TRIO Upward Bound Project Advisor

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.
 
About TRIO Upward Bound
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 events. The program serves 60 students at Westminster High School (WHS.)

Who You Are
As the Project Advisor for TRIO Upward Bound, you will work under the direction of the TRIO Upward Bound (UB) Director.  Your role will be to work directly with students to ensure their academic success, lead UB programming, develop and lead workshops, and collaborate with Westminster High School (WHS) administrators and staff.
 
This position does have the opportunity to work remotely occasionally but does require a strong on-campus presence. Time will be split between the Front Range Community College campus and the Westminster High School campus.

Please note: You need to be a Colorado resident on your first day of employment.  
 
SALARY: $50,100 - $52,605 annually
 
BENEFITS:  Please click here to find more information about APT & Faculty Benefits 
 
SELECTION PROCESS: Position will remain open until filled with an extended priority deadline of March 11, 2024. 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 TRIO Upward Bound Project Advisor. 
 

Primary Duties

Provide academic and student support services to TRIO UB participants:

• Conduct intake interviews and collect participation forms.
• Provide strength based holistic student support services, advising, coaching, planning, and advocating increasing participant retention and graduation.
• Monitor student progress and provide individualized interventions or referrals as appropriate. Maintain scholarship eligibility list.
• Plan and conduct seminars and student activities that foster the development of UB participants' non-cognitive skills necessary for social and academic acclimation.
• Coordinate tutoring and study group support during the academic year.

Lead UB programming at WHS for program participants: 

• Develop and implement optional UB Academic Enrichment content in alignment with WHS requirements for high school credit.
• Teach student success strategies and support students with coursework, preparing for standardized tests, and college, and financial aid applications.
• Coordinate academic enrichment activities, field trips, and cultural events. Implement career exploration and pathway awareness activities to enhance district ICAPs (Individual Career and Academic Plans.)
• Act as liaison between FRCC and WHS.

Lead UB summer program:

• Led a six-week summer program for UB program participants at the FRCC campus (on-site component) and off-campus residential activities (off-site/ overnight travel component.)
• Coordinate academic enrichment activities, physical activities, field trips, and cultural events.
• Act as liaison between FRCC instructors, the community, and the students.
• Communicate program activities with UB participants, UB parents/guardians, UB staff, and FRCC staff; serve as primary staff contact during all activities.
• Provide support for instructors and participants with learning requirements.

Maintain accurate and confidential student records and files:

• Document students’ need for service and verification of eligibility requirements.
• Maintain timely and accurate records including attendance, contact logs, and case notes to ensure grant compliance, acting in accordance with institutional, state, and federal guidelines for purchasing and reporting and coordinating support for program participants.
• Ensure physical and electronic student files are up to date with contact information, documentation of eligibility requirements, and evidence of student progress.

Support to TRIO UB Director, faculty, and staff:

• Assist the Director in developing and implementing an effective process for the identification, recruitment, and retention of program participants.
• Assist Director 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.

Required Competencies

• Mission, Vision & Values: Embraces the mission, vision and values of FRCC.  Understands the importance of the work that you do to support institutional goals.
• Student Centeredness: Places the student at the center of your work.  Adopts a philosophy that makes the ability to serve the student the cornerstone of the work that you do.
• Cultural Self-Awareness: Examines own beliefs and acknowledge own biases and how they have impacted or may impact the ability to serve students.
• Cultural Competence: Recognizes the need to become knowledgeable about the ways to communicate and support students of other backgrounds.  Changes approach to reflect the new learning.
• Equity Mindedness: Views department operations through an equity lens.  Willing to call attention to processes that lead to inequity in serving students.   Understands the College's equity goals and how your role supports FRCC's ability to achieve those goals.
• Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity: Works with individuals and groups with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Able to provide them with resources that will support them as they navigate through their higher education journey and know that they matter.
• Relationship Building & Collaboration: Develops relationships with UB participants, as well as their families and supporters, to provide them with the highest level of wraparound support.
• Operational Planning: Maintains an understanding and knowledge of the college's various strategic plans and understand how your work supports each of them.  Understands the department's expectations to find proactive ways to support the goals of the department.
• Instruction: Implements TRIO Upward Bound content through WHS course during the academic year and through Summer Academy during the summer months.
• Critical Thinking: Evaluates program goals and student performance outcomes to identify student and program needs and provides recommendations on innovative changes based on research and promising practices.
• Detail Oriented: Maintains accurate student records and documentation needed for grant reporting.
• Leading from the Middle: Leads from your position by not only closely examining responsibilities for the department, but also in bringing forward ideas to your supervisor the college should consider to be more student centered.
• Team Building: Participates in team-building exercises and strives to build positive and collaborative relationships with colleagues both within the department and in other departments within the college.
• Collaboration: Works with colleagues across departments to further student engagement.

Required Education/Training & Work Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Demonstrated experience working for a TRIO federal program or similar related program/project serving low-income and potential first-generation college students (grades 9-12).
• Demonstrated experience providing academic advising services, academic instruction, tutoring programs, non-cognitive skills, and college, career, financial aid, and economic literacy information to an assigned caseload of secondary school students (grades 9-12).
• Demonstrated experience advising and assisting low-income and potential first-generation college students with the college admissions and financial aid process on an individual and group basis.
• Professional or personal experience in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting Project Participants.
• Knowledge of transition and retention issues in secondary and post-secondary education
• Demonstrated skills in teaching or training diverse groups.
• Proven ability to coordinate activities such as workshops, guest speakers, and cultural events.
• Knowledge of career education tools and programs.

Preferred Education/Training & Work Experience:

• Ability to communicate effectively in Spanish.

 Welcoming. Respectful. Inclusive. Together, we are FRCC.