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Job Description

Coordinates services for special population students to ensure their access to, progression through, and success in training and education programs. Serving as one of the SUCCESS Scholar team members, the Special Populations Coordinator will develop and implement strategies for adult learners from vulnerable, underserved, marginalized, and disenfranchised populations. He/She/They will collaborate with community-based organizations, local government, correctional institutions, and social service agencies to identify and connect special population students with workforce training, English language classes, HiSET & GED preparation, college readiness, and/or college-level programming. The Special Populations Coordinator will collaborate with other departments, community groups, outside agencies, partners and other individuals to deliver activities, exchange information, and provide wrap-around services and support to adult learners from special populations using a case management approach. The Special Populations Coordinator will advise, guide, and support students throughout their educational journey with QCC.

Supervision Received

Reports directly to the Dean of College & Career Pathways.

Supervision Exercised

Supervises 03 employees, temporary employees, and/or work study students, as assigned.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Use the developmental advising case management approach and employ proactive and sustained outreach strategies to ensure success of a caseload of special population students, promoting their persistence through program completion; identify needs for targeted support; make referrals to partner agencies as appropriate. Conduct individual and group developmental advising sessions with cohort students to provide support for academic and personal concerns, and create action plans for success. Maintain all relevant records in student profiles.
• Develop and implement strategies for adult learners from vulnerable, underserved, marginalized, and disenfranchised populations to ensure their access to, progression through, and success in training and education programs.
• Coordinate communication and resource alignment between and among internal and external partners. Act as a liaison between the college and community agencies supporting special populations. Ensure cross-communications are occurring at every step between the college and community agencies supporting special populations. Support cross-functional, synchronized services to students from special populations.
• Collaborate with community-based organizations, local government, correctional institutions, and social service agencies to identify and connect special population students with workforce training, English language classes, HiSET & GED preparation, college readiness, and/or college-level programming.
• Manage planning, implementation, and evaluation of grant-funded projects in concert with relevant program teams or advisory committees. Maintain program documentation and present outcomes to internal and external partners.
• Maintains, builds, and applies professional knowledge in applicable areas (e.g., maintains a working knowledge of assigned area, researches new trends/advances and best practices, utilizes information in daily work-related activities, reads professional literature, attends workshops and training sessions, etc.).
• Perform all functions related to education and career planning. Functions include, but are not limited to, individual and group advising sessions and success seminars, career exploration, academic planning, and degree audit consultations (for credit programs); short- and long-term planning, monitoring and follow-up; articulation of policies and procedures; collaboration with the rest of the SUCCESS Scholar team, faculty, staff, case managers, and advisors; course selection, registration, and transfer or articulation services, etc.
• Collaborate with other departments, community groups, outside agencies, partners, and other individuals to deliver activities, exchange information, and provide wrap-around services and support to adult learners from special populations. Lead programs and activities designed to cultivate academic self-confidence, community engagement, 21st-century life skills, and self-advocacy among caseload students. Foster a community of support by celebrating the cultural wealth our students bring to the College.
• Build meaningful relationships with students by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging.
• Proactively collaborate with departments College-wide to recognize and resolve identified patterns of concern with students.
• Collaborate across departments with colleagues and external partners to: develop and deliver success seminars and workshops for special populations. Identify risk factors and appropriate interventions, with an emphasis on student strengths, retention, and persistence; address and diffuse situations of conflict and crisis and make appropriate referrals when needed.
• Serve as a conduit between the non-credit and credit divisions by working with the faculty in both areas to bridge and align the non-credit and credit program offerings, and facilitate and accelerate the transition of non-credit students to credit programs with promising employment outcomes and economic outlook.
• Guide, assist, and support special population students in transitioning from noncredit to credit programming.
• Prepare regular program and fiscal reports, as required. Monitor budgets supporting the work of the Special Populations Coordinator.
• Work with QCC team of administrators and faculty members, as necessary, on resource development to support and expand programming and services for special populations.
• Participate in regular departmental and college meetings, including advising professional development, SUCCESS Scholars, etc. Interacts with various agencies and individuals - attends meetings; serves on or chairs committees; attends College-related events; represents the College and the department at outside events or meetings.
• Actively support the teaching and learning process; practicing honesty and integrity in and out of the classroom; strive to create and support a student-centered environment while fostering academic innovation and excellence.
• Work actively with other areas of the college to ensure a spirit of college wide collaboration, collegiality, civility, and teamwork. Respect the function of dissent in an academic institution while advancing a collegial atmosphere of campus collaboration.
• Embrace the ideals of diversity and inclusiveness and support the equal rights of all people by advancing the understanding and appreciation of differences including age, race, gender, ability, religious convictions, socio-economic status, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation.
• Provide flexible, responsive and high-quality service to all, be they students, community, or staff, and continuously assess processes and procedures and revise accordingly.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications

• Master's Degree in counseling or related field, or Bachelor's degree with three years of field experience.
• Demonstrated experience working with individuals from diverse ethnic, racial, and linguistic groups.
• Ability to understand and navigate complex systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and multiculturalism.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Ability to travel among campus locations and connecting sites throughout central Massachusetts.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule to facilitate day and evening program services.
• Experience and skill using industry-standard computer applications; familiarity and comfort with computers.
• Experience monitoring and tracking student or client progress.
• Collaborative, collegial, and responsible.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fluency in more than one language
• Three years of experience providing advising, career counseling, and support to youth (aged 16-24) or adult learners.
• Successful experience in a position that required strong written and verbal communication skills, attention to detail, and independent work.
• Experience maintaining a caseload of students or clients - with particular emphasis on vulnerable, underrepresented, marginalized, and disenfranchised populations - in a college or social service setting.
• Experience providing support services and/or working on retention and success initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience providing services and support to and/or teaching adult learners, incarcerated individuals, and/or returning citizens.
• Ability to foster meaningful collaboration among diverse partners, including all internal departments and external agencies and organizations.
• Knowledge of community college academic programs, services, and culture.
• Knowledge of corrections institutions and reentry programs, services, and culture.

Additional Information:

Diversity, inclusion, and equity are core values at Quinsigamond Community College. We are passionate about building and sustaining an inclusive, respectful, and equitable environment for all students, staff, and faculty. Every member on our college campus enriches our diversity. We support inclusion and are dedicated to ensuring equity in access to opportunities.

Quinsigamond Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

For addition information on COVID19, please visit: https://www.qcc.edu/HealthySafeCampus