Academic Counselor

Montana State University Billings; Billings (MT); On-site; USD 32,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid holidays

Floating holiday

Vacation days

Sick leave

Tuition waiver

Professional development

Employee Assistance Program

Medical benefits

Retirement benefits

Campus events access

Job summary

Montana State University Billings is seeking a dedicated professional to support TRIO City College SSS participants and alumni. The role focuses on mentoring, academic planning, and connecting students with campus resources to boost retention and graduation rates.

The position involves coordinating workshops on academic success, financial literacy, and personal development, while maintaining confidential records and data for program reporting. Evening/weekend hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Two years' work experience working directly with individuals providing assistance.
• Experience in handling sensitive and confidential situations and information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with knowledge of emotional intelligence.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated Cultural Competence - maintain supportive and accepting approach with participants and co-workers.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability in organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work alone and in a team setting.
• Preferred: Master's degree in a related field.
• Previous experience with TRIO SSS and/or another TRIO program.
• Knowledge of Blumen software.
• One-on-one counseling/advising experience.
• Basic marketing and communications skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic and personal mentoring to TRIO City College SSS participants, promoting student success, retention, graduation, and transfer.
• Deliver workshops on academic success, financial literacy, and related topics.
• Refer students to counseling, tutoring, financial aid, and career services.
• Maintain confidential records compliant with FERPA and program requirements.
• Assist with data collection and reporting on student participation and outcomes.
• Coordinate front desk operations, scheduling, and communications.

Skills

Punctuality

Oral communication

Written communication

Student services

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competence

Microsoft Office

Time management

Teamwork

Initiative

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

Tools

Blumen software

Job description

The individual in this position serves multiple roles as outlined in the Duties and Responsibilities section and is an integral member of the MSUB Office of TRIO Programs (OTP). While part of the broader OTP team that serves approximately 2,000 individuals annually, this position is primarily based at the City College Campus and provides direct support to 140 City College students annually. The individual plays a key role in promoting student retention, persistence, graduation, and successful transfer through comprehensive academic and personal support services.The person in this role is expected to demonstrate and uphold MSUB’s commitment to continuous quality improvement by actively supporting institutional initiatives, participating in program enhancement efforts, and maintaining effective working relationships with University and City College faculty, staff, administrators, advisors, and students.They will ensure adherence to U.S. Department of Education regulations, TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) grant requirements, and institutional policies; maintain compliance with FERPA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the ADA; and assist the Associate Director of the City College SSS program in monitoring and interpreting regulatory changes to maintain continuous compliance and uphold the integrity of TRIO operations.Some evening and weekend hours are required to meet program and student needs. Continuation of this position is contingent upon ongoing federal funding, and the individual may be assigned other duties as necessary to support program goals and institutional priorities.Salary range of $23.00 to $25.00 hourly, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.Montana State University Billings is a preferred employer in the region-WE WANT YOU!The following are reasons why you should join our team:

• Work-life balance
• Holidays-10 paid holidays per year and 1 Floating Holiday
• Vacation- 15 days per year (New Employees to 10 years; after 10 years the accrual rate increases)
• Sick Leave - Earned at an accrual rate of .0416125 for each hour in pay status.
• Employee and Dependent Tuition Waiver
• Opportunities to engage in professional development opportunities
• Committed to employee wellness and access to a robust Employee Assistance Program
• Medical Benefits that are robust and affordable
• Visit MUS Benefits to learn more about our benefit package including:oMedical, Vision, and DentaloLife Insurance and Long Term Disability are incorporated into our benefits.oLearn more about our retirement benefits at MUS Retirement.
• Opportunities for career growth and a variety of career paths
• Campus vibrancy- coffee shops, FREE attendance to MSUB concerts, athletic events, and lectures, access to recreation center, library, etc.
• Beautiful campus environment that features our MSUB Mile walking pathMarketing and Communications
• Will serve on the Office of TRIO Programs (OTP) marketing and communications team.Student Mentoring and Support
• Provides academic and personal mentoring to TRIO City College Student Support Services (CC SSS) participants, promoting student success, retention, graduation, and transfer. Assists with academic planning, time management, goal setting, and navigating college processes like course registration and accessing campus and community resources.
• Delivers workshops on academic success, financial literacy, and related topics, often in collaboration with OTP and other MSUB offices, while connecting students to appropriate support services. Serves as a key contact for students seeking academic, personal, or career-related assistance and makes referrals to campus resources such as counseling, tutoring, financial aid, and career services.
• Maintains confidential records in compliance with program and federal requirements, supports the OTP recruitment into TRIO programs and orientation, and collaborates in planning and delivering academic success programs like Summer Bridge and winter sessions, including curriculum development, Canvas content, scheduling, and participant communication.Data and Reporting:
• Collects data related to student participation, satisfaction, and outcomes. Works with the City College SSS Associate Director and OTP leadership on reports to assess program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement in collaboration at MSUB.Collaboration and Outreach
• Works closely with faculty, advisors, and other MSUB departments to identify student needs and promote available services.Assists with Administrative Support of the TRIO SSS at City College Office
• Collaborates with the Associate Director to manage and perform a variety of administrative functions that ensure the efficient and professional operation of SSS at City College.
• Together, they oversee front desk operations, phone and email management, appointment scheduling, and the processing of student applications while maintaining tracking systems, databases, and student records in compliance with institutional and federal requirements.
• They coordinate office organization and resource management, including ordering supplies, maintaining inventories, and updating bulletin boards, digital displays, and office communications.
• The position assists in preparing reports, takes detailed meeting notes, and contributes to end-of-semester and annual reports for institutional and federal submission. In partnership with the Associate Director, supports office-wide operations through participation in staff meetings, orientations, recruitment activities, and professional development, fostering an organized, welcoming, and student-centered environment aligned with the mission and goals of the OTP.
• Required Qualifications, Experience, Education:
• Punctuality - is consistently at work and on time.
• Excellent oral communication skills - speaks persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; participates in meetings.
• Excellent written communication skills - writes informatively; edits work for spelling and grammar; varies writing style to meet needs; presents numerical data effectively; able to read and interpret written information.
• Excellent student service skills - manages difficult or emotional student situations; responds promptly to student needs; meets commitments.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Two years' work experience working directly with individuals providing assistance.
• Experience in handling sensitive and confidential situations and information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with knowledge of emotional intelligence.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated Cultural Competence - maintain supportive and accepting approach with participants and co-workers.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Demonstrated ability in organizing and prioritizing multiple work assignments to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work alone and in a team setting.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, show good judgment, and independent decision makingPreferred Qualifications, Experience, Education:Master's degree in a related field.
• Previous experience with TRIO SSS and/or another TRIO program.
• Knowledge of Blumen software.
• One-on-one counseling/advising experience.
• Basic marketing and communications skills.Special Instructions Summary: Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for employer sponsorship now or in the future.Applicants will be reviewed and interviewed on an ongoing basis after the screening date. The screening date begins 10 calendar days after a position is posted on the employment website.