Job Description TITLE Associate Director, TRiO SSS STEM JOB SUMMARY DATE ISSUED: 09/23 FLSA: Exempt PTO: VCS The Associate Director, TRiO Student Support Services STEM will work in collaboration with the Director to establish, implement, and manage the newly created program. The Associate Director, TRiO SSS STEM will provide academic advising support to SSS STEM participants by utilizing specialized proactive individual and group advising. The position will also provide personalized tutoring, career development, and financial literacy to program participants. The TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) STEM program is federally funded by the Department of Education and will serve 120 first-generation low-income students and/or students with disabilities. Work is performed under general supervision and performance evaluation is based upon completion of assignments and results obtained. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with the University Policies & Procedures. ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Reports to: Project Director, TRIO SSS STEM Supervises: Administrative Staff, Graduate Assistants and Student Assistants ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:
- Serves as the TRIO academic adviser to approximately 120 students.
- Establishes relationships with students, and monitors their progress in order to meet retention, persistence, and graduation objectives.
- Utilizes a holistic, student-centered advising model to support TRIO SSS STEM participants.
- Provides financial, economic, career, and personal advising/coaching to TRIO SSS STEM participants.
- Develops expertise in interpreting University policies, procedures, and curricular requirements.
- Ensures all activities and grant objectives are met.
- Assists in recruiting, identifying, and selecting eligible students to participate in the program.
- Conducts or participates in student interviews.
- Maintains accurate records to monitor participants' academic progress as well as services provided by program staff for tracking and/or reporting purposes.
- Conducts individual and group academic, personal and financial advising sessions/workshops.
- Assists Director in oversight of career, tutoring, and financial literacy platforms used by TRIO SSS STEM participants.
- Provides outreach and intervention to at-risk participants.
- Oversees the design and delivery of retention program activities.
- Assesses, collects and reports student data as they pertain to program satisfaction and participant needs.
- Coordinates all aspects of graduate exploration trips, cultural opportunities, and career site visits, including travel logistics.
- Remains current regarding best practices in mentoring, tutoring, advising, and retention.
- Directly recruits, hires, trains, and provides ongoing supervision and evaluation of key personnel.
- Cultivates and maintains collaborative partnerships with departments as appropriate, e.g. The Office of Financial Aid, Academic Testing Services, Career Connections and Academic Advising.
- Identifies appropriates referrals for participants.
- Modifies and complements STEM curriculum based on best practices, university & programmatic data, and feedback from participants.
- Prepares regular reports to the Director, Executive Director, PCSE, and Cabinet.
- Assists Director with report compilations for federal reporting purposes, development of forms, reports, evaluations for the program.
ADDITIONAL DUTIES
- Performs other duties as requested.
EDUCATION Master's degree preferred in education, counseling, or STEM- related field from an accredited college or university required. EXPERIENCE Four years' experience working in a TRiO federal program or similar related program for at-risk STEM college students that focus on improving their academic standing, persistence, and college graduation rates; two years of staff supervision; and three years of experience working in academic support programs. REQUIREMENT Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:
- Knowledge of assessment and data collection, learning styles, and learning assistance strategies and experience in utilizing a coaching approach to STEM student assistance.
- Knowledge of academic advising and college, career, financial aid, and economic literacy activities and related services for SSS STEM Eligible Students.
- Experience advising and assisting SSS STEM Eligible Students with the graduate school admissions and financial aid process.
- Ability to effectively maintain a caseload of Participants and provide them with documented services and activities.
- Knowledge of academic barriers to postsecondary education faced by low income, first- generation college students and students with disabilities.
- Knowledge of STEM course requirements.
- Ability to develop and facilitate Academic Excellence Workshops for TRIO SSS STEM participants to promote their academic success.
- Ability to effectively document services and activities provided to TRIO SSS STEM participants in accordance with federal rules and regulations.
- Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with students, STEM alumni, staff, faculty, administrators, and community members.
- Ability to handle sensitive confidential matters with discretion.
- Skilled at leveraging a variety of technological platforms to maximize efficiency.
- Ability to use a personal computer and other office equipment, including related university software and email.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described in the Essential Duties and below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties. The employee may be required to travel. WORK ENVIRONMENT All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, including sexual harassment. Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment. SAFETY TWU promotes a safe working environment. Employees are responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently, and supervisors are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. Employees must report any unsafe work conditions or practices, as well as any near-miss incidents, to their supervisor and Risk Management. Supervisors and employees should ensure that injury/accident reports are submitted to the Office of Human Resources and Risk Management within 24 hours of the incident. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change. Texas Woman's University strives to provide an educational environment that affirms the rights and dignity of each individual, fosters diversity, and encourages a respect for the differences among persons. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is considered inappropriate. Texas Woman's University is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, age, veteran's status, or against qualified disabled persons. All positions at Texas Woman's University are deemed security sensitive requiring background checks. If you are a male between the age of 18 and 25, federal law requires that you must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. Under HB 558, enacted by the 76th Texas State Legislature, if you are currently of the age and gender requiring registration with Selective Service, but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for employment with an agency in any branch of Texas state government. For additional information regarding registration or status, you can contact the Selective Service System at 847-###-#### or www.sss.gov.About Us TWU is the nation's largest university system focused on women and a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution. TWU is situated approximately 30 miles north of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and is home to approximately 16,433 graduate and undergraduate students across three campuses; Denton, Dallas, and Houston respectively. This diverse academic student community is guided by faculty committed to excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service. TWU is ranked among the nation's top ethnically diverse institutions according to U.S. News & World Report (2022). Additional information about the University is available at