Prison Education Program - Senior Advisor

adams; Alamosa (CO); On-site; USD 43,100 - 51,700; Full time

Job summary

Adams State University seeks a Senior Advisor to recruit incarcerated students, supervise Advisors, and coordinate Pell-related advising for two-year and four-year programs plus MBA. The role interfaces with correctional facilities and other institutions to deliver print-based programs.

Strong leadership, collaboration, and compliance with university policies are essential for success. The position is full-time, on-site in Alamosa, CO, with a salary range of $43,100–$51,700 and a comprehensive

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and at least two years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to collaborate with other units on diversity and community issues.
• Ability to communicate with senior management, faculty, and administrators about justice-involved students.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality in sensitive situations.
• Ability to design, implement, and evaluate effective programming and policies.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on projects with minimal direction.
• Ability to coordinate concurrent activities and work with diverse constituencies.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction for the Prison Education Program and supervise Advisors.
• Direct Pell advising, admissions, FAFSA, registration, and degree planning for incarcerated students.
• Coordinate transfer of Ohio University students into Adams State University programs.
• Collaborate with Financial Aid and other departments to support Pell-eligible students.
• Develop and maintain recruitment, advising, and student engagement strategies.
• Ensure compliance with university policies and transfer agreements.

Skills

Team leadership

Student advising

Recruitment and training

Collaboration with partners

Discretion & confidentiality

Communication with leadership

Program development

Diversity & inclusion

Project management

Independent work

Physical endurance

Education

Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution

Job description

Position Summary:

This is a twelve-month, at-will, full-time position with primary responsibility for recruiting incarcerated students, facilitating the transition of students to an assigned advisor, and supervising and training advisors with the primary responsibility of recruiting incarcerated students, managing student records and advising incarcerated students in two-year associate, four-year bachelor, and MBA degree programs offered by the Prison Education Program (PEP). The Senior Advisor will supervise advisors to develop student support mechanisms appropriate for correspondence courses. This individual will work directly with people and provide high customer care while fostering supportive relationships with new and current print-based correspondence students. This individual will work directly with incarcerated students for a significant portion of the job. This individual will work collaboratively with the staff of the PEP, correctional facilities, and other educational institutions to provide quality off-campus, print-based undergraduate and MBA programs. This individual will report to the Director of the Prison Education Program.

Specific Job Duties and Responsibilities

Assist the Director of the Prison Education Program in providing leadership and direction for the program by performing the following responsibilities:

Leadership & Supervision

• Supervise, mentor, and train Advisors within the Prison Education Program.
• Support the Program Coordinator in developing and maintaining relationships with external agencies and correctional partners.
• Assist the Director in evaluating academic processes, including instruction, advising, and student support services, and recommend continuous improvements.
• Coordinate scholarship opportunities in collaboration with the Director.
• Support other Prison Education Program operational needs as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Direct Student Advising & Support

• Serve as the primary Pell advisor, assisting students with recruitment, admissions applications, FAFSA completion, registration, degree planning, and transfer credit evaluations.
• Facilitate the transfer of Ohio University students into Adams State University programs.
• Advise incarcerated students pursuing associate, bachelor's, and MBA degree programs through print-based correspondence coursework.
• Coordinate orientation for incoming Pell students in collaboration with the Program Coordinator.
• Pursue short-term and long-term recruitment, advising, retention, and student success goals.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for outreach and recruitment efforts with incarcerated individuals at correctional facilities, providing follow-up as needed.

Internal & External Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Financial Aid Office to support Pell-eligible students throughout the financial aid process.
• Work with Prison Education Program Advisors to develop and implement recruitment, marketing, advising, and student engagement strategies.
• Collaborate with Adams State University faculty and campus departments to resolve student concerns related to correspondence and Pell-supported courses.
• Report student information to appropriate university offices, including Financial Aid and the Registrar.
• Coordinate advisor travel to correctional facilities to support recruitment efforts.

Process Improvement & Strategy

• Align transfer advising processes with university policies while addressing the unique needs of incarcerated students, including transfer agreements, course articulation, and admissions support.
• Develop, implement, and maintain efficient processes that streamline admissions, registration, and course completion.
• Develop and maintain records management systems, processes, and procedures supporting Pell, correspondence, and non-degree-seeking students.
• Create, implement, and update advising and recruitment policies and procedures.
• Ensure institutional processes support the appropriate use of veterans' educational benefits.
• Ensure advising, recruitment, and operational processes comply with university policies and procedures.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution and a minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience.
• Ability to collaborate and work with other units regarding issues of diversity and community
• Ability to communicate with key senior management, faculty, and administrators regarding issues that impact justice-involved students.
• Ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, and excellent judgment in responding to conversational, sensitive, and/or emotional issues and situations.
• Ability to assess, design, implement, and evaluate effective programming and policies as related to this position
• Ability to work well independently and follow through on projects with minimal direction
• Ability to effectively administer and coordinate a variety of concurrent and ongoing activities
• Ability to interact professionally and effectively and collaborate with diverse constituencies
• Ability to recruit, train, and support students in work-study positions
• Ability to work effectively as a team member
• Ability to take on new tasks and respond quickly and courteously
• Medium level of physical ability (i.e., ability to lift and transport up to 50 lbs.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field and 3 to 5 years of relevant experience
• Experience directly supervising or leading a small team.
• Experience with the incarcerated population
• Demonstrated understanding of the local, state, and federal prison system
• Student advising experience
• Direct personal or family lived experience with the justice system with a demonstrated ability to translate that insight into effective peer support or student advocacy

To be considered for this role, candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Please note that Adams State University is unable to provide sponsorship, transfer, or support for employment visas (such as H-1B, TN ect.) for this specific opening.

Location: On-site in Alamosa, CO

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $43,100-51,700. In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page.

Questions about the position may be directed to Bethany Martinez at [e-mail]

Adams State University is committed to building and expanding the talent of its professional staff and actively seeks qualified applicants who bring unique perspectives, experiences, skills, and attributes that can augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff and can contribute to serving and preparing our students to engage and thrive in their learning, leadership, and service.

We strive to create a more representative workforce that mirrors the people who study, work, and lead our institution and welcome applications from candidates from all walks of life, especially members of communities who fall within state and federally protected classes such as: women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities.

We value qualified candidates, with varied language skills, who have a record of successful experience with varied communities and student populations, and who have a deep understanding of and commitment to the unique geographical and historical characteristics of the place we are situated in and the intersecting perspectives that define our university being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university. Therefore, we seek individuals committed to intentionally supporting students and colleagues who possess these characteristics through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State’s purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well-being of the surrounding community.

Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU’s Office of Equal Opportunity, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU’s sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University’s Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/.

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.