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 is responsible for providing empathetic coaching to students as they develop education plans that align with their academic and career goals. This role involves guiding students through various academic processes, including course selection, financial aid navigation, and retention strategies, while also facilitating new student orientations and serving as a resource for faculty and staff.

Responsibilities

• Assist students in identifying and clarifying their academic and career goals, and track student progress.
• Collect and analyze reports to ensure outreach to high-need students and timely coaching and support.
• Assist students with the development of long-range education plans, selection of appropriate courses, and interpretation of institutional requirements.
• Track and assess progress toward established career and life goals; evaluate alternatives and consequences of decisions.
• Assist students with enrollment, financial aid, academic and probation/suspension status, and support strategies focused on student retention and persistence.
• Facilitate and develop 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.
• Develop and distribute appropriate documents for staff and current and prospective students.
• Serve as a resource to faculty, administration, and staff in developing and implementing a seamless approach to advising practices, retention, and student success.
• Interpret and make recommendations around institutional policies and procedures to assist students in making educational and career decisions.
• Provide personalized assessment of participants' barriers to support them in successfully completing educational goals, and aid in overcoming or minimizing those barriers when possible.
• Maintain training plans, and provide advising training for selected faculty, staff, and part-time advisers.
• Track student progress and effectiveness of advising supports.
• Work 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

• Vacation, sick and personal business or emergency leave
• Medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, long-term disability insurance
• Optional short-term disability insurance, optional life, optional AD&D
• Retirement through Oregon PERS, including generous employer contributions
• Tuition waiver plan and professional development funds
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)