Elite Scholars Student Support Specialist

ELITE Scholars Student Support Specialist

Indian Tribal and Education Personnel Program (ITEPP)
Job #535212
First Review: Friday, March 22, 2024

Open Until Filled

At Cal Poly Humboldt, bold hearts and open minds shape the future.

Founded in 1913, Cal Poly Humboldt began as a small college for teachers. Today Humboldt has grown into a comprehensive university with rigorous science and liberal arts programs. Designated a polytechnic in 2022, Cal Poly Humboldt provides hands-on, impactful educational opportunities that lead to meaningful, measurable outcomes for the individual, for the state, and the world.

Cal Poly Humboldt is proud to have nearly 6,000 students of all backgrounds spread across 61 majors, 13 graduate programs, and 4 credential programs - all of whom contribute passion and creativity within their fields and set the stage for a future grounded in equity and sustainability. Hands-on learning, inspired teaching, ground-breaking research, and thought-provoking creative activity happen daily at Humboldt.

Cal Poly Humboldt is a Hispanic-Serving Institution that strives to foster an inclusive and equitable community to support our students of diverse backgrounds. We are committed to achieving the goals of equal opportunity and endeavors to employ faculty and staff of the highest quality committed to working in a multicultural and multiracial community that reflects the diversity of the state.

Finding a better future is a task for the bold and open, the down-to-earth and visionary. Cal Poly Humboldt strives to cultivate these qualities in leaders, innovators, and scholars in every field.

(Job #535212) Student Services Professional IA or IB or Student Services Professional II, ELITE Scholars Student Support Specialist, Hiring Range: SSP IA $3,764 - $3,952 monthly, SSP IB $4,066 - $4,269 monthly, SSP II $4,610 - $4,841 monthly. This is a full-time, benefited, non-exempt for SPP IA and IB, exempt for SSP II, 12-month pay plan, permanent position, with a one-year probationary period in the Indian Tribal and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP). This position comes with a premium benefits package that includes outstanding vacation, medical, dental, and vision plans, life insurance, voluntary pre-tax health and dependent care reimbursement accounts, a fee waiver education program, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), and 14 paid holidays per year. Additional benefits information can be found at https://hraps.humboldt.edu/employee-benefits.

Position Summary: Under the lead work direction of the Indian Tribal and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) Coordinator, the ELITE Scholars Student Support Specialist will implement structured mentoring program, activities, case management, and assist with lead oversight of student staff. With the assistance of two lead mentors, the ELITE Scholars Student Support Specialist will train peer-mentors and lead a mentoring program designed to support outreach efforts to prospective, transfer, and high school students with a special attention to the Native American Population. This position will work with the local California Community College to strengthen the transfer bridge between College of the Redwoods and Cal Poly Humboldt for former foster youth (ffy). The ELITE Scholars Student Support Specialist is responsible for a variety of work assignments and duties which support current Cal Poly Humboldt ELITE Scholars and outreach to community foster youth. The incumbent provides and supports students through wraparound supports to connecting them to campus and community resources. The incumbent develops and/or refers students to social, cultural, and academic activities designed to build peer community and mentorship, which leads to the academic success, persistence, and graduation of FFY. The incumbent works closely with university staff and faculty across campus as well as off-campus liaisons in order to accomplish program goals. Evening and weekend hours sometimes required.

Key Responsibilities:

Caseload Management (Supporting current Foster Youth to develop mentoring program and training) - 50%

• Under the lead work direction of the Indian Tribal and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) Coordinator, the incumbent provides referrals to students and assists them in developing a plan of support services appropriate to their needs; monitors utilization of support services and outcomes.
• Provides assessment and referral for an assigned caseload of FFY program students and other identified at-risk students for intervention and referral services:

1. Academic Assessment & Referral: Provides structured mentoring program that reviews academic readiness for college; reviews progress in completing academic requirements; assists students in clarifying and planning academic goals; assesses academic engagement and provides supplementary assistance in developing and monitoring time-management, organization, progress, and time-on-task as appropriate for college success. Provides information on university regulations, procedures, and deadline dates.
2. Financial Aid Assessment and Referral: Assists students in understanding their financial aid opportunities; provides information regarding a wide range of federal and state aid programs, regulations, application processes, and eligibility. Explores alternative aid sources available for many FFY and refers when appropriate. Provides basic assistance with financial aid applications and timelines.
3. Interpersonal & Developmental Assessment & Referral: Provides coaching and referral in basic communication skills, developing positive goals and strategies for personal success.
4. Other Assessment and Referral: Provides information on cultural and social activities.

