College Access Specialist

Position Summary

The Department of College Access and Community Partnerships is hiring a Full time College Access Specialist. This role ensures that high school students and incarcerated residents enrolled in college courses receive the support and resources needed to succeed. It involves building relationships and collaborating with Student Services offices, high school counselors and administrators, correctional administrators and staff, and college faculty and staff. Key responsibilities include facilitating enrollment, registration, advising, and monitoring academic progress for dual credit students and incarcerated residents. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential for success in this role.

This position is benefits eligible.

About Our Institution

Victoria College (VC) is a vital public community college located in Victoria, Texas and has been a respected community partner in the Crossroads region since 1925 and continues to offer quality, affordable educational opportunities to help our students achieve their dreams. VC offers a variety of high-quality associate's degrees and transfer programs, preparing students for success in their chosen fields. The college fosters a close-knit community, serving approximately 7,100 students across diverse backgrounds and learning styles, including full-time, part-time, online, veterans, and adult learners. VC features five academic divisions:

• Academic Support & Student Success
• Allied Health
• Career & Technical Education
• Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences
• Science, Mathematics, Engineering, & Physical Education

Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with public and correctional school administrators and teachers to promote expanded higher educational credit and continuing education opportunities.
• Monitor student progress in applicable credit courses and provide support and resources as needed including proctoring.
• Coordinate dual credit events, information sessions, and outreach activities to increase awareness and participation in the program.
• Maintain accurate records and data related to dual credit and incarcerated students and courses.
• Stay current on best practices and trends in dual credit and correctional education programs and higher education policies.
• Collaborates with various Student Services offices to ensure that students’ processes and documents, such as applications, financial aid, and degree plans, are completed accurately, efficiently, and promptly.
• Serve as a resource and point of contact for dual credit and incarcerated students, families, and institutional partners.
• Serve on VC committees as needed.
• Adheres to FERPA regulations.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Dean of College Access and Community Partnerships
• This position will access student records at times and will follow all FERPA guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in education, counseling, or a related field; 5 years of experience in lieu of degree will be considered.
• Experience working in higher education, admissions, or student services preferred.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, demanding environment.
• Knowledge of college admissions processes and academic advising best practices.
• Familiarity with dual credit and correctional education programs, and policies.
• Willingness to travel, work evenings and weekends, and flexible hours to meet program demands is required.
• Must have reliable transportation and valid TX driver’s license.

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle controls, key pads, etc. Will be required to sit and reach with hands and arms as well as, sit, stand and walk. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 15 pounds while loading office supplies and paper. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, some color vision, and the ability to adjust focus from documents to computer screen. Hearing of light to moderate sound is required by this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

The following benefits apply to all full-time positions scheduled to work 30 hours or more each week. These full-time positions are also eligible to participate in our TRS retirement plan.

Victoria College offers an excellent benefit package for eligible employees that includes group insurance as well as a generous amount of paid time off:

Group Insurance
Health insurance

• Full-time employees: 100% VC paid; employee pays 50% for dependents

• Coverage for the new employee/dependents is effective on the 1st of the month following a 60-day waiting period

• Coverage for the new employee/dependents is effective on the 1st of the month following hire date
  • Flexible Spending Accounts – health and dependent care
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Term Life
  • Short and long-term disability
  • Accidental death & dismemberment
  • As an added benefit, Victoria College issues a credit of up to $30 each month to full-time employees to help offset the cost of premiums

• Currently, the employee contribution is 8.25%. The state and Victoria College, together, contribute 8.25%
• Social security is deducted each pay period
• Payroll deduction for 403-b and 457 deferred compensation plans are available

• Workers compensation insurance
• Direct payroll deposit
• Tuition waiver for benefits eligible employees and their dependents through age 25
• Use of the Sports Center which includes treadmills, rowing machines, exercise classes, etc.
• Technology training

• Vacation for eligible employees (does not apply to faculty positions). Effective 90 days after start date
  • Full-time employees: 80 hours up to 10 years of service then 120 hours for 10 years of service
• Sick leave
  • Full-time employees: accrues at 8 hours each month
• Developmental and professional leave
• One week at Thanksgiving
• Two weeks for Winter Break
• One week for Spring Break
• Regular holidays
  • Labor Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Good Friday
  • Memorial Day
  • Juneteenth
  • Independence Day
• Non-faculty employees get Fridays off during the summer