Academic Advisor of TRIO Educational Talent Search

St. Olaf College; Northfield (MN); On-site; USD 48,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement match (9%)

Health savings accounts

Employee tuition discount (up to 90%]

Generous paid time off

Job summary

St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, seeks an Academic Advisor for TRIO Educational Talent Search. This on-campus, temporary exempt position (1.0 FTE) ends August 31, 2027, with occasional evenings/weekends and travel up to 5% including local and national trips.

The role involves student advising, workshops, and outreach to partner schools, with responsibilities in recruitment, data handling, and program support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree completed by hire date.
• Experience working with students with high financial need, first-generation students, diverse student populations, and/or academically underprepared students.

Responsibilities

• Assess students’ interests, needs, and goals related to college and career planning.
• Provide information about educational opportunities, financial aid literacy, career exploration, and rigorous curriculum through workshops and advising.
• Facilitate applications for post-secondary education, summer enrichment, financial aid, and scholarships.
• Plan and co-supervise student field trips, college visits, and cultural activities.
• Implement programming to support student success, such as mentoring and tutoring.
• Provide parent workshops on financial aid literacy, college planning, and study skills.

Skills

Student support

Diversity & inclusion

Workshops & presentations

Education

Bachelor’s degree in education or related area

Minnesota teaching or counselor license (preferred)

Job description

Job Description

Position Title: Academic Advisor of TRIO Educational Talent Search

Department: TRIO Educational Talent Search

Classification: Exempt

FTE: 1.0

Work Schedule: Temporary position ending August 31, 2027. Campus and Partner School office hours range from 7:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M., with occasional evening and weekend hours; travel up to 5% of the work schedule, which includes local (Twin Cities metro area) and national travel. Overnight trips average 1-2 trips per year.

Work Location: On Campus

Salary Range: $48,000 - $54,000

Essential Job Duties

• Student Support
  • Assess students’ interests, needs, and goals as they relate to college and career decision-making and planning.
  • Provide students with information about educational opportunities, financial aid/literacy, career exploration, and rigorous academic curriculum through workshops, individual advising, and classroom presentations.
  • Facilitate completion of applications for post-secondary education, summer academic enrichment camps, financial aid, scholarships, etc.
  • Plan, organize, and co-supervise student field trips, college visits, and cultural activities.
  • Implement programming to facilitate student success, such as mentoring, tutoring, re-entry into K-12 education, parent outreach, and after-school opportunities.
  • Provide parent workshops in a variety of areas such as financial aid/literacy, planning for college, college visits, study skills, summer enrichment, etc.
• Record Keeping/ Administrative Tasks
  • Document accurately student eligibility for TRIO services: need for service, potential for post-secondary education, verification of U.S. citizen or permanent resident status, income, and first-generation status.
  • Maintain timely and accurate contact logs, case notes, and student files.
  • Assist with data management, surveys, and program evaluation.
• Recruit Program Participants at Partner Schools
  • Identify students who are eligible to receive Educational Talent Search services.
  • Create and deliver recruitment plans specific to assigned partner schools.
  • Meet stated recruitment goals.
  • Ensure all required documents are accurate, completed, and on file.
  • Establish and maintain connections with school staff, principals, counselors, community professionals, parents, mentors, and St. Olaf personnel.
• Support, respect, and commit to embracing diverse backgrounds, values, and perspectives to build a strong and inclusive community.
• Complete and meet deadlines for required training and performance management cycle.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Supervision Received And Exercised

• Reports to the Director of TRIO Educational Talent Search.
• This position does not supervise staff or student workers.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree completed by hire date.
• Experience: Experience working with students with high financial need, first-generation students, diverse student populations, and/or academically underprepared students, or relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, counseling, or related area; valid Minnesota Teacher’s or Counselor’s License.
• Experience: Curricular development experience; previous experience working with TRIO students; current or former TRIO student; previous experience with Minneapolis/St. Paul Public Schools; background similar to that of students participating in TRIO.

Prerequisites

• Employment in this position is conditioned upon successful completion of a background check which may include: criminal background checks, reference checks, verification of work history, verification of any required academic credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, a motor vehicle check, verification of DOT certification, a credit check, employment eligibility verification, and/or a pre-employment physical. Whether a background check is deemed successfully completed will be at the sole discretion of St. Olaf College. Please note, St. Olaf College reserves the right to conduct periodic background checks at its sole discretion.

Disclaimer

• This position may require you to report early, stay late or work different shifts depending on staffing levels. It may also require you to perform all essential job functions whenever needed and during campus emergencies when necessary.
• This job description is for general information purposes. It is not intended to list all duties and responsibilities of the position. This job description is subject to change at any time by St. Olaf College, with or without prior notice.
• Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the hire is complete. We accept only online applications.

About Us

Founded in 1874, St. Olaf College is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college with approximately 3,000 students and 800 faculty and staff. The college is located on a picturesque 300-acre campus in Northfield, Minnesota, a vibrant, historic river town of 20,000 located 45 minutes south of culturally rich and diverse Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Join Our Community - Work at St. Olaf!

The college offers an academically rigorous, nationally ranked liberal arts education that fosters the development of the whole person in mind, body, and spirit and emphasizes learning in an inclusive and globally engaged community. We encourage applications from candidates committed to multicultural understanding and the enrichment of our diverse community.

The college offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a 9% retirement match, contributions to eligible employees' health savings accounts, a significant tuition discount (up to a 90% reduction) at ACM, GLCA, and ELCA colleges and universities for employees' children, and generous paid time off. For a full review of the college's benefits, please see the summary of our benefits here: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/benefits/

To provide a safe and secure educational environment, St. Olaf College verifies the accuracy of all credentials presented by applicants and conducts a criminal background check on every new hire.

A summary of the Flexible Work Policy for staff: https://wp.stolaf.edu/hr/flexible-work-policy/

A link to our Community and Belonging page: https://wp.stolaf.edu/equity-inclusion/

A virtual campus tour: https://www.stolaf.edu/multimedia/play/?p=483

An overview of Northfield: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/northfield/

An overview of the Twin Cities: https://wp.stolaf.edu/admissions/visit/twincities/

For Staff Application Assistance

[e-mail]

507-786-3068

For Faculty Application Assistance

[e-mail]

507-786-3356

Nondiscrimination Policy

St. Olaf College does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, or status with regard to public assistance. St. Olaf College prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon these and any other legally protected status in any education program or activity that it operates, including in admissions and employment.

Inquiries about this nondiscrimination policy may be referred to St. Olaf College's Director of Equal Opportunity, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. St. Olaf's Director of Equal Opportunity (who serves as the College's Title IX, Title VI, and Section 504 Coordinator) is Pamela McDowell, Tomson Hall, [e-mail] , [phone].