Program Advisor - TRIO Upward Bound Programs

About the role

The Upward Bound Program Advisor assists in organizing, developing, and implementing social, educational, and service-learning programs/activities for Upward Bound Programs' participants. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of working effectively with high school students in a team environment, will serve as the Penn State on-site program liaison/contact with school district personnel, and will be responsible for:

• Student recruitment and programming for grant-determined school district population, parent/student events, and community stakeholders
• Advising, tutoring, or referring program participants on various student services including high school course selection, college readiness, financial aid, health and wellness, career services, academic advising, student leadership, and diversity and inclusion
• Development and implementation of academic year and summer residential programming in compliance with federal guidelines as outlined in the grant
• Developing and maintaining effective working relationships with school districts, community partners, and campus and University-wide offices
• Understanding and articulating unit policies and federal grant guidelines in oral and written communication

Responsibilities

This individual will be responsible for providing services to students with a focus on meeting the following core objectives of the project:

• Assisting non-senior students to complete rigorous coursework and pass to the next grade level each year
• Assisting senior students to graduate from high school on time
• Assisting senior students to matriculate to postsecondary education for the fall semester immediately following high school graduation
• Assisting with tracking the postsecondary progress of students served for six years after high school graduation

Requirements

The ideal candidate will have experience in the following knowledge areas:

• Collaborating with school district personnel to assist participants with scheduling high school courses and providing academic counseling and support services necessary to ensure completion of a rigorous curriculum
• Reviewing and monitoring participants’ academic progress to guide implementation of grade-level appropriate activities, focused on postsecondary goals integrated with a salient career focus
• Assisting participants with applying to postsecondary education and navigating the enrollment process
• Providing information about financial aid and assisting participants with applying for aid and interpreting financial aid packages
• Cooking and chaperoning postsecondary campus tours and career focused field trips
• Developing and maintaining a network of professional relationships with postsecondary institutions and community agencies
• Demonstrated experience in providing direct college preparation services to 9th through 12th grade students and in working with low-income, first-generation high school students from diverse backgrounds are essential

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Minimally requires a bachelor's degree, 1+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Skills

Outstanding interpersonal verbal and written communications
Effective analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills
Accuracy and attention to detail
The ability to handle multiple tasks and meet deadlines

Benefits

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Pay

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $44,628.00 - $64,668.00.

Schedule

This position is funded for 1 year(s); continuation past 1 year(s) will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.