Associate Director, McNair Scholars Program

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM VSC UP – PAT Bargaining Unit Exempt BASIC FUNCTION To assist the Director with all aspects of administration of the McNair Program, which offers programs and services intended to increase the attainment of doctoral degrees by low-income undergraduates and those from groups underrepresented in doctoral study.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Assist in planning, implementing, administering, coordinating, monitoring, and evaluating the various specific activities, functions, and services of the McNair Scholars Program, including operating policies and procedures.
Participate in the development and modification of program goals, objectives, services, activities, and policies, in accordance with student needs, institutional objectives and resources, and funding agency requirements.
Plan, develop and oversee the academic year and summer programs; work with faculty mentors to coordinate research projects and internships; provide support for faculty mentors; develop and conduct workshops; plan and participate in other program activities, including orientation, trips, and special events; serve as general liaison for summer programming.
Organize and supervise students on graduate school visits and relevant academic conferences.
Recruit faculty mentors; find, match, and monitor summer research and internship opportunities; implement summer activities, including campus visits, conferences, and symposia.
Coordinate on-campus research symposia and work closely with residence life staff and other campus offices to deliver services.
Play a key advisory role in a variety of key research and planning tasks associated with the program, typically involving developing program goals and specific plans for implementing goals, writing grant proposals, and the like.
Monitor academic progress of students through regular contact with participants and faculty mentors, assessment tools, and academic counseling.
Demonstrate inclusivity and provide excellent customer service in all modalities, including in-person, telephone, e-mail, video call, live chat, texting, and the like.
Assist with a variety of on-going administrative tasks associated with program, such as designing and maintaining appropriate records systems, and preparing reports on program activities and status for funding agency.
Compile and disseminate information to the public regarding program services.
Write/edit various other educational and information materials.
Assist in identifying, recruiting, and selecting eligible students for the program, including a coordinated outreach effort to faculty and other campus personnel for referrals.
Provide graduate school and academic counseling for participants in the program.
Provide assistance, counseling and guidance to participants throughout the graduate school application and financial aid application process.
Create a more robust arm of McNair that helps create partnerships with external Research Experience for Undergraduates at R1 universities.
This includes a digital presence that can be shared university wide.
Create and then maintain a marketing and promotional image for the McNair Scholars Program that connects with the other 205 National McNair Programs.
Foster partnerships with Ivy League universities that will have planned visitation days for VTSU McNair Scholars.
Plan and organize the Northeastern McNair and SSS Regional Undergraduate Conference.
Create community partnerships including the Rutland Pride Center, the NAACP, and the Rutland Homelessness Prevention Center to create volunteer opportunities for McNair Scholars.
Continuously complete DEISJ trainings and opportunities, and stay relevant on current higher education laws and best practices.
Attend relevant local, regional and national professional meetings.
Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED Direct supervision is received from the Director of McNair Scholars Program.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED Supervision of student workers.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Master’s degree in a STEM field, liberal arts, or other appropriate discipline, plus two to four years of relevant counseling or teaching experience, or a combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills are acquired.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES Knowledge: Direct experience working with the program’s targeted constituency desirable.
Understanding of the psychological and cultural characteristics of economically and educationally disadvantaged students, particularly in a rural setting.
Skills: Excellent counseling skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Strong base of general knowledge and skills relevant to the program, such as counseling, educational program design, implementation and evaluation, understanding of post secondary opportunities and admission policies/processes, and the like.
Good planning, administrative, organizational, and supervisory skills.
Abilities: Ability to deal effectively with and serve as a program representative to students, funding agencies, and the like, as well as various University personnel, requiring skills in coordinating, collaborating, counseling, and public presentation.
Ability to travel as needed.
Demonstrated ability to support a diverse community and promote diverse perspectives and cultures in an inclusive environment.
Demonstrated positive attitude regarding Vermont State University and a desire to improve student outcomes.
Location: Home campus is Castleton with some travel required to other VTSU campuses.
This general outline illustrates the type of work which characterizes the job classification.
It is not an all-encompassing statement of the specific duties, responsibilities and qualifications of individual positions assigned to the classification.
Vermont State University is a part of the Vermont State Colleges System (VSCS).
VSCS values individual differences that can be engaged in the service of learning.
Diverse experiences from people of varied backgrounds inform and enrich our community.
VSCS strongly encourages applications from historically marginalized and underrepresented populations.
VSCS is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with ADA requirements, and will make reasonable accommodations for the known disability of an otherwise qualified applicant.
Please contact our HR office for assistance with accommodations at humanresources@vermontstate.
edu.
NOTE: This job is subject to a fingerprint-supported criminal background check.
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the satisfactory results of this check.