Upward Bound Project Advisor

Simpson University; Redding (CA); On-site; USD 38,572 - 41,741; Full time

Job summary

Simpson University seeks an Upward Bound Project Advisor to recruit a full cohort of 60 students and deliver college readiness services. You will administer curriculum, oversee workshops, and coordinate field trips, residential programs, and cultural excursions within Siskiyou and Shasta County sites.

The role partners with the director and other advisors to mentor students, manage data, and collaborate with high schools while upholding Simpson University values and commitments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor9s degree in education, liberal studies, psychology, or related field.
• Teaching/mentoring experience with high school students from diverse backgrounds.
• Experience communicating admissions, financial aid, and college options to students.

Responsibilities

• Develop annual IAP for under-resourced first-generation/low-income students.
• Assist with participant recruitment to maintain a full cohort of 60 students.
• Provide academic and career counseling and coursework guidance.
• Inform on college admissions, financial aid, and career options; advise seniors individually.
• Monitor progress and motivate students toward college enrollment and success.
• Document services and maintain Upward Bound records and reports.
• Plan campus visits and manage field trips and program logistics.
• Recruit summer program participants and support summer activities.

Skills

Public speaking

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Data management

Mentoring

Teamwork

Travel readiness

Education

BachelorA0 education

Liberal studies

Psychology

Teaching credential preferred

MasterA0 degree preferred

Tools

Slack

Remind

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Suite

FileMaker Pro

Social media

Job description

Job Title

Upward Bound Project Advisor

Brief Description

Since 2017, Simpson University has administered Upward Bound grants in Siskiyou County and Shasta County at various high school sites. This position announcement is to fulfill the job vacancy at one of those sites. The role of the advisor is to work closely with the director and other project advisors to recruit a full cohort of 60 students meeting First‑Generation and Low‑Income thresholds while providing college readiness and career services. The services are administered through but not limited to teaching the Upward Bound curriculum, workshops, one‑on‑ones, college campus field trips, summer residential programs, and cultural excursions. Topics include entrance to post‑secondary education, FAFSA/financial aid, developing an annual comprehensive work plan, working within the school system to deliver information regarding college admissions, career choices, study skills, field trip planning and cultural excursions, and other college‑related issues.

Education

The advisor works with the director to achieve specific benchmark goals set by the federal Department of Education. Objectives include:

• Students exceeding a 2.5 GPA.
• Students passing or exceeding state testing standards.
• Students being promoted to the next grade.
• Students graduating high school with a rigorous high school diploma (A‑G).
• Students enrolling in college after they graduate.
• Students earning an associate or bachelor's degree within six years of high school graduation.

Primary responsibilities include teaching and administering curriculum to the Upward Bound cohort and providing academic, career, and personal mentoring/advisement to program participants. Assist with student recruitment, data management in the Upward Bound database, field trip planning and supervision, and other duties as deemed appropriate.

Links To Learn More About Upward Bound And TRiO

• TRiO: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/trio/index.html
• Upward Bound: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/trioupbound/index.html

General Expectations

• Personal relationship with Jesus, a vibrant Christian faith, and a commitment to Christian community; capable of sharing faith and engaging in conversations about Christ.
• Demonstrate Simpson University values in the performance of all duties.
• Maintain a lifestyle in accordance with Simpson University policy in the Staff Handbook.
• Maintain the confidentiality of information, data, and records. Properly use tact, diplomacy, discretion, and judgment.
• Demonstrate strong customer service skills in the performance of job duties.
• Demonstrate good organizational and communication skills in the performance of job duties.
• Supervise employees in accordance with Simpson University policies and procedures (for supervisory positions).
• Support the overflow needs of other departments within the respective university area.
• Perform other duties in accordance with this position as deemed necessary by the immediate supervisor.

Qualifications

• Must maintain a valid CA driver's license.
• Bachelor’s degree in education, liberal studies, psychology, or related field required. Master’s degree and/or teaching credential preferred.
• Able to travel all day, single night, multiple nights, up to week‑long for college‑campus visits and professional development opportunities.
• Able to travel by car, bus, train, and airplane.
• Teaching, instructing, advising, tutoring, mentoring, or youth development experience serving large numbers of ethnically, linguistically, and/or economically diverse high school students.
• Comfortable with public speaking and knowledgeable of classroom management techniques.
• Willingness for professional development in job‑related areas such as college admissions, financial aid, STEM, leadership, data‑driven decisions, and seminars on serving under‑resourced students.
• Knowledge of Christian and secular higher education admissions and financial aid policies and procedures and experience communicating them to a broad audience.
• Experience with outreach efforts to increase educational achievement among students from diverse populations and language backgrounds, and familiarity with the academic, social, and emotional factors confronting them.
• Communication skills to prepare and deliver oral presentations and prepare written reports, correspondence, proposals, program assessments, emails, and other materials for various audiences, ensuring compliance with departmental and university guidelines, practices, and principles.
• Interpersonal skills to interact with individuals of varying backgrounds to establish and maintain collaborative relationships.
• Knowledge of both public schools (K‑12) and the California systems of higher education (CCC, CSU, UC, and AICCU), including knowledge of academic standards, administrative structure, faculty relations, school protocol, school communities, categorical funding, and the Master Plan of Education in California.
• Initiative and ability to work independently.
• Ability to use and/or learn to use various technology tools such as Slack, Remind, Microsoft Teams, the Microsoft Suite, Connect, Retain, Colleague, FileMaker Pro, and social media platforms.
• Knowledge of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and ability to handle and work with confidential records and materials of minors.
• Professional approach in carrying out multiple tasks while meeting deadlines and achieving measurable results.
• Ability to represent Simpson University well in a variety of professional settings.

Essential Functions

• Develop an annual academic plan (IAP) for under‑resourced first‑generation and/or low‑income high school students.
• Assist with participant recruitment at targeted schools to keep a full cohort of 60 students.
• Provide academic and career counseling, ensuring enrollment in the correct college preparatory coursework.
• Provide information regarding college admissions, financial aid, and career options; advise graduating seniors individually with the college application process.
• Work with participants to increase awareness of academic and personal strengths and challenges.
• Monitor participants’ academic progress and motivation needed for admission into college.
• Serve as a resource person and refer participants to other appropriate services or offices for assistance, support, and guidance.
• Distribute necessary academic progress reports and evaluations to high school staff.
• Document participant services and contacts and maintain records and files in the Upward Bound database.
• Plan, organize, and implement campus visits by state and domestically, as well as to Simpson University campus.

Related Responsibilities

• Recruit summer program participants.
• Assist in the daily activities throughout the six‑week residential program.
• Ability to deliver all the above expectations, functions, and responsibilities via a virtual/remote platform if required.

Physical Requirements

Typical working conditions: indoors in a classroom teaching and advising groups of students per the Upward Bound curriculum. Field trips approximately five times a year will require long days of walking.

Equipment used includes computer, laptop, iPad, 3D printer, easy‑to‑use robotics, scanner, copier, mouse, keyboard, stapler, 3‑hole punch, letter opener, and vehicle for travel (CA driver’s license required).

Essential physical tasks include sitting at a computer for extended periods, climbing residence hall stairs during the summer program, walking up to two hours for a college campus visit or cultural excursion. Analysis of physical demands: Frequency ranges from never to frequently for tasks such as lifting/carrying under 10 lbs, twisting/turning, pressing/pulling under 10 lbs, walking on various surfaces, driving automatic or standard transmission, and repetitive motions of hands and feet.

Salary Range: $28.00 - $30.30 hourly