Information Dissemination, Reporting and Documentation - 20%

• Maintains complete and accurate records on students served, specific services provided, and referrals. Prepares written reports regarding the student population, services, referrals, and persistence/graduation outcomes annually, and upon request.

Social, Cultural, and Academic Activities - 20%

• Identifies social, cultural, and academic activities planned on campus and conducts targeted promotion to FFY and other students to encourage their participation in these events. Also assists or serves as the campus advisor for the FFY student club, ELITE (Excelling and Living Independently Through Education). Plans and organizes social, cultural, and/or academic activities that directly address unmet needs common among FFY and which have a direct and negative impact on student success or academic progress.
• Promotes peer mentoring, providing guidance and direction for effective peer networking and mentorship, which may include communication skills, planning, organization, resource acquisition, and evaluation of outcomes.

Coordination with offices and other duties - 5%

• Consults regularly with the director and lead mentoring staff to coordinate outreach and services for FFY.
• Consults each term, at minimum, with director in regard to individual and general academic support needs of FFY in the community.
• Acts as an advocate for FFY. Identifies institutional barriers and designs appropriate interventions and solutions, in coordination with the ELITE Scholars director. Participates in university wide programming, including social, cultural, and educational activities, as appropriate to the assigned work.

Other duties as assigned - 5%

Knowledge and Abilities Associated with this Position Include:

SSPIA:

• Working knowledge of the basic principles of individual and group behavior.
• Research and observation techniques for the purpose of recording, classifying, and interpreting factual information.
• And the techniques and methods of interviewing.
• Ability to gather and analyze data; reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Participate in and contribute to group meetings, conferences and interviews.
• Clearly express ideas and recommendations orally.
• Write clear and concise reports; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff, and faculty.

SSP IB:

• Working knowledge of the methods and problems of organization and program management.
• Working knowledge of research and interviewing techniques.
• Working knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior; the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge of the organization, procedures, and activities of the specific campus to which the position is assigned.
• Working knowledge of the basic principles, practices, and major trends in the Student Services field to which assigned.
• Ability to rapidly acquire a working knowledge of the specific objectives of the campus Student Services program and its relationship to the total campus operation including demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with foster youth from diverse communities, which includes but is not limited to, ethnicity, tribes, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations; gather and analyze data; reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to present clear and concise information orally and in written reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations and other private and public agencies.

SSP II:

• Working knowledge of the practices, procedures and activities of El Centro management, general knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management.
• General knowledge of research and interview techniques.
• General knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
• Ability to use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements.
• Ability to obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews.
• Ability to reason logically.
• Ability to collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data; advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required; recognize multicultural, multisexed and multiaged value systems and work accordingly.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts.
• And, rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions and programs of the campus to which assigned including demonstrated ability to interact and communicate with foster youth from diverse communities, which includes but is not limited to, ethnicity, tribes and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas Services Office.
• Possession of these knowledge and abilities typically is demonstrated through the Experience requirements above.

Minimum Qualifications:

SSP IA:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration, or a jobrelated field. Specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the required knowledge and abilities listed below may be substituted for the required education on a year-foryear basis.

SSP IB:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration, or a jobrelated field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities listed below may be substituted for the required education on a yearforyear basis.

Experience: Equivalent to one year of experience in professional student services work at the entry trainee level. Equivalent amounts of graduate level jobrelated education may be substituted for the required experience.

SSP II:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a jobrelated field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities listed below may be substituted for the required education on a yearforyear basis.

Experience:  Equivalent to two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master's degree in a jobrelated field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated two years of professional experience working with foster youth and diverse communities.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral.
• Trauma informed background a...