Counselor, TRIO Upward Bound
Who We Are
With three campuses along Colorado’s Front Range, Front Range Community College is the state’s largest community college. We enroll close to 28,000 students annually from our diverse service area, which offers a variety of cultural and recreational activities.
Each year approximately 5,000 FRCC students transfer to four-year universities. FRCC offers more than 36 career training programs that prepare students for immediate employment and rewarding careers. Last year, more than 5,000 high school students took concurrent enrollment classes with us, earning college credit without having to pay college tuition. And we were recently ranked as one of the “Top Online Colleges” in the country by Newsweek.
One of FRCC’s main goals is to offer educational excellence for everyone. The college’s strong commitment to student success means we start by creating an inclusive and equitable environment—one where both students and employees feel they belong and are supported. FRCC’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is woven into the fabric of our college conversations and decision-making processes. We are actively seeking to hire a workforce that reflects the diversity of our student body.
The college is also an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. For us, becoming an HSI is an intentional commitment to being a college where our Latinx (and other historically marginalized) students thrive.
FRCC employees and leaders work hard to create a culture of collaboration, innovation and pride. We’re looking to hire people who share these values—along with our commitment to student success, equity and excellence.
Who You Are
TRIO Upward Bound (UB), a federally funded TRIO program, is designed to assist high school students from first generation and low-income backgrounds to complete secondary school and enter postsecondary education programs. Program services include group and individual counseling, academic advising and support, exposure to career and educational opportunities, and personal enrichment activities. The program serves 60 students at Westminster High School (WHS).
As the TRIO Upward Bound Counselor, you will work with the direction of the TRIO Upward Bound (UB) Director and the TRIO UB Recruitment and Engagement Coordinator. You will work directly with students to ensure their academic success and transition to postsecondary education, maintain data and records needed to maintain the grant, support coordination of Summer programming, and collaborate with WHS administrators and staff.
Please note: This is an on-campus position with an opportunity for remote work. You need to be a Colorado resident on your first day of employment.
SALARY: $49,000 - $51,500 annually
SELECTION PROCESS: Position will remain open until filled with a priority deadline of April 11, 2023. This posting may be used to fill multiple or similar positions.
Preliminary screening will be made on the basis of completed application package submitted by candidate. In your application please include a resume and cover letter that specifically addresses how your background and experience align with requirements, qualification and responsibilities of the Counselor, TRIO Upward Bound.
At FRCC, masks are optional, but we allow individual staff and faculty to request students and colleagues wear masks in offices or in class.
Primary Duties:
- Provide academic and student support services to TRIO UB participants
- Meet with students regularly to provide individual academic, career, transfer, and financial aid guidance to program participants.
- Conduct intake interviews, complete, and regularly update customized service plans for program participants.
- Provide proactive, need based and strategic outreach to students to connect them to college and community resources for additional support.
- Monitor student academic progress and provide success interventions as appropriate to support their persistence.
- Provide guidance for career planning and exploration through individual assessment and advising and through developing and offering group workshops.
- Provide guidance for financial literacy and financial aid/scholarship opportunities through individual advising and through developing and offering group workshops.
- Lead post-secondary education preparation activities for program participants
- Disseminate college and program informational materials to all UB participants.
- Coordinate student participation in college fairs/open houses, information sessions, campus visits, and workshops.
- Assist in making direct referrals to other TRIO or student support programs.
- Co-lead UB summer programming
- Co-lead Summer Academy for UB program participants at FRCC campus (on site component) and off campus residential activities (off site overnight travel component).
- Coordinate enrichment activities, physical activities, field trips, and cultural events including coordination of travel arrangements, hotel accommodations, and collection of participant paperwork with appropriate approvals and signatures.
- Communicate program activities with UB participants, UB parents/guardians, UB staff, and FRCC staff; serve as primary staff contact during all activities.
- Student Record & Data Management
- Maintain accurate and confidential student records.
- Document and record students’ need for service, their academic need, and verification of their income, first generation status, and/or disability.
- Maintain timely and accurate documentation of students’ need for service, case notes, student performance outcome, and data related to the Grant Objectives.
- Ensure guidelines regarding Upward Bound student eligibility are met.
- Support to TRIO UB team, faculty, and staff
- Assist in the development and implement an effective process for identification, recruitment, and retention of program participants.
- Assist with completing Annual Performance Report.
- Provide ongoing training and information to FRCC faculty and staff.
- Collaborate effectively with WHS administrators and staff regarding UB program activities, courses, and services.
- Understand and adhere to WHS and FRCC policies and procedures.
Required Competencies:
- Relationship Building & Collaboration: Develop relationships with UB participants, as well as their family and supporters, to provide them with the highest level of wraparound support. Collaborate with FRCC and WHS staff/faculty to develop strong relationships and programming.
- Event planning: Develop and execute seminars to support student needs in partnership with FRCC/WHS staff and faculty and community partners, as well as virtual and in-person events for program recruitment & outreach.
- Critical Thinking: Ongoing evaluation of program goals and students’ performance outcomes to identify student and program needs, as well as provide recommendations on innovative changes based on research and promising practices.
- Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity: Work with individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Be able provide them with resources that will support them as they navigate through their higher education journey and know that they matter.
- Detail Oriented: Ability to maintain accurate student records and documentation needed for grant reporting.
Required Education/Training & Work Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree education, social work, social sciences or related field.
- Two (2) years’ experience working with students in an educational setting, preferably in higher education student affairs in areas such as admissions, advising, financial aid, career development.
- Experience working with students from underrepresented student populations (first generation, low-income, students with disabilities) including budgeting and planning.
- Ability to support and advance FRCC’s commitment to equity and inclusion.
- Demonstrated strong written and oral communication skills, including experience making public presentations to a variety of audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to relate effectively with a variety of constituents including students, faculty, staff and community.
Preferred Education/Training & Work Experience:
- Experience advising, counseling, teaching, and/or supervising individuals from first-generation college backgrounds, low-income and undocumented backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities.
- Ability to write, speak, or read Spanish.
Welcoming. Respectful. Inclusive. Together, we are FRCC.