Director, TRIO Student Support Services Grant Program - Military veterans preferred

San Diego State University Research Foundation


Director, TRIO Student Support Services Grant Program

US-CA-San Diego

Job ID: 2024-17326
Type: Full-Time Contract
# of Openings: 1
Category: Research/Project
TRiO-SSS Program

Overview

The salary range for this position is $5,833.33 - $6,250.00 per month depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable.

The TRIO-Student Support Services (SSS) Project for Students with Disabilities is a collaboration with Student Disability Services (SDS) in the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity. SDS provides a full range of accommodations and support services, including the TRIO-SSS Project, to students with a wide variety of visible and invisible disabilities, to provide equal access to the education and opportunities for success at SDSU.

The TRIO SSS Project for Students with Disabilities is a federally funded project which provides enhanced services including tutoring, coaching, developmental writing and study skills instruction, academic advising, financial literacy counseling, intensive outreach and intervention, career advising, academic coaching, non-cognitive skill-building and peer mentoring. Goals of the project are to improve the academic standing, and increase retention and graduation rates of a target population of 225 undergraduate students with disabilities who are academically at-risk. The SDSU TRIO SSS Project is funded to serve disabled-only students, so 100% of students who receive services from this project have a verified disability, either visible or invisible, and one-third also meet federal low-income criteria. The TRIO SSS-Project funded staff include a Project Director, two Academic Advisors, and several Peer Mentor/Coach/Tutors (students).

The TRIO-SSS Project Director reports to the Chief Wellness and Compliance Officer. Responsible for assuring that the TRIO-SSS project goals are met and for carrying out the day-to-day operations of the project. The incumbent in this position plans and organizes the delivery of services, both existing services and new services, maintains knowledge of Federal and Department of Education requirements to assure project compliance, assures that proper records are maintained and works with the SDS Administrative Analyst to provide budgetary oversight. In carrying out the overall activities, reporting requirements, and objectives of the program, the incumbent provides lead supervision for two Project Advisors, and student workers who serve as mentors for TRiO participants in multiple campus sites.

**Please provide a resume and cover letter at the time of application.**

The TRIO-SSS Director is responsible for but not limited to:

Direct Student Services Supervisor- 50%

• Oversees and/or actively participates in all patterns of services designed to meet the project objectives of improved academic performance, university retention and graduation rates, such as tutoring, coaching, developmental writing and study skills instruction, academic advising, financial literacy counseling, intensive outreach and intervention, career advising, academic coaching non-cognitive skill-building, and peer mentoring.
• Makes recommendations on new services to improve services to target population and better meet project objectives.
• Develops and administers plan(s) to assess and document the individual project participants' needs. Assess the effectiveness of the plan(s) and make adjustments on an annual basis.
• Becomes knowledgeable in accommodations and services used by students with disabilities. Assures that project staff and student employees are familiar with accommodations and services offered through SDS. And that, TRIO participants have access to accommodations and services for project-related activities.
• Organizes and carries out activities to promote TRIO-SSS services to eligible students with academic need.
• Arranges for the project to provide tours and information that highlights the project's services to prospective and current students, parents, and other professionals.
• Develops and oversees the Peer Mentoring component of the program including recruitment, training, goal-setting and coaching mentors.
• Identifies and organizes opportunities for participant travel to off-campus events or resources when such travel would further the objectives of the project and is permitted under the parameters of the funded grant proposal.
• Along with other project staff, designs, produces, and distributes promotional materials including both print and virtual formats for the Student Support Services Program.
• Along with other project staff, designs, produces, and posts content on the TRIO Instagram page.
• Along with other project staff, designs, schedules, and conducts writing, study skills, financial literacy, and other workshops.
• Along with other project staff, designs and produces instructional materials for use in workshops and in individualized instruction.

Project Administration- 40%

• Develops and applies thorough knowledge and understanding of the details and service commitments in the funded TRIO-SSS proposal.
• Through professional organizations, federal publications and various listserves, remains knowledgeable on current Department of Education guidelines and requirements for the TRIO-SSS program.
• Develops understanding of and relationships with other programs at the university that provide services, support and information that benefit SSS Project participants and that can further the objectives of the project.
• Through research and literature review, remains knowledgeable of current trends in the area of tutoring, financial literacy, trends in advising, student outreach, and non-cognitive skills acquisition, serving individuals with disabilities and other project-related topics in order to effectively assist students and enhance their overall success through the TRIO-SSS project.
• Provides lead supervision, sets work priorities, and tracks completion of projects for all project staff including, the Project Advisors, and student workers (mentors).
• Remains knowledgeable on project's budget status and makes budget recommendations to Pl and SDS Administrative Analyst. Makes recommendations regarding purchases and uses of grant funds.
• Develop evaluations of project services; conduct regular review and assessments of services and results as outlined in the funded TRIO-SSS proposal.
• Oversees the hiring process of project professional staff including Project Advisors. Oversees and/or actively manages the recruitment of student workers (mentors) for part-time hourly assignments in the project.
• In conjunction with other staff, develops training materials and provides instruction to newly hired employees.
• Assures that Blumen, a TRIO database that tracks project participants' academic progress, retention, graduation, and demographic data is updated and maintained by all staff. Is primarily responsible and leads other staff in the preparation of the Annual Performance Report required by the federal Department of Education to assure continuation of grant funding.
• In conjunction with the Pl and SDS Administrative Analyst, oversees and manages facilities and security issues related to the physical location of the TRIO-SSS Project.
• Maintains current and up-to-date student files by inactivating students who have left the university, and destroying files that have been inactivated for six or more years.

Other Duties and Responsibilities 10%

• Attend meetings with Student Disability Services to coordinate services for TRIO participants and to learn of trends in the disability services field.
• Along with the Pl, SDS management team, and project staff, researches and writes portions of the grant proposal for the Department of Education due in 2024 for funding beginning in September 2025.
• Other duties as assigned that are appropriate under the guidelines of the funded grant and that are appropriate for this classification.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Knowledge of current Federal and Department of Education guidelines and requirements for the TRIO-SSS program.
• Knowledge of academic advising services, development of individualized service plans; and college programs that provide career, financial aid, and economic literacy services.
• Knowledge of plan development and administration to assess and document the individual project participants' needs.
• Knowledge of and proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Workspace.
• Ability to develop and apply thorough knowledge and understanding of the details and service commitments in the funded TRIO-SSS proposal.
• Ability to actively participate in all patterns of services designed to meet the project objectives of improved academic performance, university retention and graduation rates, such as tutoring, coaching, developmental writing and study skills instruction, academic advising, financial literacy counseling, intensive outreach and intervention, career advising, academic coaching non-cognitive skill-building, and peer mentoring.
• Ability to perform complex Student Services professional work characterized by independent student advisement and guidance in individual and group settings.
• Ability to analyze complex situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Ability to learn a wide range of subject matter in support of disabled individuals, including accommodations and services used by students with disabilities.
• Ability to administer and manage educational opportunity related programs.
• Ability to initiate complex assignments without instruction and to research and recommend program implementation and/or changes with minimal supervision.
• Ability to provide complex and/or sensitive counseling techniques.
• Ability to participate in the hiring process of project professional staff and to oversee and/or actively manage the recruitment of student workers for part-time hourly assignments in the project.
• Ability to oversee daily program operations and provide lead direction to program staff.
• Develop and provide oversight for communication and social media outreach plans.

Experience & Education

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in education, educational leadership, counseling, public administration, student affairs or related field; including or supplemented by upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolutions were such are job related.
• Three-years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. A master's degree in directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience; a doctoral degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree preferred, in education, educational leadership, counseling, public administration, student affairs or related field, from an accredited college or university.
• Two years of experience in the areas of staff supervision; budget management; program development and evaluation; reporting and compliance with federal regulations.
• Two years of experience with federal TRIO programs, academic support programs, or similar programs for disabled or disadvantaged college students.
• Professional or personal experience in overcoming barriers similar to those confronting project participants.
• Formal training and/or work experience in programming that promotes the annual persistence and completion rates of Disabled Eligible Students.
• Formal training and/or work experience in programming that improves the annual academic standing rates of Disabled Eligible Students.
• Formal training and/or work experience in programming that promotes college graduation rates for Disabled Eligible Students.
• Formal training and/or work experience in Effective Student "Coaching," specifically in the areas of guiding Disabled Eligible Students with goal setting, time management, and study skills.
• Experience participating in or developing a peer mentoring program.
• Experience with student data management programs and record-keeping processes.

Additional Candidate Information

• Candidate must reside in California or live in a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an EEO/AA/Disability/Vets Employer/Title IX employer.

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