"Outreach and Retention Specialist"

Job Details

Department: Teacher Apprentice Program

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Range begins at $22 per hour and is commensurate with experience

Work Schedule: Typically, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm, with some flexibility for evenings as needed.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Teacher Apprentice Program (TAP) students are all paraprofessionals or teachers of record throughout Kansas. TAP faculty and staff aim to provide support to all students as they progress through TAP. The Outreach and Retention Specialist plays a key role in this support, including providing a network of support services for financial hardships, academic failure, mental/physical health issues, or any other reasons that lead to a student potentially leaving the program. One of the university’s most important goals is to increase persistence rates of students. The specific strategies that are linked to this goal include the need to provide outreach for students, consistently engage in dialogue around best practices for student success, and to support our first-generation students with research-based practices. The TAP Outreach and Retention Specialist would be dedicated to providing these supports for students and assisting with the recruitment of new TAP students. The retention specialist will coordinate support services for students as well as personally support students through the use of research-based practices. TAP is a fully-online program which continues to grow, with over 600 students throughout the state of Kansas. The outreach and retention specialist is a vital liaison between students, WSU supports, TAP supports, and the TAP Leadership and advising teams. Serving as a consistent contact throughout the program to provide specific TAP supports, as well as being a proponent of online learning, alternative teacher certification pathways, and an innovative mindset will allow the specialist to best serve TAP students.

Job Summary

Provides program leadership by coordinating and administering the activities of advising services and programs including advising students concerning their academic plans, progress, and academic and career goals in order to assist students in making personal education decisions and meeting graduation requirements. Assists with the development of department objectives that align with University goals.

Essential Functions

Develops and coordinates technical aspects of advising to include implementing and maintaining policies, objectives, projects and short and long range planning to accomplish goals. Establishes evaluation processes and analyzes data to determine achievement with assigned goals and compliance with rules and regulations. Provides feedback on advising and academic programs. Oversees the daily operations of staff connected to advising, ensuring compliance with the University, state, and federal laws, policies, and regulations. Provides advising for a variety of fields which includes acting as a liaison with other offices that student support services. Serves as a resource person to faculty and others with regard to all academic policies and procedures. Conducts seminars, workshops and/or orientation sessions for students on academic, career and personal success strategies and other group activities. Provides student support with life skills development, identification and elimination of retention barriers and academic programs. Facilitates connections with campus and community services and resources when needed. Provides support on program-specific strategic enrollment management and retention goals and initiatives. Identifies specific student populations, conducts outreach campaigns and supports campus-wide retention initiatives.

Job Duties

The TAP Outreach and Retention Specialist assists students in making personal & educational decisions to meet graduation requirements and achieve academic and career goals. Interprets student needs and provides individualized service and assistance while maintaining confidentiality.

• Support student retention by serving as an advocate for students.
• Provide program leadership by supporting TAP and CAS initiatives.
• Collaborate and communicate with TAP Advising team to advise students concerning their academic plans, progress, and academic and career goals in order to assist students in making personal education decisions and meeting graduation requirements.
• Assist with the development of department objectives that align with University goals.
• Act as a liaison with other student support services offices and those within TAP.
• Conduct seminars, workshops and/or orientation sessions for students on academic, career and personal success strategies and other group activities.
• Provide student support with life skills development, identification and elimination of retention barriers and academic programs.
• Facilitate connections with campus and community services and resources when needed.
• Provide support on program-specific strategic enrollment management and retention goals and initiatives.
• Identify specific student populations, conduct outreach campaigns, and support campus-wide retention initiatives.
• Proactively communicate timely information between students and TAP Leadership.
• Serve as the Student Success Coordinator on the Student Success Team (SST).
• Assist with the TAP pinning ceremony each semester.
• Engage in recruitment opportunities (presentations, table events) to various stakeholders and partners (district, community college, community).

Required Education and Experience:

Master's degree counseling, psychology, education or equivalent combination of education and TRIO or like program experience. Two (2) years of experience in program management or graduate or professional advising or counseling experience with college students or related field.

Required License/Certifications/Training:

None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Excellent written and oral communication skills. Knowledge of current trends and research in advising first-generation students and online education. Willingness and ability to make connections and collaborate with WSU colleagues, including those in other departments and colleges. Ability to design and deliver engaging, and research-based outreach and retention supports, both asynchronously and synchronously. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities. Competence in technology tools for online interactions, communication, and data management. Ability to collaborate with colleagues and stakeholders to achieve program goals, specifically regarding outreach, recruitment and retention.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Special Education, Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education or a related field. Master's Degree in Counseling or a related field. Professional experience in Pk-12 teaching. Professional experience in advising or counseling college students, preferably in an online setting.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information. Ability to move or traverse across campus, within buildings and offices, and/or across external environments.