Collegiate Learning Specialist

Collegiate Learning Specialist

Company:

Focus Collegiate

Job Location:

Boston, Massachusetts

Category:

Disability and Accessibility Services

Type:

Full-Time

Email:

rich@focuscollegiate.com

Position Summary:

This position is an interdisciplinary role and is further defined by our organization's mission, vision, and approach. The Collegiate Learning Specialist serves as the primary case manager for their "point" students and provides additional support to students on their team. This position is responsible for monitoring student academic progress and engaging with on-campus support services. While also attending to students' specific life balance activities. This position represents and facilitates engagement both internally and in the community. Candidates must currently live in Greater Boston or Eastern Massachusetts to serve some students in person on their respective campuses. Candidates must also be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.

Desired Qualifications for Knowledge/Experience:

• A graduate degree in social work, special education, psychology, or a related field. At least 5 years of post-graduate experience in case management/supervision in a higher education-related field. If you currently work in higher education in any of the following areas: Student Services, Student Success, Student Affairs, Academic Advising, Accessibility, and Disability Services, we encourage you to apply.
• Education and/or experience in young adult transition programming is beneficial.
• Previous experience in case management in a collegiate setting with students is desirable.
• Excellent boundaries and ability to maintain professional relationships with young adult clients.
• Demonstrated leadership ability and capacity to delegate responsibility when appropriate.
• Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary fashion when the strategy is outside the area of expertise.
• Experience with parent communication, support, and management.
• Proven abilities in troubleshooting complicated customer relationships.
• Non-reactive approach to service work, flexibility in thinking, willingness to have fun!
• Must possess a value system consistent with that of Focus Collegiate, displaying caring, respect, resilience, and a willingness to adapt to and lead change.
• Ability to relate to diverse internal and external stakeholders, including students, parents and families, our staff, service providers, and community members.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Essential Duties:

• Work individually and collaboratively with the team to monitor the overall progress and skill building for FC students. This includes, but is not limited to, reviewing assessments, conducting support sessions with students, and developing the Learning Support Agreement (LSA) to help students set and attain goals and support a thoughtful, realistic, and meaningful experience.
• Schedule regular support sessions with students that include the opportunity for students to identify and review goals (long and short term), reflect on their collegiate experience, and receive social integration and life skills instruction either by this position or in concert with team members.
• Monitor and manage the various academic activities related to a student's schedule. This includes, but is not limited to, class attendance, on (or off) campus support, in-person or virtual meetings, communicating with professors, checking email, and course management systems, etc.
• Be familiar with and collaborate with accessibility services offices and other on-campus academic supports. Work with students to improve their ability to access on-campus supports and services.
• Help students develop compensatory learning and study skills, as well as organizational, study, and reading and writing strategies; provide writing support and subject-area tutoring; or assist students in locating specific services on campus.
• Ensure proper communication and updates to parents and other relevant stakeholders.
• Update student files in the database and thoroughly document student activities and support.
• Travel to campuses to meet with students in person while also serving remote-only students.
• Maintain a weekly schedule that allows for flexibility and the ability to triage activities with students when necessary. Be available to provide technological prompting to students and to receive inbound requests for support.
• Attend weekly in-person staff meetings and collaborate to provide timely and relevant updates to the FC team.
• Collaborate with Collegiate Life Specialists, ensuring team cohesion, even distribution of labor, and unified decision-making.
• Focus Collegiate Summer Cohort: Work with a team to develop and enhance the curriculum, and execute a 3-week Summer Cohort (July/August timeframe).

APPLICATION MATERIALS:

The primary contact for this position is Rich Davino, Managing Director (rich@focuscollegiate.com)

• Resume
• Cover Letter: clarifying your interest in Focus Collegiate and how your experience aligns with the Collegiate Learning Specialist role

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Internal - Work is normally performed in a climate-controlled office environment or at home, where exposure to extreme heat/cold, poor ventilation, fumes, and gases is very limited. Noise level is moderate, including the sounds of normal office equipment (people, computers, telephones, etc.). No known environmental hazards are encountered in the normal performance of job duties. Work will be performed in the employee's home environment.

External-Local travel is often required by public/private transportation or by car. Work outside the office typically takes place in similar office environments, though occasionally it may include classrooms, student centers, libraries, conference rooms, or other on-campus spaces.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Work involves standing and walking for brief periods, but most duties are performed from a seated position. There is potential for eyestrain from reading detailed materials and computer work. Deadlines, workloads during peak periods, and changing priorities may increase stress levels. Work normally requires finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination to operate computer keyboards at a moderate skill level. Repetitive motion injuries may occur. The company will provide adaptive devices as needed.

Focus Collegiate is an equal opportunity employer, seeking to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. Focus Collegiate values and celebrates diversity in all its forms and strives to foster an inclusive culture built on respect that affirms inter-group relations and builds cohesion.