West Virginia University Looking for Upward Bound Student Success Counselor – The Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success Full Time

Description 

The Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for an Upward Bound Student Success Counselor.

About the Opportunity

This position provides direct services and support to participants in the federally funded West Virginia University (WVU) TRIO Upward Bound (UB) program in accordance with the goals and objectives of the program. Assists participants with achieving success in high school and enrolling and persisting in higher education. This position is primarily responsible for planning and implementing the Upward Bound program’s curriculum throughout the academic year and summer program components. This position is embedded in Preston High School 4 days per week and on campus at WVU 1 day per week during the academic year and on campus at WVU 5 days per week during the summer. 

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

What You’ll Do

Counseling and Advising

• Provide supportive individual and group counseling for program participants:
  • Develop individual success plans, administer and interpret educational and psychometric assessments, and conduct intake interviews with students to assess their needs, interests, and goals.
  • Utilize counseling, social work, developmental, and/or educational theories, frameworks, and techniques as the foundation for personal growth workshops, psycho-educational group counseling sessions, and individual student meetings.
  • Provide college and career counseling and guidance based on students’ interests, skills, and aptitudes.
  • Refer students to outside agencies as required and maintain a knowledge of laws, policies, and regulations regarding the welfare of minors.
• Aid students in achieving success in high school and guide them and their families through the college enrollment process:
  • Assist students with defining post-secondary goals, selecting rigorous and appropriate high school courses, and meeting high school graduation and college admissions and enrollment requirements.
  • Educate students and parents about post-secondary education options, the importance of post-secondary education, financial aid and scholarship information, financial literacy, college entrance exams, and the college admissions process.  
  • Provide individual and group assistance with researching colleges, completing college applications and accessing college application fee waivers, registering and preparing for college entrance exams and requesting test registration fee waivers, searching and applying for scholarships, completing the FAFSA and other necessary financial aid forms, understanding and analyzing financial aid options, awards, terms, and types of financial aid, connecting to college support programs for first-generation and income-eligible students, and completing all required college enrollment items until matriculation in college (housing applications, health insurance waivers, new student orientation, etc.). 
  • Coach students on the skills necessary to be successful in post-secondary settings, including study skills, goal setting, time management, and communication skills.
• Communicate regularly with program stakeholders (students, parents, target schools, etc.) to ensure student success and advocacy:
  • Serve as a liaison between program participants and their target high school; advocate for students when necessary and work with school personnel to enhance student outcomes. 
  • Conduct workshops for parents on the college search and financial aid processes and provide financial literacy training to students and families.
  • Communicate appropriately via phone calls, text messages, emails, messaging apps (Remind, etc.) and on social media with students and parents/guardians to provide reminders about upcoming events and important deadlines and to answer questions and help solve problems.

Teaching

• Teach Upward Bound elective course(s) and LINKS courses for credit to program participants in the target high school:
  • Provide daily instruction to all program participants in LINKS classes and to 9th and 12th grade participants in elective courses, with the 12th grade course earning dual-enrollment credit at WVU.
  • Create engaging lessons that meet learning and program objectives in the curriculum framework.
  • Support and encourage students in the learning process.
  • Assess and evaluate student learning in a timely manner and in accordance with program and target high school policies.  
• Teach summer courses as part of the Upward Bound summer program:
  • Create and teach summer program elective courses that build on the material taught during the academic year.
  • Assess and evaluate student progress.

Program Coordination and Implementation

• Design, coordinate, and implement programs and events for program participants based on federal regulations, program goals and objectives, and students’ needs and interests:
  • Coordinate required bimonthly after-school sessions at the target high school.
  • Coordinate monthly Saturday sessions.
  • Coordinate a six-week residential summer program on WVU’s campus, with primary responsibility for the design and implementation of the residential summer experience. 
  • Collaborate with UB Staff to organize and plan cultural trips and college visits for program participants.
  • Collaborate with UB Staff to ensure that all logistical items are in place for Upward Bound activities, including use of facilities and classrooms, travel arrangements, guest speakers and session content, schedules, and announcement of activities to program stakeholders. 

