Academic Adviser and Retention Coach

$53,124 - $73,538/Yr

Mt. Hood Community College - Gresham, OR

Full-time - Entry Level

Onsite - Gresham, OR

Educational Services

About the position

The Academic Adviser and Retention Coach at Mt. Hood Community College plays a crucial role in supporting students in their educational journey. This position involves providing empathetic coaching, assisting students in developing education plans, and guiding them through academic and financial aid processes. The adviser will work closely with students to help them clarify their academic and career goals, track their progress, and facilitate their success in a diverse educational environment.

Responsibilities

• Assists students in identifying and clarifying their academic and career goals, and tracks student progress.
• Collects and analyses reports to ensure outreach to high need students and timely coaching and support.
• Assists students with the development of long-range education plans, selection of appropriate courses, and interpretation of institutional requirements.
• Tracks and assesses progress toward established career and life goals; evaluates alternatives and consequences of decisions.
• Assists students with enrollment, financial aid, academic and probation/suspension status, and supports strategies focused on student retention and persistence.
• Facilitates and develops various aspects of new student orientations to assist in the development of decision-making skills, awareness of educational resources, and reinforcement of self-direction in educational planning.
• Develops and distributes appropriate documents for staff and current and prospective students.
• Serves as a resource to faculty, administration, and staff in developing and implementing a seamless approach to advising practices, retention, and student success.
• Interprets and makes recommendations around institutional policies and procedures to assist students in making educational and career decisions.
• Provides personalized assessment of participants' barriers to support them in successfully completing educational goals, and aids in overcoming or minimizing those barriers when possible.
• Maintains training plans, and provides advising training for selected faculty, staff and part-time advisers.
• Tracks student progress and effectiveness of advising supports.
• Works to understand and implement strategies and 'best practices' for advising, retention, and student development.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in education or related field
• Two (2) years of experience as an academic adviser in higher education
• Experience successfully supporting student navigation of financial aid processes such as maximum timeframe appeals (MTA), satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeals and corresponding term-by-term education planning documentation
• Knowledge of and ability to use word processing, database, presentation, spreadsheet, and email applications proficiently
• Experience working with the diverse backgrounds of the college's community, students and employees; demonstrated commitment to promoting access and diversity

Nice-to-haves

• Master's degree in education or related field
• Experience providing transfer academic advising
• Bilingual skills in English and Spanish, Russian, or Vietnamese

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement plan
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities