POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Program Director, TRIO - Upward Bound
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1101
GRADE 42
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Multicultural Services
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Program Director, TRIO - Upward Bound works with low income, first generation, or academically disadvantaged high school students to help them develop the skills needed to become successful college students. The Program Director, TRIO - Upward Bound works to provide opportunities for Upward Bound participants to develop social skills, cultural competence, study skills, and academic skills appropriate for their educational goals. The Program Director, TRIO - Upward Bound assists in planning, organizing, and presenting group workshops and summer camp, planning and supervising participants’ attendance at cultural events, and assists with the recruitment, selection, and retention process for all participants.
Continuation of this position is dependent on external funding.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree in education, teaching, social work, psychology, counseling or a related field is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
Experience: At least one year of experience developing and providing college preparatory instruction, tutoring, academic advising, assessment, standardized testing, and/or enrichment activities is required. Experience in a higher education setting, with demonstrated administrative experience with program development or project management is preferred. Experience with budgets and supervision is preferred. Experience working with Upward Bound, other TRIO programs, or other programs focused on students who are low-income, first-generation, or academically disadvantaged is preferred. Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds is preferred.
Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills (particularly in working with a diverse student population), organizational, and management skills are required. The ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and verbally, with students, parents, high school counselors, fellow employees, college administrators, and other constituents of the University is required. The ability to speak comfortably before groups is required. The ability to relate effectively to all publics is required. Strong organizational and management skills are required. A working knowledge of computers and computer applications, including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office applications is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. Experience with database applications is preferred. Knowledge of academic policies and procedures of the Springfield Public School system, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the U.S. Department of Higher Education, and higher education is preferred. Knowledge of student development theory and its application to student academic support services is preferred.
Other: A valid driver’s license is required. The scope of the position requires working evenings and weekends. Occasional out-of-town travel, including overnight stays, is required. Having a background similar to Upward Bound participants is preferred.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Works with low-income, first-generation, or academically disadvantaged high school students to help them develop the skills needed to become successful college students by assisting them in the development of appropriate educational goals, guiding them in decision-making and learning how to accept responsibility for their decisions, directing them to resources that provide assistance in making career and academic major choices, and providing opportunities to develop social skills, cultural competence, study skills, and writing skills.
2. Plans and oversees the annual summer camp for Upward Bound participants by planning and organizing the classes to be offered, recruiting and supervising certificated teachers, enrolling students into classes, coordinating classroom assignments, textbooks, and supplies, and providing daily supervision of camp activities and curriculum.
3. Plans, organizes, and supervises weekly lunch ‘n learn school meetings, workshops, and Saturday Academy for participants to help develop social skills, study skills, and writing skills and provide academic advising and career counseling and testing.
4. Plans, organizes, and supervises events and trips designed to help develop cultural competence in Upward Bound participants by taking them to attend sporting, theatrical, historical, musical, and other educational and cultural events that they otherwise may not be able to attend.
5. Recruits and helps to select Upward Bound participants by making presentations to eighth grade students in targeted schools, contacting parents, interviewing applicants, and ranking applicants based on eligibility criteria such as academic need, first-generation college student, and low income, grade in school, and propensity to go on to higher education, and developing Personalized Education Plans for new participants.
6. Coordinates yearly assessment and standardized testing of all participants, updates Personalized Education Plans, monitors participant grades, and provides academic advising and other support services to participants.
7. Ensures the effectiveness of the academic process by maintaining participant files, regularly updating academic reports, and validating the information contained in the participant files with the student database.
8. Ensures the success of the tutoring program by training, supervising, and evaluating student and teacher tutors, monitoring participant grades, and coordinating tutoring sessions between participants and assigned tutors.
9. Helps to ensure the success of the TRIO student tutoring program by preparing tutor payroll.
10. Ensures the security, availability, maintenance, and proper use of TRIO resources by managing access and use of laptop computers, digital cameras, other electronic equipment such as software and graphic calculators, and scholarship books made available to program participants through lending programs.
11. Performs routine operational details affecting the department by assuming responsibility for secretarial, clerical, and office management functions and making administrative decisions when appropriate and within established guidelines and policy.
12. Works with Grants and Contracts in Financial Services by maintaining current reports of budgeting expenses and debits for the staff and Financial Services and maintaining purchasing records for TRIO Programs.
13. Helps to assure that TRIO students and potential TRIO students have full information on college and career opportunities by preparing materials used to promote TRIO programs, such as mailings to prospective students, coordinating assessments and other tests involving participants, directing participants to the appropriate resources for academic advisement, providing basic information in response to questions about matriculation issues, and coordinating the cultural and social activities of the TRIO programs.
14. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
15. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the supervisor.
16. Contributes to the overall success of the project by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Program Director, TRIO - Upward Bound is supervised by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs – Multicultural Services and supervises full-time professionals, Graduate Assistants, and student employees.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED JANUARY 2022
