"TRIO/Act 101 Advisor"

TRIO/Act 101 Advisor

Company: Pennsylvania Western University

Job Location: California, Pennsylvania

Category: Academic Advising

Type: Full-Time

Posting Number: F100P

Job Summary / Basic Function

This position serves federal and state grant students. Act 101 and Student Support Program are grant funded projects through PHEAA and the U.S. Department of Education. The Academic Advisor assists the Director of TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) and Act 101 and is responsible for advising, counseling and leading small group activities for under-prepared and disadvantaged college students. A primary focus of this position is to improve the retention and graduation of first-generation, income and academic need of students who become participants of the federal TRIO Student Support Services Program and Act 101 program or meet like criteria to be served in the department. The Advisor will follow internal university, PHEAA and U.S. Department of Education policies and regulations. Travel and summer work are required.

Primary Duties:

• Provide appreciative counseling/coaching with students
• Conduct individual advising/counseling with students to include academic, career, personal, financial, graduate school admissions and make referrals as needed
• Contact prospective students to begin the advising process
• Conduct summer orientation for prospective participants to include developing schedules and providing financial/technology literacy
• Develop and assess individual student academic plans based on individual needs and inventory results
• Monitor, record and discuss student progress, evaluations, grade reports, P/NR declarations, Degree Works/advisement sheets and professor evaluations
• Teach project courses to federal and university students: First Year Seminar (TRIO 1000), Career Planning (TRIO 1940) and Career Readiness (TRIO 2000) and Critical Thinking and Reading (TRIO 2100)
• Collect, input, and analyze information for Blumen, as well as, assist with the grant-writing process as initiated by the Project Director
• Carry out all other duties as assigned by the SSS director and department chairperson, area Vice President
• Attend professional development workshops and trainings that support TRIO eligible student populations

Minimum of Education / Training

Applicants are required to have a master's degree in counseling or a related field; two years' experience as a counselor, advisor, academic or career coach or similar experience with low income, first-generation or under-prepared students; specific understanding and sensitivity to multicultural differences; and the ability to establish and foster relationships with students, faculty, staff and administrators. Applicants must have experience in higher education, preferably teaching and/or advising experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Knowledge of the financial aid process, Blumen or like database, and successful grant writing.

Work Location: California campus

Is travel to other PennWest campuses required for this position? If so, how often? No