College Transition Specialist
Location:
Easton, PA
Open Date:
Jul 15, 2018
Description:
Reporting to the Dean of Advising & Co-Curricular Programs, the College Transition Specialist serves as a valuable member of the academic support staff who oversees the development and delivery of programs and resources geared towards students in transition (particularly first-year and transfer students). This specialist will provide academic resources, referral information, advising and transition support to incoming students. Collaboration with a variety of campus partners will be integral to the success of transition programming; close coordination with the enrollment division, campus life and faculty from a variety of academic areas will be central to the work of the specialist. While working individually with students as a member of their advising team will be a primary component of this position, the transition specialist will also be called upon to design and implement successful summer and academic year programming aimed at preparing incoming students for the rigors of their new academic environment and be the lead coordinator of the PARDner peer advising program for first-year students. The specialist’s work will be aimed at creating an environment where each student has the opportunity to achieve their intellectual goals and contribute fully to the college community.
Responsibilities
The transition specialist will work with administrative partners in enrollment, campus life and the advising office to identify incoming students in need of support upon arrival to campus. The specialist will coordinate with faculty and advisors across campus to develop programming and assist in the selection of advising teams to ensure a smooth transition to campus, they will also be charged with the creation of a college-wide mentoring program. In addition, the specialist will be a valued member of the New Student Orientation Committee, providing feedback on programming that will add to the variety of programs already offered. The selection, training, and year-long support of the PARDner peer advisors and all related programming will be a key component of the specialist’s work. Throughout the course of the academic year the transition specialist will work closely with a variety of administrative staff and faculty to offer programs and support that are comprehensive and team-based. Although this position will report within the Advising Office it is critical that the specialist works collaboratively with offices such as Admissions, the Dean of Students, Intercultural Development, Residence Life, the Counseling Center, Student Involvement and the College Writing Program to ensure comprehensive, developmentally appropriate support is being offered.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate
The successful candidate will bring to Lafayette a keen interest in working with students in transition and will understand the challenges and opportunities that present themselves during the first two years of college. A master’s degree in counseling or a related field along with 3-5 years’ experience in higher education, preferably working with first and second year students, is required. The candidate will also demonstrate experience and strength in the following areas: working knowledge of student learning and development theory and practice; knowledge of and ability to exercise best practices in academic support/coaching; ability to build partnerships with faculty and staff across the institution; excellent written and oral communication skills; commitment to supporting diversity, social justice, and an inclusive experience; ability to work independently, think creatively and innovatively, and exercise sound judgment; knowledge of effective learning assessments to inform programs and practice; and demonstrated competency working with the needs of a diverse student population in a liberal arts and engineering environment.
Application Instructions:
How to apply
Interested individuals should send a letter of application that relates the applicant’s skills and experiences to the stated qualifications for the position, a resume that reflects notable achievements in education and the contact information for three professional references.