Upward Bound Project Advisor

Muskegon Community College; Bailey (MI); On-site; USD 37,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Muskegon Community College seeks a dedicated Upward Bound mentor to guide students toward high school completion and post-secondary readiness. You will work closely with families to support college attainment and coordinate orientation and workshops across campus and community centers.

The role requires a Bachelor’s in Education or related field, with preference for a Master’s in guidance or counseling. Some travel to outreach sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field (required).
• Master’s degree preferred in guidance and counseling, education, administration or related field.

Responsibilities

• Provide and develop project services for office and school sites.
• Develop and conduct orientation workshops for participants.
• Organize and conduct financial aid and other workshops for participants.
• Interview students and prospective students and advise on application process and requirements.
• Monitor attendance, behavior, grades, tests and credits; implement improvement plans.
• Maintain confidentiality regarding student and project files.
• Assess family needs and link to support services.
• Conduct home visits to build relationships with students and families.
• Design and implement after-school and summer programming with the Director.
• Provide academic advising and resolve admission problems with students and staff.
• Participate in TRIO/Upward Bound staff development and meetings.

Skills

Detail-oriented

Multi-tasking

Team player

Interpersonal skills

Commitment to disadvantaged students

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Education or related field

Master’s degree preferred in guidance and counseling, education, administration or related field

Job description

Muskegon Community College

Muskegon Community College is a center for lifelong learning thathelps people attain their educational goals by offering programsthat respond to individual, community, and global needs. MCC is anassociate degree-granting institution of higher education and anapplied technology leader for high-tech, hands-on training.

With nearly a 100-year history of academic excellence, MCC is apublic community college accredited by the Higher LearningCommission. With robust student success support, free tutoring, 20athletic teams, events, clubs, and activities, MCC has an annual,full-time equated student enrollment of approximately 2,300 and anunduplicated headcount of 5,100.

Most recently, Muskegon Community College outranked all othercolleges in Michigan for the rate of students who received federalfinancial aid and then transferred to continue their education at afour-year institution. The college’s transfer-out rate was thehighest in Michigan, 7 percentage points above the state average,and outpaced the average transfer rate across the nation.

The College has an annual operating budget (general fund) of $51million and employs about 210 regular full and part-time staff andmany adjunct faculty and student assistants. The College alsooffers 52 Associate degree programs and 24 certificateprograms.

The main campus is located on a 111-acre campus in Muskegon whichincludes the Hendrik Meijer Library & Information TechnologyCenter, Bartels-Rode Gymnasium, Frauenthal Foundation Fine ArtsCenter (including the Overbrook Theater and Art Gallery), StevensonCenter, the Science Center, the Health and Wellness Center, Art& Music Building, and MCC Golf Course.

Muskegon Community College also operates the Sturrus TechnologyCenter and Fab Lab in downtown Muskegon andextension centers inOttawa and Newaygo Counties.

Living in Muskegon County

Muskegon County residents enjoy 26 miles of sugar-sand beachesalong Lake Michigan’s shoreline, as well as one of America’s onlyluge tracks at the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park and theregionally popular Michigan’s Adventure Amusement & Water Park.An outdoor recreation hub with three state parks and swimming,fishing and boating on its many lakes and rivers, the Muskegon areaoffers dynamic downtown and beachfront restaurant and entertainmentvenues. The Muskegon Farmer’s Market is the second largest inMichigan. Cruise ships dock in Muskegon, while a high-speed ferryconnects the city to Milwaukee. Notable local museums range fromrare art collections to an actual World War II submarine and a U.S.Navy ship used during D‑Day.

Unofficial Transcripts must be submitted when applying to be considered.

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Open until filled - first reviews onMonday, September 7, 2026

Salary:

up to $43,000 depending on experience

General Description:

Mentor and monitor Upward Bound student participants; workintensively with their families to help the students attain successthrough high school; and prepare students for entry intopost-secondary education.

Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

1. Minimum Bachelor’s Degree in Education or a related field froman accredited college or university; Master’s degree preferred inguidance and counseling, education, administration or a relatedfield.
2. Two years related coaching, mentoring, or related educationexperience as a including the use of technology to accomplish jobtasks. Ability and willingness to upgrade skills includingtechnology or process changes.
3. Experience with and commitment to the advancement of socially,economically, and educationally disadvantaged individuals.
4. Prefer previous experience with TRIO/Upward Bound Programs orwork with disadvantaged student populations.
5. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a successful team whileaccomplishing tasks and assignments without assistance, even whilemulti-tasking.
6. Highly motivated and solution oriented with a high degree ofintegrity, ethics and dedication to the mission of theCollege.
7. Must be detailed-oriented, well-organized, and able to dealeffectively with students, community members, and college staff atall levels and handle confidential information appropriately.
8. Demonstrated ability to create a warm, welcoming environment tostudents, parents, faculty/staff and community members especiallyduring busy/chaotic times.
9. Demonstrated ability to relate to people of all ages, races,and social-economic backgrounds.

Essential Function:

1. Provide and develop project services that will be utilized atoffice and school sites.
2. Develop, implement and conduct orientation workshops forparticipants.
3. Organize, develop, and conduct financial aid and otherworkshops for participants.
4. Interview students and prospective students and give adviceregarding application process, program requirements, courserequirements, etc.
5. Monitor students’ attendance, behavior, grades, tests scores,and credits earned; implement improvement strategies and actionplans.
6. Maintain confidentiality regarding student and projectfiles.
7. Assess family needs; make appropriate referrals and linkagesfor family support and prevention services.
8. Keep a regular schedule of home visits with Upward Boundfamilies to build trusting relationships with students andfamilies.
9. Design and implement, with the Director, after-school andsummer programming.
10. Demonstrate personal support for individual students: e.g.,phone calls, notes, personal contact during school vacations,etc.
11. Devote 100% of scheduled time to Trio/Upward Boundproject.
12. Some weekend work for community service and overnight tripswith students.
13. Maintain a congenial, supportive and accepting approach whenworking with participants.
14. Provide academic advising for students; resolve individualadmission problems with students and staff.
15. Participate in staff development and in-service trainingmeetings (TRIO meetings).
16. Serve on college committees as appointed.
17. Refer students to counselors, tutors, or external agencies asappropriate.
18. Direct support staff or student assistants as assigned.
19. Receive supervision from the Upward Bound ProjectDirector.
20. Other duties as assigned.

Physical, Mental, and Environment RequirementsInclude:

Mental Demands:

• Detailed Work
• Student Contact
• Deadline oriented
• Problem Situations
• Multiple Priorities & Demands
• Emergency Situations
• Confidentiality
• On-call Availability
• Continual Interruptions
• Working Alone
• Faculty Contact
• Working with Others

Physical Demands:

• Standing & Walking
• Sitting
• Reclining
• Carrying
• Lifting up to 10 lbs. Up to 25 lbs. Up to 50 lbs. 80 + lbs.
• Pushing, Pulling, Twisting, Bending
• Climb or Balance
• Stoop, Kneel, Crouch, or Crawl
• Squatting
• Handle or Feel
• Reach with Hands and Arms
• Talking or hearing
• Tasting/Smelling
• Working Overhead
• Speak in English via Phone or In Person
• Close, Distance, Peripheral, and Color Vision along with DepthPerceptions
• Ability to Adjust and Focus

Work Environment:

Exposure to wet, humid conditions (non-weather), fumes or airborneparticles, toxic or caustic chemicals; extreme heat/cold; andmoderate to loud noise levels.

Normal Office environment with little, if, any, discomfort due to heat, dust, noise and the like. Ability to travel to all campuslocations required.

Muskegon Community College is an equal opportunity employer.MCC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion,sex, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, genderidentity, transgender status, political persuasion, disability,height, weight, veteran status, age or any other protected class inany of its educational progr: ams, activities or employment.Minorities, women, veterans, and the physically challenged areencouraged to apply. To the extent required by applicable law,anyone with a disability will be reasonably accommodated by theCollege. If you have a disability and need an accommodation orassistance in applying for this position, please contact the HumanResources Office.

Job LocationMuskegon,Michigan, United States

PositionTypeFull-Time/Regular