Mohawk College Looking for Student Success Advisor (Appendix D/Temporary Assignment: August 2023 – January 2025) at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Full Time

Status: Appendix D/Temporary Assignment: August 2023 – January 2025

Hours: Monday – Friday, 35 hours/week

Home Campus: Fennell

Payband: I

Rate of Pay: $36.19

Posting Date: August 16th, 2023

Closing Date: August 22nd, 2023 at 7:00 pm EST

We support and encourage the contributions of our diverse employees. We are committed to nurturing an equitable, diverse and inclusive (EDI) environment for everyone who learns and works at Mohawk College. We believe the rich diversity among our students and the communities we serve should be reflected within our workforce. As educators we believe it is important to act and show leadership in advancing the principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in our community.

Mohawk College is currently recruiting for our next

Student Success Advisor

Reporting to the Manager, Career & Student Success Advising, the Student Success Advisor (SSA) is a dynamic, energetic, and enthusiastic individual who enhances Mohawk College’s Vision, Mission, Values and Strategic Priorities by: (a) offering academic and personal advising to students grounded in developmental, proactive and lifecycle approaches; (b) participating actively in college retention and student success initiatives; and (c) completing a wide variety of administrative, data-tracking and reporting duties in support of student success.

As a vital link between Student Services and the Academic Schools, the SSA also provides support to the Associate Dean(s) (or Manager) in the program areas they are assigned to provide advising services. The SSA actively participates as a team member in meetings and regular day-to-day operations of both Student Services and their assigned Academic Schools/Programs.

As the first point of contact for students in their respective Academic Programs or target populations, the SSA must be able to respond to, investigate and resolve a diverse number of inquiries from students, staff, faculty, and other departments.

Responsibilities

The duties of this position include, but are not limited to:

• Advising – Advising students via individual, group, online, social media, and presentation formats.
• Support – Appropriately challenge and support students and colleagues. Know and use referral sources (e.g. other offices, outside agencies, knowledge sources), and exhibit referral skills in seeking expert assistance.
• Outreach – Implementing prescribed outreach strategies for students deemed ‘at-risk’ in cooperation with student services staff, academic faculty, and their counterpart in other schools and service areas of the college.
• Intervention & Retention – using Mohawk’s Advising Model as a guide, conduct student success activities such as following up with students who do not attend class, or are deemed at-risk of leaving early (by faculty, Assessments For Success or similar mechanism) to intervene and provide support and resources that promote retention (i.e. accessing remediation and learning resources).
• Referrals – Listening to the concerns of students, assessing the issue or concern brought forward by the student, and taking action by making the appropriate referrals (i.e. counselling, accessible learning services, faculty, peer tutors, etc.).
• Facilitate Problem Solving – Using College information systems and resources to investigate problems and provide advocacy in anticipation of issues and in response to student requests, concerns, or complaints.
• Transition & Orientation – working collaboratively with other departments, such as the Registrar’s Office and Student Life, to provide support with transition and orientation activities (ex. pro-active advising) to ensure an overall smooth transition to college.
• Answering Questions – Answering a wide variety of inquiries from staff, students, other departments about college programs and services related to student success (i.e. Programs of Study, exemptions, PLAR, pathways to other institutions, and graduation).
• Presentations & Knowledge Transfer – Preparing and disseminating general information about the College services and the Programs of Study through presentations to small and large groups of students and faculty; presenting college designed materials fostering student learning and development (i.e. study tips, time management).
• Data Tracking & Reporting – Collecting, tracking and reporting of individual and departmental data about student retention and success. Articulate key messages effectively and professionally in one-on-one and group settings.

Other duties as assigned by the Manager, or requested by their respective Associate Dean or Program Manager (and subsequently approved by the Director) which supports student success and retention.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will have:

• At minimum, candidates must meet one of the following two educational requirements: Bachelor of Education; OR a three year post-secondary diploma/degree plus a certificate, diploma or professional designation in: Education, Student Affairs/Services, Career Development, Personal Coaching, or Counselling Techniques.
• Preference will be given to candidates with increasing levels of education. A Master’s Degree in Education, Student Affairs/Services, College Student Personnel, Career Development, or similar would be an asset.
• Demonstrated commitment and understanding of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion with the ability to communicate and work effectively inter-culturally with diverse groups of students, employees and the community.

Skills

Minimum of 3 years of practical experience advising students, preferably in a post-secondary educational setting, where the following knowledge, skills and experiences have been developed

• Student & Adult Learning and Development – Articulate theories and models that describe the development of post-secondary students and the conditions and practices that facilitate the holistic development (e.g. learning, leadership, psychosocial and identity development, cognitive-structural, typological, environmental, and moral).
• Advising theory and practice – Recognize the importance of students’ physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being in learning, development and success.
• Academic Programs and Processes – Understand the importance of aligning Student Success Advising work with the academic mission of the institution.
• Diversity & Social Inclusion – Connect and build meaningful relationships with others while recognizing the multiple, intersecting cultures, identities, perspectives, and developmental differences people hold.
• Understanding of Confidentiality – Maintain an appropriate degree of confidentiality that follows applicable legal and licensing requirements, facilitates the development of trusting relationships, and recognizes when confidentiality should be broken to protect the student or others.
• Approachable and Relatable to all members of College community – Adjust oral and written communication styles to effectively communicate messages to all audiences, including students, colleagues, senior leaders, and faculty members.
• Computer Proficiency/Experience – Proficiency in/experience with business computer applications including Microsoft Word and Excel, plus Internet researching skills, virtual platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams, and basic familiarity with office procedures is necessary. Ability to learn and adapt to new software applications is important.

Mohawk College prioritizes recruiting and retaining diverse employees. With this in mind, the College is committed to fostering inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection processes.

Should you require accommodation through any stage of the recruitment process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (905) 575 – 2047.

Mohawk College is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from racialized persons, women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

For more information concerning the Mohawk College strategic plan, please see: strategicplan.mohawkcollege.ca/