African-American Student Outreach & Programs Coordinator

College of Lake County•Grayslake, IL

20h•$52,878•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Director of Student Activities and Inclusion, the African American Student Outreach & Programs Coordinator is responsible for the facilitation of co-curricular programs, multicultural experiences, student leadership development, and an overall campus climate that fosters student sense of belonging and success. The coordinator will develop and facilitate events, workshops, and seminars that complement classroom instruction to help students build leadership and life skills (e.g., diversity, budget management, conflict resolution, etc.). This position will also assist in implementing and reinforcing the SAI framework for holistic African American student success through diversity, outreach, and support imperatives in academic and cocurricular environments to engage student, faculty, and staff in conversations concerning vital DEI topics at the center of institutional focus, complimenting the in-classroom experiences that faculty are providing to engage students. This position will be expected to translate theory into practice, use data-informed, evidence-based decision-making strategies, and work collaboratively on a highly engaged, motivated team.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Two years (2) of prior work experience in student affairs, student life programming, or a related field in a higher education setting
Working knowledge of the entire Microsoft Office Suite (including Outlook and Teams), plus graphic design software
Excellent communication and collaboration skills, essential for a highly visible position with frequent public, student, agent, and internal contact with faculty and staff, often managing sensitive information
Solid analytical skills, strong attention to detail, and excellent organizational skills with the ability to plan and prioritize work
Proven ability to work effectively and constructively with persons of diverse cultures, language groups, and abilities
Demonstrated sensitivity to and ability to work with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including individuals with disabilities
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of work

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree
Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills
Working knowledge of multicultural programming and leadership development
Proven experience with the development and implementation of supportive services or student retention programs for underrepresented students in postsecondary education settings or related diversity program area.
Bilingual Spanish/English.

Responsibilities

Execute the SAI Framework for Holistic Support and Success of African American / Black Students at the College of Lake County, applying a theory-influenced, data-driven plan of interventions and experiences.
Utilize the six-step event planning model and industry-standard comprehensive marketing best practices to plan and promote programs.
Align professional approaches (decision-making, student interactions, event planning, etc.) with SAI theoretical frameworks, including Smith’s (2015) 4 Dimensions of DEI Framework, the 10 Dimensions of Wellness Framework, Student Development Theory, diversity and intersectionality theories, and identity development theories such as Cross and Phinney.
Co-facilitate and oversee multicultural student clubs and organizations by assisting with constitutions and budgets, scheduling meetings, facilitating club leader trainings, hosting workshops, and supporting monthly Inter-Club Council meetings to review college policies and procedures.
Facilitate partnerships between Student Activities and Inclusion and classroom instruction with intentional co-curricular programming that supports student learning outcomes, while developing goals and plans to sustain faculty involvement.
Develop and deliver programming for African American students, including Black History Month, Juneteenth Celebrations, African American Commencement Celebration, and Cultural Immersion Trips.
Assess individual programs and support assessment projects by developing techniques to measure program success, tracking participant progress, and analyzing results to improve programming, promotions, and operations.
Develop reports and presentations on critical needs, progress, and achievement gaps for marginalized students, especially African American students.
Connect students to campus resources through collaborative programs with campus partners to support retention and persistence efforts.
Coordinate outreach initiatives linking the College with county community groups (e.g., high schools, churches, African American organizations) to build support networks for current and prospective students.
Connect marginalized students, especially African American students, with College & Career Navigators (CCNs) and Academic Success Advisors (ASAs) to focus on recruitment, onboarding, retention, and persistence.
Support Student Activities and Inclusion programs.
Serve as a key liaison and point of contact connecting the College with African American students.
Coordinate welcome events and onboarding programs for new and continuing students.
Assist with coordination and implementation of DEI and multicultural programs to encourage service utilization.
Participate in campus diversity and heritage month planning committees.
Assist in implementing DEI workshops and training activities within Student Activities and Inclusion and related campus initiatives.
Co-host DEI trainings and retreats, facilitating cross-functional opportunities aligned with academic courses and student learning outcomes.
Research best practices in DEI services to encourage program involvement and student engagement.
Assist in developing a DEI workshop and training library and related resources available during the academic year.
Promote DEI programs through cross-functional campus teams, committees, and comprehensive marketing best practices.
Facilitate a faculty and staff-driven mentoring network and a student-driven peer mentoring program for African American students.
Serve as chair of the African American Student Success Network.
Serve on additional College committees supporting holistic success of marginalized student populations, especially African American students.
Collaborate with Lakeshore, Southlake, and other CLC site leadership to build outreach, support, and program frameworks across sites.
Serve as primary advisor for the Black Student Union (BSU) student organization: Provide guidance and leadership through trainings and supervision while holding members accountable.
Facilitate retreats and workshops focused on personal development, academic year planning, and advocacy preparation.
Develop partnerships with other clubs, organizations, and College departments to implement student-centered activities.
Perform other mission-critical duties as assigned.