Student Services Specialist – CTE Programs

UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ; Cranford (NJ); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ seeks a CTE Student Services Specialist to advise and support CTE students, develop academic and transfer plans, and connect students with experiential learning and career resources.

The role includes coordinating Perkins grant activities, teaching the UCC 101 College Success course, and collaborating with faculty to monitor progress and retention. Flexibility and travel to campuses may be required.

Qualifications

• Master’s Degree required in Higher Education or a Master’s degree with demonstrated competencies.
• Two (2) years’ experience in college counseling and academic advising preferred.
• Title V Grant, EOF, or related cohort-based program experience is a plus.
• Outstanding customer service and communication skills; proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive and intentional advisement; connect students to program services, experiential learning and career resources.
• Develop academic, career, and transfer plans and conduct biweekly visits to CTE classes.
• Coordinate Perkins grant projects, workshops, and industry speaker panels.
• Maintain data of students served and prepare reports; collaborate with faculty and staff on program goals.
• Teach the CTE/Perkins section of the UCC 101 College Success course and support grant objectives.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s Degree in Higher Education

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

General Description

The CTE Student Services Specialist serves to support the academic success of Career Technical Education (CTE) students enrolled in targeted academic programs. The Specialist will provide proactive and intentional advisement; connect students to program services, experiential learning experiences and career resources for CTE enrolled students. Student advisement responsibilities include the development of academic, career, and transfer plans, use of an early warning process, and biweekly visits to CTE classes to encourage student engagement and ensure academic progress. The CTE Student Services Specialist research, coordinates, and facilities transfer and career workshops, coordinates meetings with CTE faculty to review student progress, organizes engagement activities and education field trips/conferences for CTE students, and teaches the CTE section of the UCC 101 College Success course. In collaboration with the Dean of Elizabeth Campus, the Student Services Specialist – CTE supports the implementation of grant project and the achievement of grant objectives.

• Coordinates CTE/Perkins project programming, workshops, and industry speaker panels.
• Research, develops, and implements strategies to meet Perkins grant strategies related to, but not limited to experiential learning, student retention, and engagement, transfer, career planning, and advisement for students in CTE Perkins approved programs.
• Provides specialized advisement to students regarding experiential learning experiences, such as internships, externships, and job acquisition.
• Assists students with the registration process by providing academic advising, basic financial aid assistance or handoff to financial aid generalist to resolve unusual issues, and guidance from completion of registration and payment.
• Assist students with my Union portal, Self-Service, college e-mail, tuition/fee payment instruction, and information on internal and external scholarship opportunities.
• Develop academic and individual action plans for CTE students to guide students toward on-time graduation
• Teaching the CTE/Perkins section of the UCC 101: College Success course
• Implement student retention strategies and programs
• Maintains data of students served and services provided.
• Maintains project files for reporting
• Provides reports on activities and data, as needed
• Collaborate with staff, faculty, and administrators to assess the project’s activities and implement needed adjustments, as needed

Qualifications

Education

Master’s Degree required in Higher Education or a Master’s degree and experience to demonstrate core competencies.

Experience

• Two (2) years’ experience in college counseling and academic advising or equivalent preferred.
• Title V Grant, EOF, or related cohort-based program experience working directly with students.

Competencies and Skills Required

• Outstanding customer service and communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills to interact tactfully and courteously with students, the general public, faculty, and other staff members.
• Must be a “quick study” in order to quickly grasp knowledge of policies and procedures relating to every aspect of student services that a prospective or current student may utilize.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to take required initiative to solve problems.
• Ability to collaborate with others.

Terms of Employment

Flexible schedule to meet department needs. Some evening, weekends, and extended hours will be required. Ability and willingness to travel on short notice to all on and off- campus sites as needed by the college. Mandatory overtime is required throughout the year, especially at peak times. Position may be required to work at any campus at any time.Employee must establish primary residency in New Jersey within one year of appointment unless an exemption applies.

Full-time grant funded position* Flexible schedule to meet department needs. Some evening, weekends, and extended hours will be required.Ability and willingness to travel on short notice to all on and off- campus sites as needed by the college. Employee must establish primary residency in New Jersey within one year of appointment unless an exemption applies.

*Funded through the Perkins Higher Education Grant at Union College of Union County, NJ. Primarily responsible for programs and services offered by Counseling Services Department for students enrolled in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs.Specific responsibilities will focus on working with special population students to develop and implement retention strategies and programs for students who are enrolled in career programs to enhance their student success. Student Services Specialist will develop and implement strategies to meet grant goals and objectives in Perkins Grant for students enrolled in CTE programs.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• This position’s duties are normally performed in a typical interior/residence work environment, based on the activity scheduled.
• Some physical effort required; however, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• No or very limited exposure to physical risk.

UCNJ Union College of Union County, NJ does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination, as required by state and/or federal law, in all programs and activities, including employment and access to its career and technical programs.