Location: Highline College 2400 S 240th St Des Moines
Salary: Open
Internal Number: 4595459
This posting will remain open until filled.
The Black Student Success Program Manager supports Highline College students who identify as Black, African, or African American. The program manager provides holistic academic advising and navigation of college systems to Black/African community college students to support their retention and success. The program manager guides new students in their transition to college by teaching students to explore and connect interests, values, skills and goals with academic program offerings and future transfer or career opportunities. The program manager provides Black/African-centered programming and advising to ensure Black/African/ community support and celebration. They develop proactive Black/African/African-centered strategies to engage students in career exploration, educational planning and remaining on track to completion of requirements. The program manager provides services on student-friendly schedules and understands and supports the needs of students balancing work, school and family responsibilities.
This position is an exempt, at-will, full-time position. Reporting to the Director of Cultural Learning Communities, this position will be responsible for:
Black/African/African Programming:
Oversee and develop partnerships with area high schools to raise awareness of Highline?s Umoja program;
Facilitate communication and outreach within Highline among faculty, students, and staff about the Umoja program with the goal of increasing internal referrals;
Oversee, develop, and implement a specific outreach and recruitment program for Umoja, including marketing, outreach and orientation;
Manage Umoja student applications and screening processes;
Develop and manage cultural programming that celebrates Black/African/African/Black/African identity and ways of knowing;
Work closely with Learning Communities staff to ensure Black/African/African/Black/African cultural visibility and representation on campus;
Develop cost estimates and plan and project future program needs; develop budget requests or revisions;
Work closely with Umoja Community to plan events for the Umoja Community and campus wide events;
Meet regularly with on-campus core team to ensure goals of projects are on track, develop programming, materials, and resources that center Black/African students in Pathway Advising;
Advocate for campus conditions that support Black/African Student Success.
Advising:
Develop and manage an advising framework that includes programming to connect Black/African/African-identifying students with college communities, resources, and supports to enhance their educational experience with a sense of belonging and Black/African pride;
Develop strategies that will prepare students for first year success by fostering relationships and collaborating with the Transitions Success Center, Entry Advising and Admissions to identify and welcome Black/African/African students to Highline College. This includes collaborating with the leaders of ELCAP to identify Black/African/African students and help be a bridge for preparing to transition to credit-bearing classes;
Remain in constant communication with the Outreach and Recruitment team to ensure seamless transitions from high school to Highline College. This may include high school visits when necessary;
Partner with Umoja and Promise Learning Communities in supporting campus events for celebration of Black/African Scholarship, Excellence and Joy;
Use proactive strategies to engage students in early career exploration, educational planning and remaining on track to completion. Advising may be conducted in groups, on an individual basis, via email/phone or video conference/Zoom, Canvas courses, and through programming/outreach;
Collaborate with Outreach to provide holistic academic advising to incoming and current college students. Teach students to explore academic degree options, identify appropriate courses, navigate college processes and prepare for their next steps;
Establish ongoing and regular communication channels with faculty advisors in all Degree Pathways to stay informed of changes to degrees, classes, transfer requirements, etc;
Teach students to access and use online student services and other online academic resources;
Establish and maintain documentation of progress of students eligible to participate in cohort programming and communities;
Maintain electronic student records, documenting and summarizing advising sessions; Adhere to institutional, state, and federal policies related to confidentiality, and required reporting;
Actively participate in and contribute to professional development opportunities, remaining current on issues and trends in academic advising, career exploration, and college success, particularly for Black/African/African students;
Participate in advising events including new student orientations, prospective student information sessions, transfer workshops, and fairs, etc.;
Support students moving from the Entry Advising phase to Pathway Advising to Faculty Advising to Career and Transition.
Navigation:
Work closely with Cultural Learning Communities staff, TRiO, Pathway and Faculty Advisors, Access Services, Athletics, MESA, Academic Success Centers, Benefits Hub and Funding departments to ensure wraparound support for Black/African students;
Support access to and application for funding, both for tuition and living expenses. Ensure full utilization of WASFA/FAFSA funding and other funding sources;
Collaborate with college resources staff to ensure all support resources are accessed by students. Connect students to campus and off-campus supports, such as tutoring, counseling, paying for college, emergency financial grants, food access, housing security, access to public benefits, free tax prep, healthcare, and social supports;
Meet and check in regularly with individual students, maintaining hours convenient to students who are parenting, including evening and weekend hours as appropriate. (Set schedule with some flexibility.).
Mentoring:
Develop and coordinate the Black student/Umoja Mentoring program, including recruitment of students and mentors, training and support for mentors, and scheduling meetings and activities for mentors/mentees.
Budget:
In collaboration with the CLC Director, oversee, develop and monitor program budgets;
In collaboration with cultural learning community steering committees, advisory committees, and/or faculty coordinators, prepare and submit annual S&A Fees Budget requests and reports.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor's degree in Education, Student Development, Social Work/Psychology, or closely-related disciplines (pending degrees must be verified by a letter from the granting institution).
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
Experience in career counseling, or university transfer admission/recruitment Experience working with undocumented students;
Bilingual English and Spanish speaking;
Extensive understanding of Black/African student assets and funds of knowledge, supporting cultural and community programming that enhance students? sense of belonging;
Experience working or volunteering with Black/African/African communities Experience working in higher education;
Post-baccalaureate education or Master?s Degree;
Experience serving a diverse population in a multicultural environment Experience navigating higher education;
Training or experience in navigation, case management or financial coaching Experience with PeopleSoft (ctcLink).
Highline College prides itself on its commitment to diversity and equity, its institutional culture of collegiality and innovation, its globalization of curricula and its inclusion of the community in its programming. Founded in 1961, Highline College is situated in a diverse community just 15minutes south of Seattle. The college annually serves more than 16,500 students – a student population of over 70% students of color, representing 35 nations and more than 100 languages.