General Statement

Within the Quinsigamond Community College Academic Advising Center, this Academic Coach - Academic Counselor is responsible for helping students transition to the next year of their educational journey. Using developmental advising as the foundation, this academic coach will focus on outreach; develop strategies to mitigate summer melt for currently enrolled students; academic, transfer and career advisement; the hand-off process; planning and implementing student events and enrichment activities; referral advisement; and ongoing support and follow up to ensure students are provided with individualized wraparound supports and proactive career, academic, transfer, and financial aid counseling. This is a full-time position housed within Academic Affairs (Academic Advising). The Academic Coach will support a case management advising model with priority given to students identified as SUCCESS Scholars which include at-risk, historically underserved and underrepresented students such as Latinx and Black students, first generation, low-income, and part-time students.

Supervision Received

Reports to the Assistant Director of Advising.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Use the developmental advising approach and employ proactive and sustained outreach strategies to ensure the success of a caseload of students promoting their persistence through completion and/or transfer.
• Lead specialized programs and activities designed to navigate post-QCC plans, including transfer and career preparation, community engagement and civic engagement, 21st-century life skills, and self-advocacy. Foster a community of support by celebrating the cultural wealth our students bring to the College.
• Conduct individual and group developmental advising sessions with students to provide support for academic and personal concerns, create action plans for success, and maintain all relevant records to student profiles and progress.
• Perform all functions related to career and academic planning. Functions include, but may not be limited to individual and group advising sessions, career exploration, academic planning, degree audit consultations, short- and long-term goal planning, Starfish flag monitoring and follow-up, articulation of policies and procedures, collaboration with faculty and program advisors, course selection, registration, and transfer services, etc.
• Work with Assistant Director and SUCCESS Scholars staff to develop strategies and implementation plans to mitigate summer melt and improve semester retention metrics.
• Build meaningful relationships with students by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging.
• Identify risk factors and appropriate interventions, with an emphasis on student strengths, retention and persistence. Address and diffuse situations of conflict and crisis and make appropriate referrals when needed. Collaborate with other departments to recognize and resolve identified patterns of concern with students.
• Foster linkages between academic and student support programs/services to build a holistic network that provides options, referrals and alternative solutions for students facing obstacles and challenges. Collaborate with campus and community-based resources to provide responsive wrap-around services for students.
• Proactively collaborate with College-wide departments, faculty, tutors, and academic support staff to advocate, identify, and meet the academic needs of students.
• Assist students with educational financing concerns by collaborating with Student Success Generalists, Financial Aid, the Business Office/Student Accounts and the Registrar to ensure they understand processes, have completed necessary paperwork and met institutional and federal deadlines.
• Create, implement, and facilitate workshops and events; lead activities on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, academic skills, career exploration/development, transfer planning, leadership development, personal efficacy, financial literacy, as well as celebrations of student successes and their cultural heritage.
• Collaborate with Career and Transfer Center to coordinate visits to 4-year schools and/or targeted employer sites to assist students in planning for transfer or career.
• Participate in annual evaluation of performance of duties.
• Participate in regular departmental and college meetings, including SUCCESS team meetings.
• Maintain knowledge of QCC guidelines and program requirements; conveys college rules, regulations, policies and academic options with students to help facilitate student academic success.
• Develop professional relations with students, faculty and other support offices that foster support and collaboration.
• Participate in other relevant, College-wide committees to represent and align the work of the Advising Office.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services, counseling, education, behavioral health, healthcare or related field with demonstrated commitment to the attainment of a Master's degree within 5 years of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual or multicultural candidate, Spanish language fluency preferred.
• Demonstrated passion for working with multicultural communities.
• Experience with TRIO or other student support services programs
• Experience maintaining a caseload of students or clients, with particular emphasis on underrepresented, adults or non-traditional populations in college or social service setting (intrusive advising or outreach casework).
• Experience providing support services and/or working on retention and success initiatives.
• Experience working at a comprehensive community college.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, and with preparing and giving presentations.

Quinsigamond Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, age, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College's Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, the Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights.

Quinsigamond Community College will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Diversity, inclusion, and equity are core values at Quinsigamond Community College. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and equitable environment for all students, staff, and faculty. Every member on our college campus enriches our diversity. We support inclusion and are dedicated to ensuring equity in access to opportunities.

Quinsigamond Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Members of underrepresented groups, minorities, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to diversity and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply.

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Candidates for employment should be aware that Quinsigamond Community College faculty and staff are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Accordingly, initial employment is dependent upon receipt and verification of full vaccination status records; details of how to fulfill vaccine record verification requirements will be provided during the hire and onboarding process.

QCC requires all students, faculty and staff to be compliant with our vaccination policy. For addition information on COVID19, please visit: https://www.qcc.edu/HealthySafeCampus

Successful applicants will be required to complete a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI/SORI) request.