Academic Development Specialist, Equity-Deserving Students, Student and Enrolment Services

We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III.

Position Overview

The Student Success Centre within Student and Enrolment Services is currently seeking a Full-time Regular Academic Development Specialist, Equity-Deserving Students.

As a member of a dynamic, student-centric team within the Student Success Centre, the Academic Development Specialist is an expert in the unique academic support needs of first generation and equity deserving students, and works to support their success through the development of academic support and developmental advising services. The Academic Development Specialist (ADS) will also work with first generation and equity deserving prospective and open studies students to support the link between career exploration/career development and academic programs of study.

Reporting to the Director, Student Success Centre, this Academic Development Specialist role will be focused on the retention and success of undergraduate first generation and equity deserving students, and will work closely with open studies students to support their success and conversion to degree programs (if appropriate).  

Position Description

Summary of Key Responsibilities (job functions include but are not limited to):

Program Development and Collaboration 

• Develop and deliver academic support and advising programs and online resources to assist first generation and equity deserving students’ academic success. This includes developing processes, programs, activities or workshops that support a wide range of students in collaboration with members of the Student Success Centre team and other campus partners.
• Develop and deliver academic support programs for prospective and open studies students in collaboration with the exploratory advising team within the Student Success Centre and Career Services to ensure timely and relevant academic and career outcomes are included in this programming.
• Provide proactive and timely outreach, referrals and intervention with equity deserving student population through a variety of communication methods. Support student progress by planning and coordinating active outreach and proactive advising programs.
• Collaborate with student groups on campus to support the development of relevant and meaningful programming taking a ‘students as partners’ approach.
• Facilitate and interpret a variety of skills, and interest inventories.  Engage students in decision-making processes utilizing interest inventories and other reflective activities.
• Participate in and support all key departmental operations including tracking and analyzing statistics, generating reports on student success and retention, proper file documentation, departmental meetings, strategic planning, program assessment and participation at events as required. Understand and monitor institutional priorities, decisions and benchmarks.
• Assist in the hiring, training, mentorship, coaching and supervision of peer helpers.
• Participate in committees and working groups relating to equity deserving students’ success and retention.

Advising 

• Engage in proactive and responsive academic support advising with students. This includes meeting with individuals as well as small groups on an ongoing basis to build rapport, identify barriers to success, and set goals and develop action plans for academic success.
• Proactively connect with new and current students to identify, resolve, and escalate outstanding matters that would affect their ability to have a smooth and successful start.
• Assist students in identifying progression/success obstacles as well as in developing concrete plans to overcome obstacles and move forward toward degree completion. Determine barriers, distractions, and complications affecting a student’s academic success, make appropriate referrals for therapeutic counseling, assistance from other units and or community-based supports.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Master’s Degree (degree in progress will be considered) in counsellor education, social work, higher education or equivalent required
• 5 years of student services, student affairs, counselling, or academic advising experience required
• Extensive professional and/or lived experience working with students who identify as equity deserving
• Excellent knowledge of systemic barriers related to post-secondary student success and best practices in the Canadian context for supporting success of students identifying as equity deserving
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in the Canadian context for Indigenous education and support services for Indigenous students an asset
• Demonstrated experience with developing, leveraging, and maintaining close ties across various university and external communities
• Extensive, demonstrated experience with academic program advising and career development support for equity-deserving students within a post secondary institution
• Ability to conceptualize, design, and implement undergraduate advising and learning support programs
• Experience with facilitating exploration exercises and inventories to assist students with educational and career planning
• Evidence of excellence in understanding the unique needs, and developing instructional materials for first generation and equity deserving post-secondary students
• Experience working with students in crisis and/or students who have experienced trauma; completion of relevant training in supporting students’ wellbeing and mental health
• Outstanding interpersonal and intercultural communication skills, including written, oral, one on one and group
• Strong critical thinking, judgement and decision-making skills
• Abilities in problem identification, reasoning, and ability to develop original ideas to solve problems
• Ability to work under pressure to meet strict and multiple timelines
• Demonstrated ability to be resourceful, creative, innovative, and flexible
• Ability to work effectively individually and as a team member
• Experience developing and providing presentations for students
• Excellent computer skills including experience using technical advising tools (such as student information management systems like People Soft or Banner, Degree Audit software and Microsoft Office)
• Knowledge of University policies, procedures and requirements including the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP)
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is considered an asset

Application Deadline:  November 16, 2022

We would like to thank all applicants in advance for submitting their resumes. Please note, only those candidates chosen to continue on through the selection process will be contacted.

Additional Information

This position is part of the AUPE bargaining unit, and falls under the Specialist/Advisor Job Family, Phase 3.

To find out more about management and staff opportunities at the University of Calgary and all we have to offer, view our Management and Staff Careers website . For more information about Student and Enrolment Services visit Careers in Student and Enrolment Services .

The University strongly recommends all faculty and staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

About the University of Calgary

The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university – a living, growing and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude. Located in the nation’s most enterprising city, the university is making tremendous progress on its Eyes High journey to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities, grounded in innovative learning and teaching and fully integrated with the community it both serves and leads. The University of Calgary inspires and supports discovery, creativity and innovation across all disciplines. For more information, visit ucalgary.ca .

The University of Calgary has launched an institution-wide Indigenous Strategy in line with the foundational goals of Eyes High , committing to creating a rich, vibrant, and culturally competent campus that welcomes and supports Indigenous Peoples, encourages Indigenous community partnerships, is inclusive of Indigenous perspectives in all that we do.

As an equitable and inclusive employer, the University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community. We are committed to removing barriers that have been historically encountered by some people in our society. We strive to recruit individuals who will further enhance our diversity and will support their academic and professional success while they are here. In particular, we encourage members of the designated groups (women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, members of visible/racialized minorities, and diverse sexual orientation and gender identities) to apply. To ensure a fair and equitable assessment, we offer accommodation at any stage during the recruitment process to applicants with disabilities. Questions regarding [diversity] EDI at UCalgary can be sent to the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (equity@ucalgary.ca ) and requests for accommodations can be sent to Human Resources (hrhire@ucalgary.ca ).

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, however preference will be given to Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada.