UT GEAR UP Mindset College Ready Site Coordinator

Job Posting Title:

UT GEAR UP Mindset College Ready Site Coordinator (Aldine ISD)-5

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Hiring Department:

Curriculum and Instruction

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt from FLSA

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Aug 31, 2027

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Location:

HOUSTON, TX

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Job Details:

General Notes

The university provides employees a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance (premiums covered 100% for full-time benefits-eligible employees), retirement plans, and paid leave, in addition to other programs and services.

Purpose

The UT GEAR UP Mindset College Ready (MCR) Site Coordinator will help GEAR UP cohort students realize their dream of applying for and attending college. Working alongside middle and high school staff, Coordinators will assist students with academic and college knowledge counseling, mentoring, college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship applications. Coordinators will also plan and assist with college awareness activities at the school-level to meet UT GEAR UP MCR project objectives and goals.

The UT GEAR UP MCR Site Coordinator will be located regionally in Houston, TX, and will provide direct support to students, families, and educators in an Aldine ISD high school.

The position requires tact, diplomacy, and a strong commitment to service. Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to collaborate creatively and effectively with others to solve problems and reach goals. Successful candidates will also demonstrate excellent organizational and communication skills, including the ability to listen carefully and to write and speak persuasively.  

Responsibilities

Provide academic enrichment, informational, and motivational opportunities and interventions, including mentoring, tutoring, and advising activities (before school, during school, and after-school) for GEAR UP cohort students including for at-risk, LEP, and special education students:

• Monitor GEAR UP cohort student grades, attendance, and transcripts to promote on-time promotion and graduation and completion of appropriate rigorous coursework;
• Assess academic and personal needs of GEAR UP students through transcript evaluations, student interviews, and school counselor recommendations;
• Collaborate with school site team to develop and implement a service plan to meet students' specific needs and monitor progress of high school graduation and college readiness;
• Maintain GEAR UP cohort student information including files on academic and advisement progress and student participation in GEAR UP using a caseload management approach through the grant-sanctioned data system;
• Supplement school's efforts to help GEAR UP cohort students meet passing standards in STAAR and EOC assessment and meet criteria in PSAT, SAT, ACT, or TSI;
• Coordinate access for GEAR UP cohort students to qualified counselors at the school or district level;
• Leverage grant resources to ensure GEAR UP cohort students avail of partner- provided services in academic and non-academic fields.

Organize group events such as student assemblies and pep rallies, family night events, and other student and parent support activities (before school, during school, and after-school) that encourage students and their families to consider, plan for, and apply to colleges and universities:

• Visit classrooms, assemblies, and club meetings to offer GEAR UP services and emphasize the importance of college;
• Work with local community groups-non-profit organizations, community groups, churches, boys and girls clubs, social service providers-to offer group events outside school setting and hours;
• Recognize and celebrate student success and help motivate GEAR UP cohort students do better in school.

Provide one-on-one admissions and financial-aid advice to any GEAR UP cohort student or their family seeking assistance:

• Encourage each GEAR UP cohort student to consider a broad range of appropriate college choices;
• Develop for each GEAR UP cohort student a comprehensive college timeline, including application deadlines for admission and financial aid;
• Help each GEAR UP cohort student complete and submit admissions and financial aid applications;
• Assist each GEAR UP cohort student in interpreting correspondence from colleges, including offers of admission and financial aid.

Submit in-kind match and other supporting documentation upon request to the Fiscal Analyst as per grant requirements and assist district personnel in identifying match opportunities:

• Recruits, trains, and serves as a lead to GEAR UP cohort student and hourly employees, tutor/mentors, program assistants, college coaches, volunteers, and parent helpers; assigns work schedules of student and hourly staff and volunteers;
• Performs a variety of administrative duties in support of the GEAR UP grant, including collection of volunteer and donation forms;
• Maintain documentation files of all grant activities, correspondence, reports, procedures, and presentations related to the GEAR UP program;
• Develop outreach materials, including newsletters and social media sites.

Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, and teachers in the assigned middle and high school:

• Assess, in consultation with the IPSI GEAR UP Project Director and school personnel, the particular needs of each school, and adapt programs and activities to meet these needs;
• Actively seek the advice and counsel of the Principal at each partner school;
• Establish vertical teams with assistance of district and school staff to develop a support system for GEAR UP cohort students and to ease the transition between middle school, high school, and college.

Assist in the efforts of other UT GEAR UP Site Coordinators within the district and the cohort:

• Visit other schools within the district and the UT GEAR UP MCR cohort to coordinate events and services;
• Help organize, provide support for, and attend evening and weekend events organized by other UT GEAR UP and other Site Coordinators.

Assist in the assessment and long-term sustainability of the program:

• Identify, collect, enter, and interpret key progress and outcome data in order to assist the Project Director and Evaluation staff to evaluate the effectiveness of UT GEAR UP MCR;
• Submit monthly progress reports to the Project Director documenting progress and outcome data;
• Meet, as appropriate, with evaluators from the external evaluator,
• Represent UT GEAR UP MCR, as requested by the Project Director, to potential supporters and to other interested parties.

Maintain expertise in college knowledge and readiness:

• Participate fully in two weeks of training each summer on the UT Austin campus;
• In consultation with the Project Director, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in counseling, social work, child development, education, public administration, or related field.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

Master's degree. In-depth knowledge of secondary education requirements in Texas. Knowledge of postsecondary education options, application procedures, and admission requirements. Knowledge of financial aid and scholarship opportunities and FAFSA application processes. Strong ability to communicate with students, parents, and school staff verbally and in writing. Strong preference for bilingual/bicultural (Spanish) fluency/knowledge.

Salary Range

$55,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Typical office environment

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.