Department: Office of Community College Partnerships, Academic Affairs

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Hybrid position (Fairfax Campus and NOVA Annandale Campus)

Telework Friendly: Yes

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

The ADVANCE department leads the coordination and operations of the ADVANCE program. This work includes cross-institutional strategic planning, negotiating policies and practices, responsibility of budget development and planning, overseeing program marketing, recruitment, retention, and assessment, and support of ADVANCE students enrolled at NOVA.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Assistant Director for ADVANCE, the ADVANCE Academic Coach provides the student services and success components of the ADVANCE program. ADVANCE Academic Coaches demonstrate an understanding of the partnership between Mason the other commonwealth institutions, Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), leverage that knowledge to ensure students are able to take full advantage of the program. The ADVANCE Academic Coach leads efforts to assist participating students throughout the duration of their time at NOVA. The ADVANCE Academic Coach provides both academic advising and holistic support for their assigned caseload of incoming and continuing students in the ADVANCE program by using the university's chosen methodology in the eight focus areas of development (academics and major fit, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, and health and support). ADVANCE Academic Coaches provide an element of support for student career goals beyond the academic component. Mason provides coach training on the coaching methodology to all incoming ADVANCE Academic Coaches. The ADVANCE Academic Coach provides success strategies for students, manages outreach and support efforts, and intervenes on student concerns to increase retention. ADVANCE Academic Coaches contribute to Mason's strategic goals of preparing career-ready graduates, while increasing graduation and increasing retention rates.

Responsibilities:

• Focuses primarily on the execution of the student support for the ADVANCE program;
• Provides holistic support for their assigned caseload of students and available for the duration of students' time at NOVA as needed by using the university's chosen methodology in the eight focus areas of development (academics and major fit, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, and health and support);
• Provides academic advising for ADVANCE students while at NOVA; using NOVA resources and ADVANCE academic pathway plan;
• Assists with students' career exploration and major fit processes to achieve academic and career goals, as well as identifies barriers to success and helps students implement strategies to overcome them;
• Provides guidance to students on how to navigate the ADVANCE program and how to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded them through their participation;
• Monitors student progress and performance, analyzes problem areas, determines solutions and conducts intervention activities and processes for students;
• Meets with and provides success strategies to students; manages outreach and support efforts to students with a variety of academic and personal development skills necessary to achieve student success;
• Assists and supports all retention related efforts within the school/college to support success and retention efforts, while implementing interventions to improve student retention;
• Collaborates with academic advisors and other stakeholders to support student success;
• Provides appropriate, accurate, and timely referrals for students;
• Follow-up with at-risk/interventions for students identified in the Patriot Success Survey, and other relevant student surveys;
• Participates in outreach efforts related to the ADVANCE program;
• Training and Technology:
  • Participates in university wide foundational coaching training and ongoing professional development;
  • Utilizes the chosen university platform for tracking and reporting student interactions and making referrals; and
  • Performs other related duties as deemed appropriate by the employee's supervisor and/or their superiors.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience working with transfer students, particularly adult degree students;
• Demonstrated professional experience with or demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, orientation, disability services, veteran's services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities (typically one or more years);
• Experience serving and supporting diverse student populations;
• Demonstrated successful work experience in Student Affairs, Student Services or Higher Education Administration;
• Familiarity with cognitive development theory of college age students and/or career development theory;
• Familiarity with Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) software, database software and student information systems;
• Demonstrated skill in effectively managing academic student success programs and services;
• Skill in effective written and verbal communication, as well as strong student service orientation;
• Ability to analyze and solve problems, coordinate and organize meetings and/or special events;
• Ability to analyze course prerequisites, and graduation requirements;
• Ability to work successfully with special student populations including, but not limited to: first-generation, veteran, low income, adult, and underrepresented individuals;
• Ability to work effectively both independently as well as part of a collaborative team;
• Ability to analyze problem situations, identify feasible solutions, and present recommendations in a concise, logical, and systematic manner; and
• Demonstrated commitment to and sophisticated understanding of issues affecting the academic achievement and retention of students from diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in related field or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Experience with educational database management systems and customer relationship management systems (CRM);
• Prior experience in academic advising or working with student coaching programs;
• Demonstrated experience with leadership, communication, program development, and administrative skills in their previous experience and interview process;
• Demonstrated knowledge of academic advising and student support services at institutions of higher education; and
• Success Coaching certification preferred.

Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply for ADVANCE Academic Coach I at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; and provide a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Posting Open Date: November 16, 2023

For Full Consideration, Apply by: January 4, 2024

Open Until Filled?: Yes

Mason Ad Statement

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason's diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

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Equity Statement

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.

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