Administration and Supervision

• Directly supervise student and seasonal staff members, including summer residential staff, alumni volunteers, and AmeriCorps Summer Associates.
• Chaperone UB activities, supervise program participants during events and trips, and provide transportation as necessary for participants.
• Coordinate the recruitment of new participants by establishing relationships with target school personnel, creating recruitment materials, conducting recruitment sessions at target middle and high schools, and assisting with participant evaluation and selection.
• Evaluate and assess individual programs planned and implemented; assist UB Director with overall program assessment.
• Manage a caseload of participants; maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records and case notes on interactions with program participants, as required by program policies and the U.S. Department of Education; assist program director with completion of the Annual Performance Report by requesting and obtaining official school records, calculating student GPAs, and entering student data, case notes, and services provided into Blumen database; analyze student real-time grades, transcripts, state test scores, ACT/SAT scores, attendance records, tutoring data, etc. to determine student progress and to identify students in need of intervention. 
• Follow all federal, state, and university policies regarding permissible activities, responsible spending, and program management; maintain a working knowledge of regulations governing Upward Bound and TRIO programs.
• Assist the program director with research and grant proposal development, including supplementary grants and U.S. Department of Education grant renewal.
• Participate in professional development workshops, conferences, webinars, target school in-service and UB staff trainings; maintain professional certifications and licensures as required.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Social Work, Education, or related field, or any equivalent combination of experience or training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• A minimum of one (1) year of experience involving:
  • Teaching, Success Coaching, Advising, or Counseling.
  • Administrative/general office expertise.
  • Experience working with adolescents and/or young adults, preferably in a secondary or post-secondary setting. 
• Preferred Experience:
  • Experience working with students who are traditionally underrepresented (i.e. first-generation college, low-income, academically at-risk, limited English proficiency, homeless, and/or foster care youths).
  • Experience planning, teaching, and coordinating curriculum, programs, and/or events.
• Demonstrated ability to establish rapport and appropriate positive relationships with diverse groups of people, including student participants and their families and Upward Bound, target school, and university staff.
• Knowledge of issues related to disadvantaged and academically at-risk students, including those who are from low-income families, and who will be first-generation college students.
• Understanding of developmental and psychosocial issues that affect adolescents.
• Ability to provide personal advising and supportive counseling in areas of social interaction, relational difficulties, goal setting, coping skills, external pressures, test anxiety, decision-making, study skills, and other areas which may be an academic, social, or cultural barrier to post-secondary education and educational achievement. 
• Effective public speaking and/or teaching skills.
• Knowledge and awareness of financial aid resources and application processes, and ability to effectively teach students and parents concepts of personal financial literacy.
• Knowledge and awareness of the college admissions process and ability to effectively advise students on appropriate course and major selection.
• Ability to plan engaging academic programs/curriculum that spark student interest and meet program objectives and regulations.
• Excellent decision making, critical thinking, strategic planning, and complex problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize databases, maintain confidential records, and implement technology to gather data.
• Ability to develop a professional network and to work collaboratively with WVU departments, community partners, and target schools to advance program objectives. 
• Strong attention to detail, especially as related to program planning, assessment, and evaluation, interpreting student data, and identifying best practices. 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively supervise student and seasonal staff members.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate a wide variety of tasks and projects taking place simultaneously and to prioritize work functions.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.

Requirements

• Valid driver’s license.
• Teacher certification preferred.
• Certification and/or licensure in discipline related to degree preferred.

About WVU

At West Virginia University, we leverage our talents and resources to create a better future for our state and the world. As West Virginia’s land-grant university, WVU has three campuses that touch each corner of the state. The WVU System includes 518 buildings on 15,880 acres, Extension Service offices in all 55 counties, ten experimental farms and four forests.

From the groundbreaking R1 research of our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs of WVU Potomac State in Keyser to the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley – the contributions of WVU employees directly impact the 1.8 million people of West Virginia every day, no matter their role or position. 

Service, curiosity, respect, accountability, and appreciation are the core values that unite Mountaineers, inspiring one another to work tirelessly and support others as they seek to reach new heights. After all, when you’re a Mountaineer, impossible is just another mountain to climb.

To learn more about West Virginia University, visit go.wvu.edu. View current career opportunities at careers.wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer and is the recipient of an NSF ADVANCE award for gender equity. The University values diversity among its faculty, staff, and students, and invites applications from all qualified applicants regardless of race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, nationality, genetics, disability, or Veteran status.

Job Posting: Apr 26, 2022

Posting Classification: Non-Classified

Exemption Status: Exempt

Benefits Eligible: Yes