Program & Retention Coordinator, McNair Scholars Program

Occupational Summary:

A TRIO program funded by the Department of Education, the McNair Scholars Program works with students who are first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minority students in higher education. The McNair Program is focused on increasing the number of students in doctoral degree programs.

The Program & Retention Advisor is a key, student-centered contributor to the ongoing success of the McNair Scholars Program at Beloit College. Highly collaborative and community-oriented, the ideal candidate is as passionate about compliance as they are about student retention and persistence. The Advisor ensures grant compliance by coordinating operational needs such as budget management and record keeping (see Operations Coordination). They also encourage McNair Scholars' retention and persistence through robust student support including academic and financial coaching (see Student Support).

Continuation of position dependent upon grant renewal.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities:

Operations Coordination

1. Provides clerical and operational support in the development and implementation of the program such as editing, typing, copying, and assembling of program calendar, reports, agendas, newsletters, programs, manuals, directories, training materials, memoranda, letters, requisitions and other related items.
2. Maintains program budget reports, collaborating with the accounting department to reconcile budgets and prepare year end reports.
3. Collaborates with departments across campus to collect and record information necessary to generate program documents and reports mandated by Federal regulations.
4. Collaborating with campus constituents, collects key data and completes the Annual Performance Report (APR).
5. Reviews McNair applications and all supporting documentation to verify grant compliance and program eligibility.
6. Assists with the educational and cultural programming including mentoring programs, college tours, workshops, activities, summer research and student research symposiums.
7. Arranges travel plans to conferences and graduate schools for McNair Scholars Program's participants and staff.
8. Maintains inventory of all equipment and supplies for McNair.

Student Support

1. Provides personal, financial, career and graduate school counseling to program participants.
2. Advises Scholars in alignment with academic strategic plans designed by Director, with particular emphasis on Scholars' research program and graduate school application processes.
3. In collaboration with the Director and SEL staff, actively recruits and guides prospective students in the McNair application process.
4. Maintains the Second Summer Research Opportunity Board ensuring posted opportunities are

current while actively seeking out opportunities relevant to emergent student needs.

1. Supervises McNair student workers, scheduling and authorizing payroll timesheets in accordance with the policies of the college.
2. Maintains accurate, up-to-date student records, including all documentation relevant to participants' academic progress.

Performs other duties deemed necessary by the McNair Director to ensure the smooth operation of the program.

Credentials and Experience:

1. High school diploma or equivalent, with previous experience related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Bachelor's degree preferred.
2. Previous experience with financial record keeping.
3. At least 2 years of experience working with diverse populations preferred; willingness to work with diverse populations required.
4. Experience planning, organizing, and prioritizing multiple tasks and projects simultaneously with frequent interruptions is required.
5. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite software; ability to learn other software relevant to duties (e.g., Jenzabar and Reason content Management System to support web pages).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to understand and appreciate the mission of a liberal arts college and to work well, in a fast-paced office, with diverse college students and their families in a variety of situations.
2. Excellent oral and written communication skills, including good command of grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and above-average proofreading ability.
3. Flexibility and willingness to adapt to changing activities, expectations, and responsibilities.
4. Ability to supervise student employees as well as establish and maintain positive working relationships with all internal and external points of contact.
5. Knowledge of the needs of first generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students. Demonstrated commitment to Beloit College's antiracist mission.
6. Knowledge of bookkeeping or accounting required.
7. Knowledge of customer service standards and the ability to communicate effectively with faculty, administrators, families of students, students, staff and the general public, including high school personnel.
8. Ability to handle a variety of tasks under pressure while dealing with interruptions and fragmentation.
9. Ability to maintain confidentiality of department records.
10. Ability to manage time by organizing and prioritizing work.
11. Willingness to look for improvements in personal and office performance and initiate proposals which enhance the work of the office.