Pre-College Advisor

About the role

The Pre-College Advisor will serve as an academic advisor for college readiness and as a central resource for all RPI STEP students in grades 7-12. The Advisor will advise and counsel RPI STEP students on academic course requirements and selection to graduate high school and pursue college and career in STEM fields, including advising them on the college application process and choosing the right fit college. The Advisor will report to the STEP Director and work with the STEP staff and guidance counselors at partner schools to monitor RPI STEP students’ academic performance in the STEM fields.

Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is the first technological research university in the United States. We bring creativity, science, and technology together to address society's greatest challenges. We cultivate exceptional problem-solvers by immersing them in a culture of rigorous inquiry, disciplined practice, and hands-on application. Our strategic plan, RPI Forward, charts a pioneering course for the next era of RPI. Nestled on a beautiful 275-acre campus in upstate NY, RPI is home to five schools, 32 research centers, three makerspaces, an observatory, one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and the IBM Quantum System One - the first university-based quantum computer in the world. With top notch employee health and retirement benefits, RPI offers its full-time employees a generous paid time off program, tuition remission, and opportunities for career growth.

Responsibilities

• Catalog and maintain application requirements and admissions trends for STEM colleges/degrees and requirements for various STEM careers.
• Work with students and their parents to create individualized academic plans and benchmarks, and review and revise annually throughout middle and high school.
• Develop, implement, and maintain advising templates to aid students in choosing a career and the college application process.
• Oversee tutoring/mentoring programs encompassing best practices to assist students with their academics in line with Next Gen Science and Math Standards.
• Design and execute annual training for tutors/mentors in compliance with Institute requirements and consistent with the guidelines set forth by NYSED and governing regulatory bodies for working with minor children.
• Provide oversight and guidance to tutors/mentors working on campus, virtually and in partner school locations.
• Assist in participant recruitment and retention for RPI STEP and serve as a primary point of contact for students and their parents to ensure STEP-related academic support questions are answered and concerns are resolved.
• Administer the RPI STEP Path-to-Success and College Boot Camp programs for Junior and Senior students and families, in collaboration with Institute departments.
• Assist in the coordination and supervision of college visit programs.
• Identify key Institute events, lectures, open houses, etc., appropriate for STEP participants and families to attend, and coordinate participation when possible.
• Collaborate with STEP coordinators in partner schools to ensure that participants are taking advantage of available programs and resources, including social and emotional support programs.
• Coordinate with the RPI STEP staff to guide students’ personal and academic success, including in RPI STEP project-based learning courses that promote inquiry-based learning.
• Work with the Director to ensure that all data and reporting of academic performance is collected, monitored and reported accurately to NYSED.
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