Orientation and Transitions Coordinator

About Us

Georgia Southwestern State University is a state university serving a diverse population of students, offering a range of strong undergraduate and graduate programs in a vibrant learning environment. The University is a collegial community that values collaboration and community engagement with an emphasis on faculty, staff, and student interactions. An active student body and state-of-the-art amenities enhance the learning experience on a visually appealing campus located in historic Americus, Georgia.

Georgia Southwestern State University aspires to be an engaged, progressive, and inclusive university that serves as a vibrant center of learning, culture, and economic development for Southwest Georgia and beyond.

Job Summary

This position is responsible for providing orientation, transition, academic advising, and retention services to promote student success.

Responsibilities

• Oversees and develops new student orientation and transition programs. (40%)
  • Develop, plan, implement, and assess all new first-year and transfer undergraduate student orientation programs.
  • Coordinates STORM Days and registrations days.
  • Develop and maintain an online orientation program for students unable to attend orientation in person.
  • Oversee the development and maintenance of the new student orientation website and new student guide.
  • Hire, train, and supervise a group of student orientation leaders.
  • Teach assigned sections of the LEAD 1500 (Leadership in the College Environment) course.
  • Serves on orientation committees.
  • Collaborates with student services departments and faculty for developing orientation and registration programs.
  • Coordinates the planning of FYE workshops and programs to support student success, transitions, and retention.
• Advises students. (40%)
  • Provides academic advisement to students.
  • Creates and modifies schedules for incoming freshman.
  • Assists students with course selection, registration, and schedule revision.
  • Monitors and tracks advisee progress.
  • Maintains correspondence with advisees concerning appointments and other matters.
  • Refers students to campus and community resources.
  • Processes drop/add forms, withdrawal forms, registration, name changes, and changes in programs of study.
  • Develops and supports procedures for identifying at-risk students.
  • Assists students with changes in majors.
  • Work collaboratively with Admissions, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, and other related to departments to provide holistic student advisement and support.
  • Collaborate with university constituent groups to advance Momentum Approach priorities.
  • Responsible for student retention through intentional outreach initiatives, intrusive advising, and academic partnerships.
• Coordinates the development of Parent and Family Programs. (10%)
  • Plan and implement parent/family programs and resources.
  • Create intentional, coordinated, and high-impact experiences for parents and family members.
  • Coordinate family programs including receptions and Family Weekends.
• Performs a variety of related duties. (10%)

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a course of study related to the occupational field required; Master's degree preferred.
• More than two years of related experience required.
• Experience with Banner and/or DegreeWorks is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of university policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of computers and job-related software programs.
• Knowledge of issues and trends related to adult learners.
• Knowledge of college registration procedures.
• Skill in decision making and problem solving.
• Skill in the completion of a variety of reports.
• Skill in oral and written communication.

Contact Information

For more information or questions about a job posting, please contact the Department of Human Resources by phone at 229-931-2000 or by email at hr@gsw.edu.

For technical support, please call the USG Service Desk at 877-251-2644 or support@usg.edu.

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Conditions of Employment

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating eligibility for employment with Georgia Southwestern State University, as determined by Georgia Southwestern State University in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check and drug screen.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Georgia Southwestern State University is an equal opportunity employer. As such, the University takes affirmative action to preclude discrimination in recruiting, transferring, training and terminating of employees because of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, veterans status, disability or any other reason in accordance with applicable state and federal statutes, executive orders and other regulations which prohibit discriminatory employment practices.

Other Information

SUPERVISORY CONTROLS

The Assistant Vice President for Student Success assigns work in terms of very general instructions. The supervisor spot-checks completed work for compliance with procedures and the nature and propriety of the final results.

GUIDELINES

Guidelines include university policies and procedures, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and the university academic catalog, NODA, and NACADA best practices. These guidelines require judgment, selection, and interpretation in application.

COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK

• The work consists of varied duties related to student advising, transition, and retention. The unique needs of each student contribute to the complexity of the position.
• The purpose of this position is to provide advising and transition services to students. Success in this position contributes to successful provision of services to those students.

CONTACTS

• Contacts are typically with co-workers, faculty, staff, students, parents, and members of the general public.
• Contacts are typically to give or exchange information, to resolve problems, or to motivate or influence persons.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT

• The work is performed in both office and campus event settings. The position requires frequent interaction with students, families, faculty, staff, and members of the public. The employee regularly operates computers and standard office equipment and communicates with individuals and groups through advising, presentations, training sessions, and orientation programs.
• The position requires frequent standing and walking throughout campus, including extended periods of standing during orientation, registration, advising, training, and other student engagement activities. The employee may occasionally lift, carry, push, or move materials and equipment weighing up to 25 pounds. Evening and weekend work may be required to support orientation, recruitment, family, and other university-sponsored events.

SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

• This position supervises student workers.