus resources, policies, and regulations.
• Develop and implement student support activities and services that promote the success of program participants in higher education and fulfill the TRIO-SSS program mission and objectives including student events, college tours, cultural enrichment activities, workshops, etc. Identify and register qualified staff and students for participation and leadership roles in program events and maintain documentation of participation. Promote activities and enlist support from college constituency groups.
• Assist in the completion of summative evaluations related to student development components. Provide grades, evaluations, and/or feedback to participants as needed. Coordinate/assist in supervising peer tutors/mentors.
• Provide guidance with graduation and transfer in support of the TRIO-SSS program mission and objectives. Ensure that each program participant maintains a current degree and/or transfer plan, including degree audit information. Develop and implement activities to instruct participants about job, career, and transfer opportunities including offering or setting up workshops, college visits to regional four-year schools and job preparation strategies. Identify and communicate with support services offices at transfer institutions including TRIO and related programs. Assist student with transfer applications, financial aid, housing, letters of recommendation and other transition tasks.
• Monitor student academic and financial aid progress regularly, including beginning, middle and end-of term enrollment and academic progress status reports. Track participants to transfer schools and maintain record of last known status of each exiting participant.
• Represent needs and interests of program participants through involvement in professional development activities, staff training sessions, meetings and college, state or national TRIO committees (dependent upon funding). Inform college communities of purpose and procedures of the TRIO-SSS program. Attend assigned department/unit meetings, staff training events and professional development opportunities. Assist project director in preparation of staff training component related to program academic support. Keep current on emerging education policies and issues of relevance to program participants and staff. Coordinate TRIO-SSS bulletin boards and TRIO-SSS newsletter.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in education or related field.
• Experience working with disadvantaged populations including individuals who are first generation, low income, individuals with disabilities, culturally and racially diverse populations.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• 2 years related work experience.
• Knowledge of federal, state and institutional policies and processes.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Must have strong advocacy and collaboration skills.
• Ability to think outside the box.
• Ability to work well in a team setting.
• Ability to build strong professional relationships with TRIO SSS students, TRIO SSS Staff, LSC Staff, faculty, administration, community members and non-LSC TRIO staff.
• Prefer a TRIO alumni or have similar experience as TRIO SSS students while attending college.
• Demonstrated ability to work successfully with persons from diverse backgrounds, and commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Other Requirements:

About:

• Enterprising – We are future-focused, and change-oriented, developing creative solutions to challenges that maximize our institutional, system and local resources.
• Empowerment – We develop and empower employees to make decisions to best serve students and stakeholders.
• Excellence – We strive to exceed expectations in all that we do.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We seek to understand and appreciate the needs and experiences of every individual and actively work to provide genuine opportunities for everyone to succeed and participate in college activities and processes.
• Trust and Respect – We are committed to developing a culture based in processes and behavior that create trust and respect among all stakeholders.
• Collaboration – We connect and work together to achieve common goals while respecting needs and interests of stakeholders.
• Curiosity and Creativity – We constantly strive to understand, learn, change, and improve.
• Accountability – As individuals and groups, we willingly accept and take ownership of our successes and failures.

Benefits Info:

• 11 paid holidays each year
• Medical Insurance (Single Coverage $38.50 per month and Family Coverage is $262.66 per month)
• Dental Insurance (low deductibles)
• Paid Parental Leave (six weeks)
• Employer paid life insurance
• Short and Long Term Disability
• Pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Retirement Plan
• Tax-deferred Compensation
• Generous vacation and sick leave

Desired Start Date: 10/09/2023

About Ridgewater College

Ridgewater College is a community and technical college that offers more than 100 educational programs in Transfer Education, transfer options, and technical education. Ridgewater College serves more than 5500 students on its campuses in the growing communities of Willmar and Hutchinson, Minnesota. Ridgewater College also offers some programs that are unique in the state of Minnesota and nationally. Small class sizes, up-to-date technology, and access to many student activities and organizations (including intercollegiate sports, choir, theater, and Student Senate) give students the opportunity to enjoy a positive college experience. Ridgewater College is proud of its scholarship foundation, and excellent graduation and job placement rates. As a partner in the region's business and industry, Ridgewater College strives to maintain a quality of education for tomorrow's workforce, and to keep pace with the needs of the community by offering Customized and Continuing Education courses. Ridgewater College is recognized as an educational leader that exemplifies innovation and excellence within a student-centered learning environment, and is dedicated to providing an accessible, affordable, and supportive setting for all students.

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