Corrections Education Program Student Support Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY

Primary responsibility is for the retention and completion of Corrections Education Program (CEP) students. The Support Specialist is held accountable for the achievement of student retention and completion goals. The Student Support Specialist will provide direct services to students in support of the College’s TCS2 (Total Commitment to Student Success) efforts to increase student persistence, retention, certificate/degree completion and successful transfer. This person will operate in a total case management student services role focused on retention management, outreach, and intervention. There will be routine occasions where this position will be required to work more than a 40-hour week. This position directly supports the Corrections Education Program; therefore, this position will require travel to the correctional facilities to assist with student needs. This position is not limited to advising responsibilities only. This position will facilitate the CEP student process from applying for admissions, gathering financial aid documents, advising, providing student support services, assisting the student to graduation, and providing support for the student when finishing the program.

Essential Functions

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serve as the liaison for the student and the college and the correctional facility.
• Assist new students through: Conducting New Student Orientations. Entering Admissions applications. Assisting with the collection of Financial Aid documents.
• Achieve individual student caseload retention and completion goals as established by the college.
• Assist with the planning and implementation of all retention related events.
• Carry out and be accountable for individual caseload outreach and intervention plan milestones including: Semester registration tracking with follow-ups. Semester financial milestones outreach to determine if student has financial aid and can pay bill. Multiple face to face student contacts per semester. Face to face meetings with students will take place at the students assigned correctional facility. Specialists will serve as the main bridge of information from the college to the student while they are in the correctional facility. Retention Alert – Follow up with students to ensure academic progress. JPAY reminders for registration, financial aid reminders, important dates reminders, etc. Monitor registration holds, business office holds, and financial aid holds. Maintain up to date spreadsheets depicting MDOC/FBOP approved students and relevant information from semester to semester. Attend conferences and meetings to stay current on industry trends and best practices.
• Assist with student Financial Aid. Conduct FAFSA workshops for new and existing students. Assist students with identifying alternative forms of payment of tuition, I.E. CEP Scholarships, Michigan Reconnect, etc. Provide students and sponsors with information on Loan Default and how to get out of it. Collect Verification forms and corresponding documentation from Correctional Facilities. Communicate with student sponsors as needed via email and phone. Communicate with students via in person visits during office hours and via email through the JPAY secure network.
• Coordinate with Correctional Facilities Education staff as needed to: Identify time and classroom space to hold in person: Office hours. Registration. Financial Aid meetings. New Student Orientations. Book Fairs. Assist with Graduation Ceremonies with the college and assigned facilities. Hold Pre-Graduation Meetings with students. Prepare graduation materials for students, (caps, gowns, cords, etc.) Deliver materials to facilities for inspection. Play a critical role in the graduation ceremony. Prepare student course materials each semester to ensure that students have all necessary materials to be successful. Assembling necessary student supplies for delivery to correctional facilities. Packing student books for delivery to correctional facilities. Delivering course materials to correctional facilities for inspection. Conducting Book fairs and distributing all course materials to students prior to the start of the semester.
• Assist students with filing non-academic complaints, grade disputes, withdrawal with exception, financial aid appeals, financial aid reinstatements, etc.
• Serve as liaison between the students and the Phi Theta Kappa International (PTK) international honor society. Provide PTK Applications for students. Coordinate and Assist with PTK induction ceremonies. Provide and collect from students PTK Competitive Edge packets. Provide students with paper copies of semester grades (report cards), Dean’s List Letters and Degree Audits. Provide students with Transfer information to 2- and 4-year schools pre-release. Direct returning students/citizens to resources at JC. Connect students with on campus Navigator. Connect students with JC office of workforce and development. Assist students with educational needs upon release. Review student degree audits and create long term education plans for student success. Conduct degree audits to determine course schedule needs by facility to submit to scheduling office for recommendations. Guide students to develop personal accountability for their decisions and an understanding of how those decisions impact their success. Empower students to develop and accomplish their personal, academic, and professional goals. Maintain current knowledge of academic and occupational degree requirements, graduation requirements, transfer requirements and pre-requisite requirements to advise students toward completion. Exercise professional discretion and judgement, to help students create a personal completion plan. Advise students regarding course registration, admissions process, financial aid, career services and other related topics, as needed. Refer students to appropriate internal and community-based programs and support services. Initiate contact with faculty, Student Resolution Advocate, Center for Student Success, and other departments to assist students with questions and needs utilizing a total case management model. Coordinate information sharing and processing between CEP, admissions, financial aid, and records office. Manage early alert interventions for respective caseload. Develop success, retention, and completion materials and presentations to support students. Serve on internal committees designed to improve Institutional quality and serve as a college representative for various community committees and associations. Maintain accurate records (including electronic records) of interactions with students. Routinely report statistics designed to measure departmental progress. Understand the institution’s interpretation of FERPA rules for the release of student information. Travel as needed to correctional facilities to support CEP program. Access to correctional facilities may require LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) clearance, background check, fingerprinting and assigned training as determined by the Michigan Department of Corrections or the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Responsible for understanding, supporting and actively demonstrating the College’s beliefs, values, mission, and vision and agreeing to be evaluated by same. Responsible for understanding that this position has been identified as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) position. You must complete the annual Clery Act training, for and act as, a Campus Security Authority.

  SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

  This position will work with and coordinate the peer advising mentors and student workers.

  CONTACTS AND PURPOSE OF CONTACTS

  Internal: Frequent contact with registration/records, admissions, financial aid, business office, multicultural affairs, student life, student housing, institutional quality and effectiveness, information technology and academic department staff in information sharing/gathering and problem-solving capacity. Regular contact and collaborative work with other staff, faculty, and administration members. External: Frequent contact with students, prospective students, and general public. Regular contact with JC off campus staff and community partners. Some contact may be required with state and federal agencies.

  Minimum Qualifications

  Minimum Education and/or Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) from four-year college or university in a related field
  • Minimum of two years full-time, direct, paid experience in higher education, retention management, or case management.
  • Valid Michigan Driver’s license.
  • Ability to pass a LEIN (Law Enforcement Information Network) clearance.

  Knowledge of: Presentation methods and techniques. Project planning, goal setting, and group dynamics. Personal computer and associated office software. Customer service techniques including excellent phone skills and technology related communication skills. Skills and Abilities to: Must be comfortable traveling to and conducting off campus visits/meetings with students in Correctional Facilities. Ability to routinely work over 40 hours. Ability to work remotely as/when needed. Ability to multi-task and handle high volume student interactions during peak periods. Self-motivated to perform job duties and meet goals without extensive direction. Ability to communicate effectively with partners, stakeholders, and community sponsors. Ability to build, strengthen, and maintain professional partnerships. Speak effectively and confidently in front of large, small, and diverse groups. Write routine correspondence clearly and concisely, providing well-thought-out details. Assess situations, identify problems, propose solutions, develop strategies for improvement and demonstrate follow-through with minimal supervision. Perform data entry and retrieval and utilize complex computer programs and software. Read, interpret, and memorize policies, protocols, and guidelines. Remain flexible, patient, and creative. Compute rate, ratios, and percent and develop and interpret graphs. Work with confidential information related to the position.

  Preferred

  • Master’s degree from a regionally accredited university
  • Previous experience developing and implementing outreach plans and success strategies for students who fall below good academic standing.
  • Ability to create and run database queries
  • Knowledge of academic programs and requirements
  • Knowledge of Jackson College and department policies and procedures

  Language Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively with groups of customers or employees of organizations. Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, and diagram or schedule form. Physical demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and color vision. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

  "This description is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required and shall not be construed as declaring the specific duties and responsibilities. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his or her supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or"

  Supplemental Information: Jackson College only accepts on-line applications though this system. For assistance with this, please call 517-796-8468. Please use your legal first and last names on your application. If you are hired, you will have the opportunity to identify and utilize your preferred name. The Jackson College Nepotism policy prohibits hiring of a relative or someone with a familial relationship to work in the same instructional department, office or administrative unit of the College including spouse, child, stepchild, parent, stepparent or sibling of the employee or spouse, aunt, uncle, niece/nephew, grandparent, grandchild, and members of the same household including domestic partner. It is important that your application show all the relevant education and experience you possess (even if you are repeating it from your resume or cover letter). For instance, do not say, "See Resume or C/V." Your resume, cover letter, and if a degree is required an unofficial transcript must be attached to your application. Applications will be rejected if incomplete. When you apply for the position, you will get to the document upload area where you will be given an opportunity to attach your documents such as your vita, transcripts, etc. Instructions will also be found there. The College reserves the right to request proof of degree or certification at a later date if these documents are required as part of the qualifications for the position. Final candidates will be subject to a criminal background as part of the employment process. If selected you will be required to complete the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, Employment Eligibility Verification form I-9 and provide documentation verifying identity and eligibility to work in the United States. Jackson College is NOT able to support Visa applications for employment at the college. Applicants must already be eligible to work in the United States to be considered. Applicants with disabilities may request accommodation to complete the application and interview process. Please notify Human Resources at least three (3) working days prior to the date of need. A copy of Jackson College's Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is available on the JC Campus Safety & Security website. The security report contains crime statistics for the previous three years for all of our campus locations and the annual fire safety report, which contains statistics for any reported fires in campus housing units and fire safety systems in these buildings. Additionally, the report contains policies, available resources and information concerning personal safety, fire safety and reporting procedures for both crimes and fires. Applicants have rights under Federal employment laws. Jackson College is an Equal Opportunity Employer that actively supports workforce diversity.