The Placement Exchange Job Board

Brief summary of this position:
The Coordinator of First-Year Programming and Family Engagement will play an integral role in the successful delivery of all orientation-related programs and ongoing first-year student engagement programming throughout the year. Provide campus leadership to programs related to first-year student success in collaboration with campus partners, and provide direct one-to-one services to students related to academic support and transition.  Assist in the oversight of pre-arrival communications for incoming students, and develop communications and programming for the families of first-year students.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Provide direction for first-year student orientation activities including Online Orientation, Summer Orientation Workshops, Orientation Week, and First-Year Class Meeting.  Assess and evaluate program quality as related to programmatic goals.
• Monitor and coordinate strategic incoming student communication plan including emails, letters, and social media presence.
• In collaboration with campus partners, develop and implement intentional programming for first-year students aimed at key components of student transition support.
• Provide leadership for a strategic communication plan for parents and families of incoming students.
• Recruit, select, train, and supervise students to support first-year initiatives programming.
• Provide support to existing summer bridge programs facilitated by the institution and identify opportunities for additional summer engagement opportunities.
• Oversee the budget for orientation and first-year programming.
• Teach GST 101: Strategies for Academic Success, and work individually with students as needed related to student progress, support, and intervention.
• Serve as a member of the Office of Student Success & Transition team and provide additional services to campus and students as needed.

Other roles/duties will be assigned as necessary to assist the College in the attainment of the goals set forth and the enhancement of a positive, respectful learning environment for all staff, faculty and students.

Education required to ensure success in this position:

• Master’s Degree Required

Experience required to ensure success in this position:

• 2-5 years of related experience in the planning and oversight of student academic success programming
• 2-5 years of experience in student affairs working with orientation, residence life and/or student development activities
• Experience with first-generation and low-income students is preferred.

Special skills, knowledge and abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work collegially and collaboratively in a team setting
• Strong organizational skills and capacity to set priorities. Attention to detail.
• Deep and genuine commitment to work directly with students to facilitate their development, provide educational opportunity, and foster academic engagement and success. 
• Ability to work effectively with faculty and staff from across the institution with an understanding of the perceptions and needs of these areas.
• Ability to train and supervise students serving as peer educators. 
• Computer competency including data entry, word processing, familiarity with Microsoft Office products – Word, Excel, Outlook
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and protect the private nature of files and conversations.
• Ability to prioritize and work independently without direct supervision
                                  

Physical requirements:

• Sedentary work in office area that may require ascending and descending stairs. 
• Ability to use computer keyboard and read screen efficiently and correctly. 
• Ability to navigate campus/public buildings and grounds
• Ability to travel independently by car and/or plane
• Ability to occasionally lift up to 20 lbs.

Environmental conditions:

• Professional office environment with interruptions and noise due to frequent visitors, students, staff and faculty
• Occasional travel required for meetings, conferences, etc.
• Ability to operate the following vehicles or equipment:
• Standard office equipment: computer, fax, phone, etc.
• Vehicle – college vans/cars   

About Berea College

Founded in 1855, Berea College achieved national distinction as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. Berea has a longstanding commitment to interracial education and is one of the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. With an emphasis on service to Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls 1,600 students from 43 states and U.S. territories and more than 70 countries. Berea College admits students who are unable to afford tuition and provides all of them a no-tuition promise, valued at more than $178,000. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive yet demanding academic environment, and many are the first in their families to attend college. As one of only nine federally recognized Work Colleges, all Berea students are expected to work 10-12 hours weekly in various positions across campus. Berea College was again named one of the nation’s “Best Institutions for Undergraduates to Earn their College Degree” in the 2022 edition of The Princeton Review’s book, The Best 387 Colleges. Berea also appeared on four other lists within the publication: Best Colleges in the Southeast; Best Value Colleges; Best Green Colleges; and T...uition Free Schools. Berea College is ranked #148 by The Princeton Review – the highest-ranked Kentucky college, and the #3 “Best Value College” in the nation. Berea is one of only two private institutions ranked in the Top 10 for Value in the Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education (THE) 2022 College Rankings. The Washington Monthly ranks Berea College #13 among the nation’s liberal arts colleges, recognizing Berea for maintaining “consistently high rankings thanks to their economic diversity, relatively strong graduation rates, and commitment to meeting students’ financial need.” U.S. News and World Report Rankings lists Berea as #30 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, including ranking Berea #1 in Service Learning, #2 for Most Innovative Schools, #3 in Co-ops/Internships, #4 in First-year Experiences, and tied for #13 in Best Undergraduate Teaching.Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 16,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.Berea College, in light of its mission in the tradition of impartial love and social equality, welcomes all people of the earth to learn and work here.

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