Program Advisor Indigenous Pathways, Writing Symbols Lodge, 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

Writing Symbols Lodge within Student and Enrolment Services is currently seeking a Full-time Limited Term Program Advisor for approximately 2 years.

As a member of a dynamic, student-centric team in Writing Symbols Lodge, the Program Advisor Indigenous Pathways has two core responsibilities: 1) the support and administration of the Indigenous Student Engineering Pathways Program including timetabling, student support, program orientation, and referral for additional student support services, both on and off campus. 2) General advising for Indigenous students in various faculties by providing 1:1 academic and developmental advising to Indigenous students in order to ensure that they have access to effective, high quality, culturally-based student support services.
The Program Advisor Indigenous Pathways works with internal and external stakeholders to raise the profile of post-secondary education among Indigenous populations in the surrounding communities, plans cultural events on campus to encourage community linkages with the University of Calgary, and develops programs to promote cultural understanding among all members of the campus population.

This role reports to the Manager, Writing Symbols Lodge and with a regular work week schedule (Monday to Friday). Occasional variances in start and end time and may be expected to attend events or provide service outside normal working hours. This position will operate from the University of Calgary campus.

This role supports the continued indigenization of the University of Calgary. Click here to see more job opportunities with an Indigenous scope. 

Position Description

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

• Maintain direct contact with and advise a caseload of Indigenous students including first-year, undeclared, transfer, adult and academically at-risk students, and Engineering Pathways students
• Provide administrative and project management support to Schulich School of Engineering Associate Dean and Teaching Chairs in evolving strategic and work plans around Indigenous inclusion in Engineering
• Work with SSE Marketing & Communications team to develop recruitment and marketing materials and provide input into how to distribute.
• Monitor new and continuing students in order to proactively identify at-risk scenarios and opportunities to develop, deliver, evaluate, and improve academic success strategies for Indigenous students.
• Respond to inquiries and provide pre-admissions advising (one-on-one or in group settings). This includes the execution of special orientation events.
• Assist students in recognizing key non-academic issues that may interfere with academic success and making the appropriate referral/s for additional support services (both on and off campus): includes academic support as well as personal and cultural support.
• Work with the Recruitment and Admissions Office on the recruitment of prospective students to the program as well as the conversion (applicant retention) of Indigenous applicants who may be not be eligible for direct admission to degree programs, academic programs, calendar regulations, software systems as well as other advising tools and resources in order to provide and maintain competency in the area of academic advising.
• Support 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 and with support from SSE Data Analysts to create sustainable reports.
• Maintain up-to-date, confidential files on student intake and advising in compliance to FOIP regulations.
• Manage culturally-based student retention program (Tiya Dagumisasriy), in consultation with other relevant programs, staff, and service areas
• Coordinate and manage ongoing program evaluation and implement changes for effectiveness.
• Make recommendations for program administration to continually improve the relationship for the Schulich School of Engineering & Writing Symbols Lodge.
• Work closely with students on accessing Indigenous student financial support that may include: awards, bursaries, scholarships, First Nations Post-secondary funding, emergency-based loans / assistance, and basic student loans.
• Work alongside other Writing Symbols staff on the coordination of special cultural events as required.
• Liaise, when appropriate, with Indigenous community, particularly in the area of educational programming

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Minimum of an undergraduate degree is required.
• 3 – 5 years of relevant work experience, preferably in the area of Indigenous Post-secondary education is required.
• Knowledge about University degree programs, Indigenous post-secondary funding and donor funded programming and related budgeting and reporting processes, as well as prior experience in coordinating educational programs is a strong asset.
• Possess positive, well established relationships with Indigenous communities, leaders, and cultural knowledge keepers.
• Demonstrated understanding of the cultural knowledge and communication skills required to connect with Indigenous communities including Elders and Traditional Knowledge Keepers.
• Extensive knowledge on Indigenous cultures is essential.
• Knowledge of current issues and best practices in the Canadian context for Indigenous education and support services for Indigenous students.
• Familiarity with Engineering and/or science education and/or practice in Canada is a strong asset.
• Familiarity with adult upgrading and university college entrance programs if considered a valuable asset.
• Understanding of general admissions procedures to post-secondary programs.
• Advising skills, preferably in an educational setting and/ or with regional Indigenous people/communities are required including an ability in exercising solid judgment and accountability in making appropriate advising decisions within the scope of responsibility as demonstrate by experience as a student advisor, counsellor, teacher or community leader, including knowing when to refer complex matters to appropriate advisors or senior administrators.
• Organizational skills within a multifaceted organization, academic institution and /or program are required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills as demonstrated by professional experience.
• Refined facilitation and presentation skills to a variety of audiences including community partners, students, academic faculty, and internal stakeholders is a strong asset.
• Experience with PeopleSoft, Elevate and other institutional software systems is an asset, the aptitude to learn these programs is required.
• Ability to act decisively, to exercise a high-degree of initiative and judgment on a wide range of issues is required.
• High levels of professionalism and tact, confidentiality, flexibility with scheduling and demands and tenacity as demonstrated by professional experience.
• Ability to successfully handle a large, intense student workload with a positive student-centric attitude.
• