ADVANCE VA Academic Coach

ADVANCE VA Academic Coach

The George Mason University, ADVANCE Office, invites applications for the position of ADVANCE VA Academic Coach. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason’s academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Department:

The ADVANCE Office leads the coordination and operations of the ADVANCE and ADVANCE Virginia partnerships. This work includes cross-institutional strategic planning, negotiating policies and practices, responsibility of budget development and planning, overseeing program marketing, recruitment, student services, and assessment.

Responsibilities:

• The position will focus primarily on the execution of the student support for the ADVANCE VA program.
  • Provide holistic support for their assigned caseload of students and be available for the duration of students’ time at the respective academies. Support will be provided through the execution of academic planning, progress monitoring, as well as the university’s chosen methodology in the nine focus areas of development (academics, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, wellbeing, and civic engagement); and
  • Assist with students’ career exploration and major fit processes to achieve academic and career goals, as well as identify barriers to success and help students implement strategies to overcome them.
• Provide guidance to students on how to navigate the ADVANCE VA program and how to take full advantage of the opportunities afforded to them through their participation.
  • Monitors student progress and performance, analyzes problem areas, determines solutions and conducts intervention activities and processes for students;
  • Serve as primary contact for Academic Pathway planning and related questions;
  • Meet with and provide success strategies to students; manage outreach and support efforts to students with a variety of academic and personal development skills necessary to achieve student success;
  • Assist and support all retention related efforts within the Academy to support success and retention efforts;
  • Collaborate with academic advisors and other community college and university stakeholders to support student success;
  • Provide appropriate, accurate, and timely referrals for students; and
  • Follow-up with at-risk/interventions for identified students.
• Support student onboarding to the program and create opportunities for connections with George Mason University representatives who will support ADVANCE VA students’ success through graduation from the community college.

• Training and Technology
• Coaches are required to participate in university wide foundational coaching, training, and ongoing professional development;
  • Coaches must achieve success coaching certification within 15 months of attending foundational coach training; and
  • Coaches are required to utilize the chosen university and community college partners’ information systems for tracking and reporting student interactions and making referrals. Perform various other duties as deemed appropriate by the employee’s supervisor or their superiors.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Familiarity with cognitive development theory of college age students and/or career development theory;
• A proven track record working in Student Affairs, Student Services, or Higher Education Administration;
• Ability to plan, implement, and assess special events, particularly around recruitment;
• Ability to analyze course prerequisites and graduation requirements;
• Ability to work successfully with special student populations including, but not limited to, first-generation, veteran, low income, adult, and underrepresented individuals;
• Demonstrated effectiveness in managing academic student success programs and services;
• Familiarity with Constituent Relationship Management (CRM) software, database software, and student information systems;
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills, as well as strong student service orientation required;
• Ability to work independently, as well as function as part of a team;
• Ability to analyze problem situations, identify feasible solutions, and present recommendations in a concise, logical, and systematic manner;
• Demonstrated commitment to and sophisticated understanding of issues affecting the academic achievement and retention of students from diverse backgrounds;
• Experience working with transfer students;
• Experience working with adult degree students;
• Experience with or demonstrated knowledge of academic advising, orientation, disability services, veterans’ services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities;
• Demonstrated professional experience (typically at least one year) with or demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, admissions/recruitment, orientation, disability services, veteran’s services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities; and
• Experience serving and supporting diverse student populations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, counseling or other related field;
• Experience with using educational database management systems and customer relationship management (CRM) systems;
• Prior experience in academic advising or working with student coaching programs; and
• Demonstrates experience with leadership, communication, program development, and administrative skills in their previous experience and interview process.

Special Instructions to Applicants  

For full consideration, applicants must apply for position number 03326z at https://jobs.gmu.edu/ by March 20, 2023; complete and submit the online application; and upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information. One of the three professional references must be a past or present supervisor.

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.