What are the responsibilities and job description for the Key Communities Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator at the CSU Spur Denver position at Colorado State University?
Position Location
Denver, CO
Work Location
Position qualifies for hybrid/in-office work
Research Professional Position
No
Posting Number
202500562AP
Position Type
Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title
Prof/Indiv Contrib II
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week
40
Proposed Annual Salary Range
$67,750 - 68,750
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.
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Desired Start Date
05/19/2025
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on
05/05/2025
Description of Work Unit
The Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President is responsible for providing the academic vision and leadership to fulfill the University’s land-grant mission. The work unit articulates, communicates, and facilitates the development of fundamental values basic to the University’s mission and administers academic programs and policies. It oversees the academic programming and faculty affairs on campus, as well as provides oversight for the division of student affairs.
University student success efforts are coordinated through the Provost’s Office as we strive to improve retention and close opportunity gaps.
The Key Communities create and nurture inclusive environments that welcome, value and affirm diverse identities of students in order to facilitate student learning and foster successful l transitions. Key Communities are learning communities for first year, second year, and continuing students designed to honor the identities and strengths of students while fostering successful student transitions. The Key Communities are one of the most diverse communities on campus, with most of the students identifying as racially-minoritized and/or first generation to college and/or limited-income and are committed to creating and nurturing inclusive environments that welcome, value and affirm the diverse identities of our students.
The CSU Spur campus Denver provides a unique opportunity to elevate the educational access mission of Colorado State University to individuals who might not otherwise see a post-secondary degree as attainable. The CSU Spur Start first-year undergraduate pilot program at the Spur campus (to launch in Summer 2025) will serve as a learning opportunity and proof of concept toward the broader long-term objective of developing a truly differentiated educational portfolio and student experience that delivers compelling value to a diverse community of learners in the Metro Denver area and beyond.
University student success efforts are coordinated through the Provost’s Office as we strive to improve retention and close opportunity gaps.
The Key Communities create and nurture inclusive environments that welcome, value and affirm diverse identities of students in order to facilitate student learning and foster successful l transitions. Key Communities are learning communities for first year, second year, and continuing students designed to honor the identities and strengths of students while fostering successful student transitions. The Key Communities are one of the most diverse communities on campus, with most of the students identifying as racially-minoritized and/or first generation to college and/or limited-income and are committed to creating and nurturing inclusive environments that welcome, value and affirm the diverse identities of our students.
The CSU Spur campus Denver provides a unique opportunity to elevate the educational access mission of Colorado State University to individuals who might not otherwise see a post-secondary degree as attainable. The CSU Spur Start first-year undergraduate pilot program at the Spur campus (to launch in Summer 2025) will serve as a learning opportunity and proof of concept toward the broader long-term objective of developing a truly differentiated educational portfolio and student experience that delivers compelling value to a diverse community of learners in the Metro Denver area and beyond.
Position Summary
The Key Communities Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator at the CSU Spur Campus Denver oversee the management of and programmatic implementation for cohorts of up to 80 first-year Key students at the CSU Spur campus Denver, the majority of whom identify as first-generation, limited-income, and/or racially minoritized. Coordinators independently lead and support projects, efforts, and goals of the team and department centered in equity and inclusion. The Key Communities Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator at the CSU Spur Campus Denver is responsible for the supervision of a diverse group of Key Mentors, who serve as a point of contact for first-year Key students. The Key Communities Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator at the CSU Spur Campus Denver is well-versed in the resources available at both the CSU Spur and CSU Fort Collins campuses. They provide valuable experiences that empower students as they work toward graduation. The Key Communities Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator at the CSU Spur Campus Denver is expected to work independently in developing and implementing the programs and services of the Key Communities, as well as serve as a member of the staff team to ensure program goals are in line with intended goals and philosophy of the Key Communities, Student Success, Spur initiative, and Colorado State University.
This job will be located at the CSU Spur campus in Denver. Occasional travel between CSU’s Fort Collins and Spur campuses will be necessary to achieve program objectives. This position reports to the Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Community Development within the Key Communities.
This is a two-year position, with an optional third year, dependent on the success of the program.
This job will be located at the CSU Spur campus in Denver. Occasional travel between CSU’s Fort Collins and Spur campuses will be necessary to achieve program objectives. This position reports to the Assistant Director for Student Engagement and Community Development within the Key Communities.
This is a two-year position, with an optional third year, dependent on the success of the program.
Required Job Qualifications
- Master’s Degree by start of employment or Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 2 years’ full-time professional experience in student services in higher education or related field
- Experience working with programs whose primary purpose and mission is to support students who are historically and institutionally underrepresented in higher education such as TRIO, Cultural Centers, Multicultural Affairs or the equivalent
- Experience developing and teaching/facilitating seminar courses, workshops or trainings
- Must have a valid driver’s license, the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the position start date
Preferred Job Qualifications
- Demonstrated understanding of structural inequities facing historically marginalized student groups in higher education
- Experience hiring, training, supervising, coaching and evaluating undergraduate student staff
- Ability to work independently and creatively to build new program elements with an attention to detail
- A record of personal and professional initiative, flexibility, and strong communication skills, including public speaking and writing
- Understanding of student development theory and first-year student transitional issues
- Demonstrated commitment to a staff team
- Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining effective collaborative relationships with individuals and organizations across identities
- Bi-lingual with fluency in Spanish
- Commitment to Colorado State University’s Principles of Community: Inclusion, Integrity, Respect, Service, and Social Justice
- Prior experience with the Key Communities
- Current/prior work experience at CSU
Essential Duties
Job Duty Category
Program Implementation and Community Management
Duty/Responsibility
Manage and implement all aspects of a Key Community at the CSU Spur campus Denver of up to 80 students, many of whom identify as racially minoritized, first-generation, and limited income, including:
- Develop and implement welcoming, inclusive, and affirming community-building activities, signature events, and programs for a diverse group of student participants.
