Outreach Coordinator - REACH Student Success, Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success

The department of REACH Student Success in the Center for Learning, Advising and Student Success is currently accepting applications for an Outreach Coordinator.

About the Opportunity

The REACH Outreach Coordinator is responsible for outreaching and connecting undergraduate students, including first-generation students, Pell recipients, commuters, and students in the Center for Learning, Advising, and Student Success (CLASS), with appropriate resources across campus. The Outreach Coordinator will play a key role in advertising and promoting programs, services, and other campus resources intended to improve retention, persistence, and graduation.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year or more based on years of service (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

• Design and execute outreach plans at critical times during academic year, including add/drop period, early academic alert, midterm grade reporting, preregistration and general registration, twelve-week academic alerts.
• Create and implement engaging outreach materials including the website, bi-weekly newsletter, email and text campaigns. Utilize social medial platforms to disseminate information and engage with target audiences.
• Manage day-to-day front desk operations of the REACH Lounge by providing a supportive environment as well as checking students in, assisting students with printing, restocking supplies, and serving as a resource.
• Hire, train, and supervise student employees providing peer support during critical times of the semester. Student employees conduct outreach through email, phone calls, text messages, and live chat. Student employees also facilitate Peer Study Groups
• Develop outreach campaigns and provide administrative oversight to Peer Study Groups.
• Serve as a Success Coach as needed to help students further develop their academic skills in time management, note taking, and goal setting.
• Develop and present academic workshops related to building academic skills.
• Provide holistic case management services for undergraduate students, including historically underserved populations. Establish rapport and assist students with concerns related to academics, financial, and personal well-being.
• Advocate on behalf of students by providing information, referrals, connections and assistance in finding community/fit.
• Serve as an ad-hoc member of the CARE team as an academic support specialist.
• Work collaboratively with Student Life by providing academic support and outreach to first-year students commuting to WVU.
• Assist with onboarding new products and vendors providing third-party academic support services to undergraduate students.
• Work closely with staff in other CLASS units along with other campus partners to ensure integration of REACH Student Success initiatives across departments and student services.
• Participate in recruitment events, including WVU open houses (Discover WVU and Decide WVU); junior open houses, virtual events/webinars (in partnership with the WVU Parents Club and WVU Office of Admissions) and New Student Orientation (NSO).
• Teach WVUe courses such as the First-Year Seminar and Academic Mindset as needed.
• Market Summer Boost program and retention programs, distribute electronic and printed materials, promote programming and services provided by REACH Student Success.
• Maintain regular interaction with advising and retention staff in academic colleges and schools to identify students veering off track and at risk of being placed on academic probation or academic suspension. Complement outreach and nudging performed by colleges and schools.
• Track and monitor participation in programming and services, using current student information systems. Identify strategies for attempting to connect with students not engaging with academic support services or meeting satisfactory academic progress standards.
• Maintain working knowledge of university policies, procedures and resources to best assist and refer students who have unmet financial need.
• Prepare semi-annual and annual progress reports summarizing numbers of students served and offer recommendations to senior leadership whether services and programming are meeting expectations. Collect qualitative and quantitative data to support findings and leverage recommendations for adding, altering or discontinuing programming and services.
• Identify gaps in services and advise senior administration on revisions to policies/procedures to alleviate obstacles.
• Research and benchmark best practices in supporting marginalized students, especially students who are under-resourced.
• Serve on departmental and university committees aimed at improving student success outcomes for marginalized students.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Master's degree in journalism, communications, marketing or education, related discipline preferred.
  
• A minimum of one (1) year of communications or marketing experience
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Strong communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate and inform multiple audiences including students, parents, university community, upper-level administrators, and other constituencies. Respectfully communicate within the context of varying beliefs, behaviors, orientations, identities and cultural contexts
• Proficiency in email marketing, social media, and text messaging platforms.
• Ability to quickly build rapport with students as well as the University Community
• Understand academic and financial aid policies in post-secondary education.
• Market services/programming to students and families who may be unsure of the value of higher education
• Ability to collaborate with multiple campus services and offices.
• Prioritize, plan and executive multiple events and tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency with student information systems and customer relationship management systems (i.e., Banner, Navigate, Salesforce)
• Proficiency in Microsoft products such as Excel, PowerPoint and Word.
• Presentational speaking to small groups and audiences in an auditorium setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• One year of relevant experience in post-secondary education.
• six (6) months of experience managing and synthesizing complex situations involving students, parents, staff, and faculty
• six (6) months of experience understanding various academic and financial policies found in higher education

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.