"Student Advocacy Specialist"

Student Advocacy Specialist

Company: Aims Community College

Job Location: Greeley, 80632

Category: Student Affairs and Services

Type: Full-Time

Job Type: Full time

Job Number: R1729

Location: Greeley, CO

Minimum Hiring Annual Salary: $58,171.00

Maximum Hiring Annual Salary: $62,825.00

To attain the maximum annual salary, employee must meet all minimum qualifications plus: 5 (five) years of additional applicable work experience and/or degrees higher than minimum qualification degree. Degrees higher than the minimum qualification degree can be used in combination with additional work experience. A combination of related education, on-the-job work experience, certifications and/or licenses that results in a candidate successfully meeting the minimum qualifications of the position, may be considered. The stated salary amounts are not guaranteed in the event employment ends with Aims during any fiscal year.

Included with Aims Full-time Employment is a generous package of Benefits, most are listed below:

• Benefits are effective immediately
• 100% employer provided medical & dental coverage employees (employee only option)
• 85% employer provided medical & dental coverage for employee's spouse and/or family
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Staff Annual Leave (minimum accrual of 15 days) & Sick (minimum accrual of 12 days)
• 17 paid holidays and 3 personal days each year
• Summer schedule: 4-day work week - Fridays Off
• Employer paid long-term disability and life insurance premiums
• Tuition waiver & reimbursement for employees
• Tuition waiver for dependents
• PERA employer (see www.copera.org for comprehensive benefits)
• Additional supplemental benefits & retirement programs available
• Access to the PERC (Aims gym) for employee & one guest
• Free parking on all campuses

Job Description:

Aims Community College actively supports an environment that embraces the College's Mission, Vision, Values and a culture of innovation and care. The College embraces and seeks to hire individuals who want to be a part of this environment and have the skill sets necessary to be successful in this position.

This position provides leadership and management for various student advocacy and equity-related programs and initiatives including Title IX and other civil rights investigations, informal complaint resolution, student behavioral intervention, restorative justice and other forms of conflict resolution, expressive activity, and other matters of compliance. The Student Advocacy Specialist partners with the Title IX Coordinator, Dean of Students, student leaders, and outside agencies in the development and implementation of outreach efforts and educational programming on student rights and responsibilities, sexual and relationship violence, sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and other prevention topics.

This position also assists in investigations alleging race, national origin, color, disability, age, religious, veteran, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation complaints involving students and is responsible for developing communication and marketing to educate the campus community about resources, policies, procedures, and legal requirements, as well as assisting in the maintenance of the College's website resources and reporting as they relate to sexual misconduct, bias incidents, and complaints/grievances. This position partners with the Title IX Coordinator in investigations and issuing interim measures and support services as appropriate for the situation and in compliance with Federal and State laws. The position is responsible for oversight and evaluation of the institution's informal and formal student complaint process and college-wide outreach, marketing, training and education for students in support of a culture of respect that is free from all forms of discrimination. This position works to recognize emerging trends to develop and implement prevention and awareness programs and coordinate assessment data related to relevant programs and interventions. Occasional travel is required.

Development & Implementation of Educational Programming, Prevention Outreach, & Marketing: 20%

• Develop and collaborate with other campus departments on prevention and other department-related topics including Code of Conduct, free speech, student rights and responsibilities, DOS functional units, and college resources.
• Oversee, analyze, and evaluate initiatives to enhance campus awareness about resources and interventions available for students in conflict or with complaints.
• Develop and collaborate with college departments on the marketing of Dean of Students Office resources, reporting options, and community resources.
• Develop and partner with Student Government and Campus Activities Programming Council and college departments on student educational programming in compliance with Title VI, Title IX laws, VAWA, Clery, First Amendment, and Campus Drug-Free Communities Act.
• Serve on DOS Curricular Approach team to develop Educational Plans for the department.
• Develop and execute a departmental communication plan.

Complaint Resolution & Crisis Management: 50%

• Serve as a resource for staff, faculty, and students in conflict with students.
• Facilitate positive relationships across campus.
• Serve as faculty liaison regarding DOS processes and services.
• Intake and address informal student complaints.
• Assist students in crisis by making appropriate referrals to support student health and safety and student academic and personal success.
• Oversee student conflict resolution, assistance, meetings with students (sometimes along with family members) to clarify, interrupt, provide guidance or resolution with complaints or misdirected situations.
• Oversee classroom and academically-related mediations that arise via complaints for and with students.
• Offer conflict coaching regarding options for resolution and refer to appropriate agencies when reporting duties apply.
• Select, train, and lead the Student Informal Complaint Facilitator Team as needed.
• Serve on college committees to ensure complaint processes are streamlined within other departments.
• Ensure standardization regarding complaint software and reports; analyze complaint data to make programmatic and other operational decisions.
• Serve on Behavioral Intervention Team as needed and conduct threat assessments on all complaint and CARE reports.
• Maintain documentation and case files.

Partner with Title IX Coordinator, CARE Director, & Dean of Students in Case Management: 20%

• Schedule intake with complainants and document offered support measures and resources.
• Assist in investigations related to Title VI, VAWA, and civil rights as needed.
• Implement interim supportive measures (learning accommodations and other supports) for students involved in CARE/Title VI, Title IX/VAWA related reports.
• Provide case management for CARE and other cases with Title VI, Title IX/VAWA components.
• Conduct informal behavioral coaching meetings with students referred by faculty.
• Other duties as assigned.

Conduct Investigations in Coordination with the Appropriate Office(s): 10%

• Investigate civil rights complaints involving students.
• Investigate behavioral/conduct incidents/reports.
• Conduct preliminary investigations regarding student complaints.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; plus, two (2) years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and/or work experience.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Cultural competence and sensitivity to the concerns and needs of diverse student, faculty, and staff populations.
• A high degree of unique problem solving and independent judgment.
• Effective project development, organization and analytical skills.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills with an emphasis on education and training for a variety of constituencies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build trust and work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, administrators and community partners.
• Ability to exercise considerable discretion and judgment in sometimes highly volatile situations.
• Ability to manage and complete tasks in a timely manner and maintain accurate records and files as demonstrated by past accomplishments or experiences.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when needed.

Required Documents:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Preferred Qualifications:

• Basic knowledge of legislation and regulatory compliance related to discrimination, discriminatory harassment, and sexual and gender-based misconduct, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (EEO) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Clery Act, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013, Campus SaVE Act and ADA/504 (Americans with Disabilities Act).
• Basic knowledge of best practices as they relate to institutions of higher education compliance with Title VI, Title IX,VAWA, and civil rights protections
• Bilingual in Spanish/English.
• Experience with conducting trauma informed investigations.
• Training and experience in resolving disputes and principles of restorative justice.
• Event planning experience.
• Student conduct experience.
• Experience in threat assessment and risk rubrics.