Academic Counselor, Hudson Scholars Program

Journal Square, New Jersey Hudson County Community College

Job Ref:	202300020_z5X7s0bU3Tns
Employer:	Hudson County Community College
Category:	Academic Affairs
Job Type:	Full Time
Salary and Benefits:	Depends on Qualifications
Location
City:	Journal Square
State:	New Jersey
Post Code:	07306
Map:	(Show on map)
Description
Classification: Counselor Salary Grade: 113 Union Affiliation: Academic Administrative Association Office/School: Student Affairs and Enrollment Supervising Cabinet Member : Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Hudson Scholars is an innovative student success program designed to support students' transition and ongoing success at Hudson County Community College. Hudson Scholars employs and expands upon the best practices of the New Jersey Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Program and the City University of New York (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP). The Hudson Scholars program was recognized with the 2023 National Bellwether Award at the Bellwether College Consortium "Community College Futures Assembly" in San Antonio, Texas. The program consists of four pillars: proactive advising with small student caseloads ; financial support tied to student achievement of academic milestones; early intervention through faculty engagement; and high-impact learning experiences. These pillars have transformed HCCC's advisement approach, increasing a student's likelihood of being retained by roughly 30% while reducing their time-to-completion in half. The program currently serves approximately 2,000 HCCC students. Because of the significant impacts on student success, HCCC is committed to sustaining the Hudson Scholars program and gradually applying the model and its four pillars to all students. The College has multiple openings for full-time Academic Counselors, who will report to the Senior Assistant Director of Advisement. Academic Counselors promote student success in support of and in accordance with the College's mission statement, program policies and procedures, and established goals and objectives of the Offices of Student Affairs and Enrollment. This role may serve students at the North Hudson Campus and/or the Journal Square Campus. Hudson Scholars Academic Counselors serve specific cohorts of students in caseloads of fewer than 150 students per counselor. Key components of the Hudson Scholars program include personal and intensive advising; financial stipends awarded for achievement of specific milestones; high-impact educational experiences; and regular faculty progress reports. What you would be doing in this role: Provide students with academic advising, major exploration, transfer opportunities, educational programming, and course registration assistance through monthly meetings and consistent communication. Assist incoming students with transition to the College by engaging in conversations about time management, study skills and test taking strategies. Maintain documentation, data, and reports across various platforms to inform college personnel of student success and retention rates. Integrate data-informed decision-making and evidence-based practices into daily work. Create and manage progress reports from faculty by informing students of their academic progress and providing recommendations to improve. Design, update, and execute a communication plan consisting of weekly emails and text messages to inform students of important dates and action steps. Collaboratively plan monthly tasks that enhance the student experience. Provide resources, referrals, and information to assist students in navigating the college. Create and maintain cross-campus relationships to provide referrals and opportunities for engagement. Participate in college committees and events to increase visibility for the program, gain knowledge, and build partnerships across the College. Perform other duties as assigned by departmental leadership. What you'll need to succeed: Clear Communication Style: Superior verbal and written communication skills are required. Master's degree: Required in Counseling, Higher Education, Social Work, Student Affairs, or a related field. Experience: Open to various levels of experience in higher education but working with a culturally and socioeconomically diverse student population is highly desirable. Hudson County Community College supports a diverse and traditionally underrepresented student population, and we consider this an important element of the work we do at the College. Technology Skills: Proficient in various computer software programs and SaaS including Microsoft Office suite, Airtable, Ellucian Colleague, EAB Navigate or similar higher education platforms. Relational skills: Relationship building is a central part of the role, so strong interpersonal and active listening skills are essential. It is important that you balance having a supportive ear with the ability to identify needs, so students are able to realize their personal and educational goals. Bi-lingual preferred: Our College has a linguistically diverse student population, so while not required, Spanish and Arabic language skills are a priority for the institution. Creativity: A penchant for out of the box thinking and creative problem-solving will be an asset in this role. Additional Skills: Collaboration, flexibility, innovation, strategic thinking, and a positive attitude. As a New Jersey First Act Employer, new employees must establish a primary residence in New Jersey within one year unless an exemption applies. HCCC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment. Decisions on employment are made on the basis of the qualifications of an individual for the particular position being filled. Women, veterans and minorities are encouraged to apply.