Student Achievement Navigator- Central Campus

Jackson College; Jackson (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Jackson College is seeking an Academic Advisor (Navigator) to support student retention and completion under the Total Commitment to Student Success (TCS2) framework. The role includes caseload management, outreach, intervention, and collaboration with campus services to help students persist, complete certificates/degrees, and transfer successfully.

The position involves travel to correctional facilities and local high schools to support CEP and dual enrollment programs, with occasional

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from four-year college or university required.
• Valid Michigan Driver’s license required.
• Ability to pass LEIN clearance.

Responsibilities

• Manage individual caseload outreach, retention, intervention, and student completion.
• Achieve retention and completion goals for assigned students.
• Plan and implement retention related events.
• Maintain tracking dashboard for outreach and intervention progress.
• Travel to correctional facilities and high schools as needed to support CEP and dual enrollment programs.
• Coordinate with departmental staff to update program offerings and student success initiatives.

Skills

Caseload outreach

Retention strategies

Communication skills

Data entry & retrieval

Problem solving

Confidential information handling

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY

Primary responsibility is for the retention and completion of students. The Navigator, also known as Academic Advisor, is held accountable for the achievement of student retention and completion goals. The Student Achievement Navigator will provide direct services to students in support of the College’s TCS2 (Total Commitment to Student Success) efforts to increase student persistence, retention, certificate/degree completion and successful transfer. This person will operate in a case management student services role focused on retention management, outreach, and intervention. Routine occasions where this position will require you to work more than a 40-hour week. This position also supports the Corrections Education Program (CEP) and dual-enrollment and early-middle college programs; therefore, this position may be required to travel with regional directors to the correctional facilities to assist with student needs.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Accountable for individual caseload outreach, retention, intervention, and student completion.
• Achieve individual student caseload retention and completion goals as established by the college.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of all retention related events.
• Management of tracking dashboard to retain and recruit back students who have dropped out from the college in accordance with the set deadlines of the outreach and intervention plan.
• Attend conferences and meetings to stay current on industry trends and best practices.
• Meet accountability measures for frequency and type of student contacts through face-to-face appointments, virtual appointments, phone calls, email, texting, classroom visits, and campus events (including in the community).
• Address early alert retention needs for students as identified by faculty members.
• Create individualized Academic Recovery plans for at risk students with the intention to return the student to good academic standing.
• Review student degree audits and create long term education plans for student completion.
• Provide complete orientation to students regarding the breadth and depth of services available to assist a student (e.g. hunger free campus, oasis center, OER materials, health clinic, free tutoring)
• Assist students in completing a student success completion contract that details the student’s goals, timelines, and accountability measures which will be reviewed with the student multiple times a semester. Relatedly, guide students to develop personal accountability for their decisions and an understanding of how those decisions impact their success.
• Maintain current knowledge of academic and occupational degree requirements, graduation requirements, transfer requirements and pre-requisite requirements to advise students toward completion.
• Arrange for a handoff (physically if possible) between a student and peer tutor in Center for Student Success
• As assigned, serve as a liaison with JC’s occupational and academic departments. Attend departmental and advisory meetings to remain current on program offerings, career/occupational outlook, and other departmental information. Relay pertinent information back to Student Services as appropriate.
• Plan and organize events and workshops tailored to the needs and interests of students within assigned caseload.
• With supervisor approval, serve on internal committees designed to improve Institutional quality and serve as a college representative for various community committees and associations.
• Maintain accurate records (including electronic records) of interactions with students. Routinely report statistics designed to measure departmental progress.
• Understand the institution’s interpretation of FERPA rules for the release of student information.
• Travel as needed to correctional facilities to support CEP program as such will need to pass a LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) clearance.
• Travel as needed to high schools to support dual enrollment and early-middle college programs.
• Responsible for understanding, supporting and actively demonstrating the College’s beliefs, values, mission, and vision and agreeing to be evaluated by same.
• Responsible for understanding that this position has been identified as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) position. You must complete the annual Clery Act training, for and act as, a Campus Security Authority

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position may coordinate the peer advising mentors and student workers.

CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

Internal: Frequent contact with registration/records, admissions, financial aid, business office, student life, student housing, institutional quality and effectiveness, information technology and academic department staff in information sharing/gathering and problem-solving capacity. Regular contact and collaborative work with other staff, faculty, and administration members.

External: Frequent contact with students, prospective students, and general public. Regular contact with JC off campus staff and community partners. Some contact may be required with state and federal agencies.

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum

Education and/or Experience: Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from four‑year college or university in a related field. Valid Michigan Driver’s license. Ability to pass a LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) clearance.

Knowledge Of:

• Presentation methods and techniques
• Project planning, goal setting, and group dynamics
• Personal computer and associated office software
• Customer service techniques including excellent phone skills and technology related communication skills.

Skills And Abilities To:

• Must be comfortable traveling to and conducting off campus visits/meetings with students, including within Correctional Facilities and local high schools.
• Ability to routinely work over 40 hours.
• Ability to work remotely as/when needed/approved.
• Ability to multi-task and handle high volume student interactions during peak periods. Speak effectively and confidently in front of large, small, and diverse groups.
• Write routine correspondence clearly and concisely, providing well-thought-out details.
• Assess situations, identify problems, propose solutions, develop strategies for improvement and demonstrate follow-through with minimal supervision.
• Perform data entry and retrieval and utilize complex computer programs and software.
• Read, interpret, and memorize policies, protocols, and guidelines.
• Remain flexible, patient, and creative.
• Compute rate, ratios, and percent and develop and interpret graphs.
• Work with confidential information related to the position.

Preferred

Education or Experience: Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university.

Previous experience developing and implementing outreach plans and success strategies. Prior caseload or retention management experience.

Skills And Abilities To:

• Create and run database queries.

Knowledge Of:

• Academic programs and requirements
• College and department policies and procedures

Employment Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty and responsibility. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Language Skills

Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively with groups of customers or employees of organizations.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or listen. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and color vision.

WORK ENVIROMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

“This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.”

Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need.

The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position.

Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process.

Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws. Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.