Job Description:

We are looking for two dynamic and engaging Coordinators of Student Advising for CPSEI, who are excellent communicators with a welcoming demeanor to work with students, State Government, and staff in correctional facilities across Vermont. Coordinators of Student Advising are responsible for ensuring students make consistent progression toward achieving their educational goals and focus on student recruitment and retention. This role works closely with students from admissions through graduation to provide the guidance and support students need to persist and achieve their goals. CPSEI Coordinators of Student Advising will develop and actively engage in strategic relationships and partnerships with CPSEI administration, Department of Corrections officials, social services agencies, and all students affiliated with Vermont’s correction system Their advising work is considered a critical component of student success. In addition, the incumbents may be assigned college-wide work taking place at CCV centers across Vermont or remotely.

The ideal candidates will possess solid decision-making abilities, strong computer skills, a positive attitude, and a commitment to provide a college education and career training for both incarcerated individuals and correctional officers. Must have a driver’s license and reliable personal transportation as in-state travel will be required. This is a 3-year, grant funded position.

Job Summary: 

The Corrections Post-Secondary Education Initiative (CPSEI) is a federally funded program working to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated Vermonters and the staff at the Department of Corrections. We are looking for two dynamic and engaging Coordinators of Student Advising for CPSEI, who are excellent communicators with a welcoming demeanor to develop and maintain strong relationships and partnerships with students, State Government, and staff in correctional facilities across Vermont.

Coordinators of Student Advising (CSAs) for CPSEI provide advising services to special populations and are responsible for ensuring students make consistent progression toward achieving their educational goals. They work closely with students from admissions through graduation to provide the guidance and support students need to persist and achieve their goals. They ensure their program reach their enrollment targets by developing and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships with CPSEI administration, Department of Corrections officials, social services agencies, and all students affiliated with Vermont’s correction system. They participate in the design and implementation of enhanced advising practices and curriculum to improve retention and student success. This is a 3-year, grant funded position.

Essential Functions:

• Serve as an integral member of the academic center’s team focusing on student recruitment and advising from admissions through graduation or the completion of their credential
• Help students acclimate to the policies, expectations, and culture of higher education
• Assist students with exploration of career pathways that align with their life goals, interests, and strengths, referring students to financial aid, career counseling, and Learning Centers as appropriate
• Help students select course schedules, develop education plans, conduct degree audits, and track their progress toward degree/credential completion and successfully prepare for job searches and/or transfer
• Work closely with coordinators of teaching and learning to ensure the students’ needs are met by annual course schedules
• Check in with students at key decision points along their paths and maintain consistent interaction with students via face-to-face, phone, text, and email communications
• Provide real-time interventions and use proactive advising tools to support student retention
• Work with faculty and coordinators of teaching and learning to identify barriers to learning and persistence and recommend approaches to overcome barriers to enhance student success
• Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships and partnerships with CPSEI administration, Department of Corrections officials, social services agencies, and all students affiliated with Vermont’s correction system
• Participate in professional development activities to enhance effectiveness of student advising at CCV
• Provide advising to incarcerated Vermonters, the staff at the Department of Corrections and other services to special populations (e.g. TRIO, ADA, veterans).
• Provide front line intervention and faculty support in situations that require immediate or special action or observation
• Other duties as may be assigned

Education: Master’s degree required.

Experience:

3 -5 years professional experience in the education, student services, counseling, corrections, or a related professional field.  Direct experience with Vermont’s Correction system highly valued.

Travel and flexibility in work hours required. Must have valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in and foster a highly collaborative and student-centered environment
• Expert communication skills, with excellent interpersonal and discretionary communication skills and a commitment to working effectively and cooperatively with diverse constituents
• Effective listening and analytical skills to assess needs and develop successful solutions to complex problems
• Knowledge of higher education policies and procedures, including familiarity with student development theory
• Demonstrated skill in planning and prioritizing work activities, attending to details, managing multiple projects, and meeting deadlines
• Strong technological proficiency
• Ability to work under conditions of high volume during peak periods
• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic background of college staff, faculty and students
• Prior experience with currently incarcerated people preferred.

Physical Requirements: Duties performed causes light fatigue of eyes, fingers, or other faculties as a result of repetitive motion and/or long periods of standing or sitting. Duties require little physical effort in work with light to moderate (up to 25lbs) easy-to-handle materials.

Working Conditions: Job is generally performed in general office or comparable working area with many and frequent distractions such as noise and interruptions. Frequent visits to spaces within correctional institutions across the state will be necessary. Some remote work from home possible. Work schedule may vary during high volume periods.

This general outline illustrates the type of work which characterizes the job classification.  It is not an all-encompassing statement of the specific duties, responsibilities and qualifications of individual positions assigned to the classification.

CCV values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning. Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community. CCV strongly encourages applications from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations. CCV is an Equal Opportunity Employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant. Please contact Bo Finnegan for assistance with accommodations at bo.finnegan@ccv.edu.

All new full-time employees and certain part-time employees will be subject to a fingerprint-supported criminal background check. Any offer of employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of this check.