Student Support (Student Services Specialist, 0096568)

University of Hawaii•Kane'ohe, HI

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Assists the Pu‘uhonua Program Coordinator with the operation of the Windward Community College (WCC) Pu‘uhonua program, which serves incarcerated, transitional, and post-release individuals at various correctional facilities. This role involves coordinating and implementing college programs at specific facilities using appropriate pedagogy and strategies, developing procedures for working with incarcerated education programs, and providing planning, scheduling, staffing, organizing, and instruction leading to certificate and degree completion for program participants. The specialist will serve as a liaison with faculty, staff, education officials, and community partners, provide proactive advising and academic guidance, lead classes and workshops, and incorporate tutoring and mentoring. Responsibilities also include maintaining a schedule of travel to WCC and remote locations, collecting and analyzing data on enrollment, student success, and program initiatives, recommending best practices, and implementing financial aid and scholarship support. The role involves investigating and resolving barriers to student enrollment and performing other assigned duties.

Requirements

Possession of a baccalaureate degree in Social Work, Education, Counseling, Social Sciences, or Humanities or related field and 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for educational program implementation and/or student support; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.
Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of education program implementation as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.
Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with the area of education program implementation, the justice system, and/or state and local government policies.
Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.
Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer, apply word processing software, and Microsoft OfficeSuite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and student information systems.
For supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.
Ability to complete all requirements to enter the correctional facilities, including, but not limited to, training and background clearance, which must be regularly reviewed.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Counseling and Guidance, Counseling Psychology, College Student Personnel Services, Communications, or related fields; Related fields include: Education (to include all degrees in this field), Family Resources, Human Development, Psychology (to include all degrees in this field), Public Health, Rehabilitation Counseling, Social Work, Sociology, and Student Services Personnel.
Direct experience working within the justice system.
Implementation of an off-site educational program.

Responsibilities

Assists Pu‘uhonua Program Coordinator with operation of the Windward Community College (WCC) Pu‘uhonua program, which serves incarcerated, transitional, and post-release individuals at various correctional facilities.
Using appropriate pedagogy and strategies, assists in the coordination and implementation at the college centers at specific facilities.
Develops procedures for working with the incarcerated education programs.
Provides for planning, scheduling, staffing, organizing and implementing instruction leading to certificate and degree completion for program participants.
Serves as a liaison with faculty and staff at WCC, education officials in the justice system, and other community and state partners in support of students and the Pu‘uhonua program.
Provides proactive advising and academic guidance to individual students.
Leads classes, activities, workshops, and assessments, as appropriate and needed.
Incorporates tutoring and mentoring as appropriate with potential supervision of student workers.
Responsible for maintaining a regular schedule of travel and scheduled work at both WCC and remote locations (e.g., participating incarceration facilities).
Commutes to target sites daily.
Must be available for special program hours (including evenings, weekends, and holidays).
Maintains accurate documentation and updates information weekly, or as needed, to ensure program information is current.
Collects data and analyzes trends on enrollment, student success, graduation, and recidivism for the incarcerated student population.
Collects and analyzes data on program initiatives, barriers and needs.
Recommends best practices in supporting the student population.
Implements financial aid at site through targeted Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) support and processing, as well as scholarship support.
Works with instructors, WCC Business Office, and UH Bookstore to procure and provide student materials in line with parameters of financial aid and Prison Education Program statutes and rules.
Investigates barriers to student enrollment and provides appropriate solutions (e.g. student loan default, University of Hawai'i debt, unsatisfactory academic progress).
Other duties as assigned.