POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title:

Retention Counselor

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Reports to:             

Director of HEP and CAMP

Department:

CAMP/HEP

Date Prepared:

December 2007

BASIC FUNCTION

The Retention Counselor serves as a mentor and counselor to Hispanic/Latino students to help them successfully complete their second and subsequent years of college.  As such, the Retention Counselor is responsible for coordination of the student retention program for Hispanic/Latino students who have successfully completed their first year at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. Primary retention duties of the Counselor include recruiting, counseling, tutoring and implementing student enrichment programs.

NATURE & SCOPE

The Retention Counselor reports to the Director of HEP and CAMP.  This job has the latitude to consider courses of action within the constraints of well defined College practices and policies.  The incumbent may consider whether new procedures may have to be developed in order to achieve required end results.  The incumbent knows what is expected of the job, but how it is accomplished is determined with a great deal of autonomy.  This position is responsible for overseeing the professional and student tutors.

This position requires a keen understanding of the Hispanic culture and of migrant and seasonal farm worker lifestyles.  The incumbent’s position exists to support students from these backgrounds in their second and subsequent years of college.  Without adequately knowing the challenges that these students face, the incumbent will fail them.  As a consequence, the students may have a greatly increased chance of struggling in college.  The Retention Counselor plays a vital role in the short- and long-term success of these students.

In addition, the Retention Counselor must have a background in education and counseling.  This allows the incumbent to successfully analyze and interpret data and create reports.  In addition, experience in these areas will aid the individual in this position in providing academic and personal counseling.  Inherently, the incumbent must possess superior communication skills.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Provide individualized academic, career, and personal counseling

• Coordinate academic schedules and foster matriculation

• Coordinate all student recruiting, personal and academic counseling, and tutoring programs

• Develop all program documentation, including application, promotional material, and academic progress reports

• Monitor and document student academic and social progress, intervening when necessary to promote student success

• Coordinate with HEP/CAMP director to develop annual report to ABAC Foundation

• Develop and implement the student follow up and tracking system which monitors and documents students progress

• Provide college faculty, staff, and networking partners with effective strategies for supporting the academic and social growth of Hispanic/Latino students

• Coordinate community service opportunities and campus visits to four year universities for students

• Coordinate extracurricular student enrichment program, including but not limited to cultural experiences and educational opportunities

• Responsible for developing strategies to meet the stated program goals

• Perform all other duties as assigned

BUDGETARY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Counselor, working under the direction of the Director of HEP and CAMP, must adhere to the program budget. The Counselor may assist in the preparation of that budget with the allocation of financial support associated with the program.

SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

This position requires bilingual ability (Spanish), a bachelor’s degree required (Masters preferred) and at least three years of work experience.