Staff Associate, Student Navigator

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

Bridgewater State University is an inclusive community dedicated to the lifelong success of all students, focused on the continuous improvement of its people, and responsible for leading innovation that benefits Southeastern Massachusetts, the commonwealth, and the world. Bridgewaters accessible environment of teaching and learning stimulates critical thinking, pursuit of new knowledge, and deeper understanding, the cultivation of meaningful and diverse interpersonal relationships, and fostering an appreciation for global engagement, all aimed at transforming lives and improving the human condition.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is reflected in our institutional values, which ensure that all students are supported and succeed.
Bridgewater State University is equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. Members of underrepresented groups, and those committed to working in a diverse cultural environment, are strongly encouraged to apply.
The mission of the Department of Student Success & Equity Interventions is to work collaboratively with colleagues campus-wide to close and eliminate educational equity gaps through effective data-informed equity-minded interventions. Successful candidates will be staff members with commitment to and experience in working with first generation, Black/Cape Verdean, Latinx, Native American, Asian and other students of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and transfer students as well as students from other minoritized groups in closing educational equity gaps through data informed equity-oriented practices.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Reporting to the Executive Director of Student Success & Equity Interventions, the Student Navigator will use equity-oriented practices and data analytics to identify students who would benefit from additional support in order to succeed and coordinate with campus partners in providing services to these students in order to enhance their retention, persistence and graduation from Bridgewater State University. The Student Navigators are a key campus member in helping Bridgewater State University identify and implement practices equity-oriented student success strategies in support of students’ academic success and sense of mattering and belonging.
Supervision Received: Executive Director of Student Success & Equity Interventions
Supervision Exercised: Temporary employees and Student Employment
This position is located on campus in Bridgewater, MA. This position is eligible for hybrid / remote work in accordance with BSU remote work policy.
This is an exempt, APA unit position and is subject to the terms of that union agreement.
Position Type: APA Professional

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelors degree
• 3 or more years experience in working with:
• Black/Cape Verdean, Latinx, Native American, Asian and other students of color, and/or
• Members of the LGBTQIA+ community and/or
• Transfer students and/or
• And other students experiencing educational gaps.
• Candidates with experience working in organizations outside of higher education encouraged to share in their materials how their experience prepares them to fulfill the job responsibilities
• Experience completing assessment-oriented reports designed to inform decision-making.
• Knowledge of higher education equity-oriented student success best practices.
• Experience with data-informed decision-making and practice.
• Demonstrated experience or knowledge in the field of first year retention or in student completion/graduation efforts.
• Some evening and weekend work required.
• Experience working collaboratively within and/or with a large organization engaged in racial equity and justice efforts and equity-minded student success.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Preference given to multi-lingual candidates.

• Assesses and makes recommendations for improvements to enhance the effectiveness of persistence and completion programs across the university to the Executive Director of Student Success Equity Interventions.
• Consult on implementation and enhancement of policy and process, analyze data and generate information to identify barriers to retention and progression, create outreach to students identified who would benefit from BSUs support in order to succeed, and support university personnel with students encountering student success challenges.
• Serves as the case manager for a specific cohort of undergraduate students. Develops and implements effective retention programs and early outreach plans to enhance persistence and completion of students.
• Work collaboratively with offices across the university (e.g. Registrar, Financial Aid and Academic Advisors) to assist students in resolving issues that may affect student retention, persistence, and graduation.
• Responds to student referrals and research student cases. Collaborates with and coordinates among academic and non-academic departments to provide information on and targeted intervention strategies for students who would benefit from support in order to succeed at BSU.
• Resolves individual student issues that involve coordination between multiple offices at the university. Assists students with understanding institutional policy and processes, reviewing available options, and resolving issues.
• Maintains student files and monitors progress of students to ensure ongoing satisfaction and successful persistence.
• Uses analytical and evidence-based decision-making skills to develop and interpret reports, analyze and understand trends, and create actionable information drawn from multiple sources to inform outreach plans, enhance persistence and completion programs, and focus efforts on student populations where greatest needs exist.
• Collaborates on and maintain print and electronic student-centered communication strategies.
• Supervises student workers who provide focused outreach to students in order to enhance student retention, persistence and graduation.
• Engage in retention activities across the University.
• Other duties as assigned by the Executive Director of Student Success Equity Interventions.