Department: Advising

Location: Wellesley/Framingham/Remote

MassBay fosters educational excellence and academic success to prepare students for local and global citizenship, to meet critical workforce demands of communities, and to contribute to the region’s economic development.

Massachusetts Bay Community College values diversity, inclusion, and collaboration. We strongly encourage members of underrepresented communities to apply to join our community.

Located in Greater Boston, MassBay is a comprehensive, open-access community college offering associate degrees and certificate programs on three campuses in Wellesley Hills, Framingham, and Ashland, Massachusetts.

Position Summary:

The ideal candidate will join a vibrant and inclusive educational community and have a desire and ability to work with a diverse population. This is a part-time position with no benefits.

The Academic Advisor/Coach will engage primarily with students from historically marginalized populations who are currently enrolled in the Human Services Associate Degree and Certificate programs, as well as students in other academic programs. Students will rely on the Academic Advisor/Coach for support, guidance, and encouragement. This position offers the opportunity to make life-changing differences for students through comprehensive personal, academic, career, and transfer advising and coaching and support to a caseload of students in the MassBay Success Program. In alignment with the College’s goals to increase the success and retention of all students, the Academic Advisor/Coach will identify student needs/goals, assist students in academic planning, address student challenges, and provide referrals to our network of student support resources.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Coaching:

• Connect students with community and college resources based on identified need;
• Engage regularly with student caseload to build rapport and trust.Prioritize connection and relationships to support students in their social/emotional well-being;
• Provide students with the foundation to become increasingly capable of making informed personal, academic, transfer, and career decisions;
• Discuss and help to clarify educational and career goals with each student; establish plans, reinforce milestones, and monitor progress;
• Set expectations with students, including meeting with tutors, class attendance, and consistent check-ins;
• Provide support, guidance, and assistance in building skills related to time management, college readiness, academic planning, self-advocacy, and goal setting;
• Provide academic success and career-related workshops that focus on skills such as (but not limited to) time management, college readiness, academic planning, self-advocacy, goal setting, and professionalism.

Academic Advising:

• Serve as the primary Academic Advisor to a caseload of students in the MassBay Success Program; complete COMPASS (Comprehensive Advising for Student Success) meetings with first-year students;
• Maintain knowledge of the curricula for MassBay degrees, certificates, and courses;
• Maintain knowledge and currency with MassBay policies and procedures for admissions, enrollment, and completion of a program of study;
• Review placement test scores, credit for prior learning, and transfer credit;
• Assist students in planning appropriate courses for the student’s academic program;
• Assist students with adding and / or withdrawing from courses;
• Utilize MyMAP (degree audit system) to ensure students are on track in their academic program of study; train students to use MyMAP;
• Utilize PeopleSoft or other programs to review student records;
• Utilize StudentTrac database by recording accurate notes and documents to student files;
• Assess skills, interests, and aptitude; identify realistic career goals and identify appropriate major of study;
• Perform degree audits, course substitutions, and waivers.
• Participate in new student orientation (SOAR) activities and provide comprehensive advising to first-year students.

Inter-Office Collaboration:

• Work closely with staff from the MassBay/SUCCESS Initiative, Academic Achievement Center, OIT, Financial Aid, Enrollment Center, Admissions, Student Engagement, and Student Development, as well as faculty and administration in Human Services, and assist students in navigating and utilizing appropriate resources at the College;
• Work with faculty and administration to understand divisional and College grants, including the Direct Support Certificate grant in order to incorporate the resources under these grants into our student support services;
  Represent the department or the division for campus, college and community activities.

Departmental Support:

• Assist in reviewing and developing College and departmental policy and effects on student success;
• Participate in Academic Advising, Coaching, and Transfer staff meetings, Academic Divisional and MassBay/SUCCESS Initiative staff meetings;
• Advise the Assistant Director and Director regarding student/program issues;
• Assist with student advising and triage during peak enrollment periods in the Academic Advising, Transfer, and Coaching Commons, as well as in the Virtual Advising Center;
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned, i.e., front desk coverage, answering phones, and scheduling appointments;
• Other duties as assigned.

Commitment to Equity:

• Support MassBay’s commitment to the Equity Agenda; collaborating with faculty, staff, and students on the College’s strategic initiatives dedicated to closing the equity gap related to student outcomes;
• Support MassBay’s commitment to being anti-racist; embracing a community free of bias and inequality;
• Contribute to discussion and review of applicable College policies with a critical lens toward diversity, equity, and inclusion;
• Engage with the Office of Diversity on issues related to underserved student success;
• Further the examination of pertinent practices that are culturally responsive and reflective of inclusive perspectives; and
• Engage in conversations with colleagues and students regarding best practices within the discipline or programmatic related to equity and inclusion.

This list is not to be considered all-inclusive. A supervisor may assign other duties as required to meet the needs and foster the mission of the College.

All employees of MassBay are expected to work collegially and collaboratively within a community that values and celebrates diversity.

Required Qualifications:

Master’s degree in Education, Counseling, Psychology or closely related field; with three (3) years’ experience and/or training involving college admissions, academic advisement, career development, or program/project management; or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Sensitivity and commitment to the goals of Affirmative Action and workforce diversity;
• Experience working in a diverse environment;
• Demonstrated commitment to working with underserved students;
• Retain a high energy level, and exercise strong time management and interpersonal skills;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with English language learners, adult learners, and students who need support to enroll in college-level coursework;
• Bi-lingual in Spanish, Portuguese, and/or Haitian-Creole.

Additional Information:

Salary Range: $35 per hour

Position Type: MCCC Part-Time Grade 5

Application Deadline: April 16, 2023, or thereafter until filled.

To Apply: Please include a letter of interest and resume with your online application.

Staff

This is a grant funded position, and position is contingent on funding.

Final candidates are required to provide sealed transcripts and/or certifications.

Hiring is contingent upon a successful CORI clearance.

Massachusetts Bay Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran or military status, genetic information, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its programs and activities as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and college policies. The College prohibits sexual harassment, including sexual violence. Inquiries or complaints concerning discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or sexual violence shall be referred to the College’s Affirmative Action and/or Title IX Coordinator, Lisa MacDonald, Director of Equity Compliance, lmacdonald@massbay.edu, (781) 239-3147, the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission or the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.