- Actively contribute to all processes related to equitable student recruitment efforts including supporting recruitment and outreach events, reviewing submissions of interest, tracking student participants throughout the recruitment process, completing welcome phone calls.
- Plan, implement, and facilitate weekly, asset-informed study hours in collaboration with critical partners.
- Oversee the implementation of Academic Progress Conferences (also known as Early Grade Feedback) by Key Mentors. Including mentor training, tracking community trends, and intervening with individual students as needed.
- Assist with the development and coordination of equity-minded data collection related to program goals, learning outcomes, retention, and academic performance to improve program outcomes. Write annual reports sharing the impact of the community on students with internal and external audiences.
- Manage a program budget affiliated with events and initiatives within the community.
- Participate in team committees focused on projects that serve all Key Communities by contributing to visioning, planning, implementation, and assessment. Provide support and recommendations on all team projects.
Percentage Of Time
30
Job Duty Category
Curriculum Development and Seminar Instruction
Duty/Responsibility
- Annually review, revise and update Key seminar curriculum offered at the CSU Spur campus Denver to ensure alignment with SPUR initiatives.
- Annually review, revise, and update the Key Spring seminar curriculum offered at the CSU Spur campus Denver.
- Teach and assess two 3-credit sections of the Key Communities common curriculum first-year seminars for students at the CSU Spur campus Denver during the fall semester. The seminar includes topics related to intersectionality, power, privilege and oppression across multiple identities (i.e.: race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, religion, etc.).
- Teach and assess one 1-credit section of the Key Communities Spring seminar at the CSU Spur campus Denver.
Percentage Of Time
30
Job Duty Category
Supervision, Training, Mentoring, and Evaluation of Key Student Staff
Duty/Responsibility
- Supervise a staff of four Key Mentors from an identity conscious and strengths-based approach.
- Meet weekly, and as needed, on an individual basis with Key Mentors to assess the cultural, academic, personal, and social experiences of students and develop appropriate plans to meet students where they are at.
- Coach Key Mentors on strategies to develop a welcoming and affirming community inclusive of students with institutionally underserved identities.
- Plan and implement weekly Key Mentor staff meetings based on the cultural, academic, and social needs of the community and student participants.
- Plan and implement staff professional development activities and ongoing training rooted in asset-based approaches that meet the standard for CRLA Level 3 Mentor Certification.
- Participate in the Key Mentor hiring, including development of hiring processes, application review, interview processes, and hiring decisions.
- Provide ongoing feedback and evaluation to Key mentors including semester and end of year evaluations through an identity conscious and strengths-based approach.
- Determine salary compensation including pay increases.
- Develops processes based on Federal, State, University and Department regulations and policies.
- Oversee and approve Time Clock Plus submissions for Key Mentor staff.
Percentage Of Time
15
Job Duty Category
Student Engagement and Success Initiatives
Duty/Responsibility
- Maintain a presence with students through hosted office hours, programming events, and meeting with students individually as needed.
- Coordinate and oversee one-on-one, asset-based meetings that student participants have with Key Mentors, guide and train Key Mentors on meeting content and delivery, conduct follow up meetings with students if necessary.
- Support students in crisis from a strengths-based approach by providing appropriate referrals to university resources.
- Provide intentional asset-based outreach to students facing academic difficulty by getting them connected to academic resources or meeting with the student regularly.
- Maintain accurate and detailed student contact notes using web-hosted applications and local database.
- Track individual student persistence to support student success – Key Communities are responsible for positively impacting the overall CSU retention rate.
- Connect students to offices and resources that promote an ethic of involvement and foster a sense of belonging.
- Support students on academic watch by coaching peer mentors on how to work with students using an asset-based approach, meeting with students individually as needed, and being knowledgeable of campus resources and support.
- Provide coaching and support for students navigating conduct processes through the Student Resolution Center.
Percentage Of Time
15
Job Duty Category
Collaboration and Professional Development
Duty/Responsibility
Collaboration
- Work in collaboration with the CSU Spur Start Project Manager to support student success.
- Manage and implement all aspects of a Key Community while balancing the program impacts across the CSU System.
- Serve as a liaison to CSU Fort Collins and the SPUR Campus to support program development for diverse student groups.
- Collaborate with the CSU Fort Collins and the SPUR Campuses to implement identity conscious, asset-based programs and workshops.
- Participate in committees as appropriate and serve as an ambassador for the Key Communities at CSU System, campus, and community events.
Program and Staff Development
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a shared vision for the Key Communities team.
- Commit to a culture of self-reflection and learning around diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice topics. Including leading and participating in monthly staff development activities.
- Practice open communication and be supportive of the efforts and activities of other staff members.
Note: Some work occurs in the evenings and weekends.
Percentage Of Time
10
Application Details
Special Instructions to Applicants
For full consideration, application materials must be submitted by Monday, May 5, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. MT. Please apply with a cover letter addressing the required and preferred qualifications, resume, and 3 professional references. A Curriculum Vitae is optional. References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates. If you have questions, please contact Cameron Smistek, cameron.smistek@colostate.edu.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
CSU is committed to full inclusion of qualified individuals. If you are needing assistance or accommodations with the search process, please reach out to the listed search contact.
Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.
Conditions of Employment
Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
Search Contact
Cameron Smistek, cameron.smistek@colostate.edu
EEO
Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Background Check Policy Statement
Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.
Salary : $67,750 - $68,750
