Learning Specialist

UCLA•Los Angeles, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is accepting applications for the position of Learning Specialist. This is a career, full-time position with a targeted annual salary range of $72,240.00 - $75,000.00, with full health benefits and membership in the UC Retirement Plan. The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Office of Academic Excellence, in partnership with the Division of Undergraduate Education - College of Letters & Science, provides support to more than 650 student-athletes in 25 sports throughout the academic year and summer sessions. Our student-centered approach empowers student-athletes to maximize their educational experience while pursuing academic, athletic, and personal goals. Our mission centers on graduating self-sufficient learners who successfully embark on life after college. The Learning Specialist supports the academic success and retention of student-athletes by providing individualized academic support, learning strategy development, time management skill development and targeted intervention for students with diverse learning needs. Working within the Office of Academic Excellence, this role collaborates closely with academic advisors, eligibility staff, coaches, faculty, and campus partners to promote student-athlete achievement while ensuring compliance with NCAA and University standards. The Learning Specialist utilize student-athletes’ educational history, placement results, educational interviews, and athletic medicine and coaching input to collaboratively develop, implement and monitor student-athletes’ individualized academic support plans, which may include weekly learning specialist, academic mentor and/or peer learning (tutoring) support for assigned student-athletes. The Learning Specialist supports a caseload of student-athletes and assigned teams, and serves as a liaison to campus and department resources. Working jointly with the College academic counselors, other learning specialists, peer learning and eligibility staff, as well as campus resources, the Learning Specialist provides initial and ongoing training for academic mentors and peer learning facilitators (tutors). The Learning Specialist will also collaborate with multiple support service providers on campus and within athletics, making referral as needed to provide enriched student-athlete academic support. The Learning Specialist develops proactive and responsive programming founded on campus academic integrity policies that also honor FERPA confidentiality safeguards. The Learning Specialist will also have knowledge of NCAA, Conference, UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and University policies, rules and regulations. Finally, the Learning Specialist fulfills several administrative roles, including grade and progress checks and reports, communicating with coaches regarding academic progress, contributing to unit- wide programming including eligibility meetings, Bruin Bridge (summer orientation program), orientation sessions, as well as special events like the Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience required
Experience working with college students in an academic support or advising role
Experience supporting at-risk students and students with learning differences
Strong academic coaching and learning strategy development skills
Knowledge of regulations and laws associated with ADA and accommodations for students with diagnosed learning disabilities
Demonstrate ability to exercise sound judgment and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and according to FERPA guidelines
Skill in working independently and following through on duties with minimal direction
Ability to effectively counsel and refer students to campus resources for assistance with professional, academic, and/or personal matters
Ability to interact diplomatically with individuals of diverse social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds
Outstanding communication skills both oral and written, including skill in writing memos/reports and using correct spelling, grammar and punctuation
Ability to establish and interact collaboratively and effectively with other staff, student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and the UCLA community
Working knowledge of collegiate athletics and student-athlete demands
Ability to work collaboratively in situations that may be time sensitive or otherwise highly pressured, with a variety of individuals including students, coaches, academic personnel, faculty and staff
Working knowledge of NCAA, conference, UCLA Department of Intercollegiate Athletics and University policies, rules, and regulations and the ability to adhere to and comply with those rules and regulations
Ability to travel occasionally to support student-athletes at away competitions as needed
Ability to work in-person, on the UCLA campus during regular work hours M-F

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Education or Counseling is preferred

Responsibilities

Provide individualized academic support, learning strategy development, time management skill development and targeted intervention for students with diverse learning needs.
Collaborate with academic advisors, eligibility staff, coaches, faculty, and campus partners to promote student-athlete achievement while ensuring compliance with NCAA and University standards.
Develop, implement and monitor student-athletes’ individualized academic support plans, which may include weekly learning specialist, academic mentor and/or peer learning (tutoring) support for assigned student-athletes.
Support a caseload of student-athletes and assigned teams, and serve as a liaison to campus and department resources.
Provide initial and ongoing training for academic mentors and peer learning facilitators (tutors).
Collaborate with multiple support service providers on campus and within athletics, making referral as needed to provide enriched student-athlete academic support.
Develop proactive and responsive programming founded on campus academic integrity policies that also honor FERPA confidentiality safeguards.
Fulfill several administrative roles, including grade and progress checks and reports, communicating with coaches regarding academic progress, contributing to unit- wide programming including eligibility meetings, Bruin Bridge (summer orientation program), orientation sessions, as well as special events like the Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration.