Academic Adviser and Retention Coach

For best consideration, please submit application materials by January 5, 2025.  

Job Summary:
Provides responsive, empathic, and compassionate coaching for students developing education plans in alignment with curriculum requirements and life goals. Guides students in the development of an academic schedule, choice of major, class load, probation/suspension, and financial aid policies and procedures.  Meets with students both virtually and in-person. Provides general institutional knowledge and guidance.
 
Essential Duties:

1. Assists students in identifying and clarifying their academic and career goals, and tracks student progress.
2. Collects and analyses reports to ensure outreach to high need students and timely coaching and support. 
3. Assists students with the development of long-range education plans, selection of appropriate courses, and interpretation of institutional requirements, 
4. Tracks and assesses of progress toward established career and life goals; evaluates alternatives and consequences of decisions.
5. Assists students with enrollment, financial aid, academic and probation/suspension status, and supports strategies focused on student retention and persistence.  
6. 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.
7. Develops and distributes appropriate documents for staff and current and prospective students. 
8. Serves as a resource to faculty, administration, and staff in developing and implementing a seamless approach to advising practices, retention, and student success.
9. Interprets and makes recommendations around institutional policies and procedures such as limited/restricted entry and transfer program requirements, to assist students in making educational and career decisions.
10. Provides personalized assessment of participants’ barriers to support them in successfully completing educational goals, and aids in overcoming or minimizing those barriers when possible. 
11. Maintains training plans, and provides advising training for selected faculty, staff and part-time advisers.
12. Tracks student progress and effectiveness of advising supports.
13. Works to understand and implement strategies and “best practices” for advising, retention, and student development.  

 
Additional Duties:

1. Facilitates referrals to faculty and other resources when appropriate.
2. Acts as a college representative when visiting high schools, post-secondary institutions, agencies, business and industry, and professional organizations.
3. Helps to train departmental co-workers.  
4. Performs all other related duties as assigned.

 

Minimum Qualifications:

• 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 

 
At the College's discretion experience may be substituted, year for year, for education
 
Preferred Qualifications:

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

 
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including active listening skills 
• Knowledge of financial aid processes such as maximum timeframe appeals (MTA), satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeals, and corresponding term-by-term education planning documentation
• Ability to work respectfully and successfully with diverse and underrepresented populations
• Knowledge of best practices for advising, retention, and student development
• Excellent customer service skills

Working Conditions:
Work is typically performed in a normal office environment working with a variety of people. Work environment is often noisy and crowded with students and staff. Occasional strain to the eyes while working with a computer terminal.  Occasional local travel and evening hours expected.

Mondays - Fridays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 

Work modality includes a mixture of on-campus and remote shifts. This is not a remote position. 

Salary:
Initial salary placement will be based on years of relevant full-time equivalent experience at the sole discretion of the College, per the guidelines in the applicable Handbook or Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Please include all relevant full and part-time experience in your application that you want the College to review towards potential placement.  Hired employees will not have an opportunity to update past experience or appeal initial placement after the time of hire.

Important Information:
MHCC only accepts applications through our online application system at http://agency.governmentjobs.com/mhcc/default.cfm. For technical assistance, please call 855-524-5627.

Please note:  We do not request or read letters of recommendation.  Also, it is not necessary to upload a large number of documents with your materials.  We are looking for the required documents and perhaps one or two additional documents of your choosing (optional).  Faculty applications require a current resume, cover letter and official transcripts (copies are fine for application purposes) and/or any required certificates or licenses.

Please note:  this is initially a self-screening system.  We recognize that our application process can be lengthy, so before you begin, please read all of the stated requirements to determine if you meet them.  Applicants must meet all of the stated minimum qualifications and additional requirements to be considered for this position.  Based on your responses to the qualifying questions, the system may automatically screen you out from further consideration.

Position subject to budget consideration and approval.  

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background check as part of the employment process.

MHCC is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered.

MHCC provides qualifying veterans and disabled veterans with preference in employment in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230, and 408.235; OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015.

Qualifying veterans and disabled veterans may obtain preference by submitting as verification of eligibility a copy of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) or a letter from the US Dept. of Veteran's Affairs indicating receipt of a non-service connected pension to your application. Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veteran's disability preference letter from the Dept. of Veteran Affairs, unless the information is included in the DD Form 214 or 215.

If you are seeking this preference, appropriate documentation must be provided at the time of application.  You may submit an electronic copy in the document upload area of the application in the section marked "veterans' preference document," or fax to 503-491-7257 or mail to Human Resources, Mt. Hood Community College, Gresham, OR   97030.  If you do not have your documentation, you may request it through your Veterans' Administration Office.

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three working days prior to the date of need.

Mt. Hood Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.

Salary : $53,124 - $73,538