Summer Programs Attendance Officer (Temporary)

Berklee College of Music•Boston, MA

9h•$25 - $27

About The Position

The Attendance Officer (Temporary) plays a critical role in Berklee College of Music’s Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive summer program by ensuring students attend and engage fully in their classes. This position is proactive, assertive, and highly student-facing – akin to a truant officer for the program – and is dedicated to promoting a culture of accountability around class attendance. The Attendance Officer will work closely with the Associate Director of Summer Programs Student Life and the Aspire program directors to monitor student attendance, intervene when issues arise, and support each student’s success in a firm yet compassionate manner. This role serves as an authoritative presence who is introduced to students early in the program, underscoring the seriousness of attendance policies while remaining approachable and student-centered.

Requirements

Experience with Student Populations: Demonstrated experience working with high school or college-aged students in an educational or youth program setting.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build rapport with students while maintaining authority. Strong oral and written communication skills, especially for navigating difficult conversations with students (and when appropriate, their families) regarding sensitive issues like absenteeism and discipline.
Organizational Skills and Data Literacy: Strong organizational and time-management abilities. Comfort with data entry and analysis – able to manage attendance databases or spreadsheets, generate reports, and interpret data to inform decision-making. Proficiency with Mac and PC computer systems and common office software for record-keeping and communication.
Student Support: Cultural sensitivity and humility when working with a diverse student population, including international students and those from a variety of backgrounds. Basic understanding best practices in student support, enabling empathy and appropriate responses to students who may have personal or emotional challenges affecting their attendance. Ability to handle student situations with discretion and maintain confidentiality at all times.
Accountability and Collaboration: Proven ability to act decisively and enforce policies fairly, holding students accountable to rules and expectations while still treating them with respect. Capable of working independently with minimal supervision and taking initiative to address problems as they arise, while also collaborating effectively across departments (e.g., Student Life, Academic Affairs, Health Services) to support student success and well-being.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with Music/Performing Arts Education: Knowledge of or experience in music education or the performing arts environment is highly desirable. Understanding the unique demands of rehearsals, performances, and a creative academic setting will help in contextualizing attendance issues and connecting with students in this intensive music program.
Experience in Similar Programs: Prior experience supporting students in a college, pre-college, or high school intensive program (especially in a residential summer program or similar student life role) is a strong plus. This background indicates readiness for the fast-paced, immersive environment of the Aspire summer program and the ability to address the needs of students in such settings.

Responsibilities

Monitor and Track Attendance: Closely monitor daily attendance records for all classes in the Aspire program. Log absences and lateness promptly, maintaining accurate, up-to-date attendance data for the program.
Proactive Student Follow-Up: Proactively identify students who are absent without excuse and take immediate action. Physically locate students who skip class by checking classrooms, residence halls, or other campus locations to ensure their safety and remind them of attendance expectations.
Enforce Attendance Policies: Clearly communicate and enforce the program’s attendance policies. Meet with students who have unexcused or excessive absences to discuss the seriousness of missing class and outline consequences in plain terms. Implement appropriate consequences for non-compliance, which may include official warnings or, ultimately, dismissal from the program if attendance issues persist.
Student Support and Guidance: Approach students with a compassionate but firm demeanor. Use a student-focused approach to understand any underlying issues contributing to absenteeism. When appropriate, connect students with support resources (e.g., counseling, academic support, or health services) to help them overcome barriers to attendance while still holding them accountable to program requirements.
Data Analysis and Reporting: Maintain, update and share with the appropriate parties a weekly attendance report that lists student absences, highlighting the students who have the highest number of absences from their classes in Aspire. Collaborate with Aspire program directors, the Associate Director of Summer Programs Student Life, Aspire office staff, and students’ parents/guardians as needed to ensure student attendance in their classes.
Collaboration with Staff and Faculty: Work in tandem with Aspire program faculty and staff to address attendance concerns. Communicate with instructors about student attendance in their classes and coordinate intervention strategies for students who are falling behind due to absences. Support the program directors by flagging urgent attendance problems and collaborating on solutions to re-engage students.
Campus Resource Coordination: Collaborate with campus resources to manage and verify excused absences. Work with the campus nurse or medical staff to confirm medical-related absences, ensuring proper documentation is provided for any medically excused days. Maintain confidential records of excused absences and ensure they are accurately reflected in attendance logs.
Communication with Families: When necessary, communicate with parents/guardians (for minor students) about attendance issues in a clear, professional, and sensitive manner. Use cultural sensitivity and uphold confidentiality when explaining concerns or consequences. Ensure families understand the attendance expectations and the student’s status, especially if there is a risk of dismissal or other serious consequences due to absences.
Orientation and Education: Participate in student orientation or early program meetings to introduce yourself and reinforce expectations around class attendance from day one. Clearly explain the attendance policy, the importance of attending all classes, and how the Attendance Officer will be involved in supporting students to meet these expectations. Establish a strong presence as a resource and authority regarding attendance, so students recognize that class attendance is taken seriously from the start of the program.
Administrative Duties: Maintain organized records of all attendance-related interactions and interventions (e.g., meetings with students, warnings issued, communications with families). Handle student information with the utmost confidentiality. At the end of the program, prepare a summary report on overall attendance, noting any issues that arose and offering recommendations for future improvement in attendance management.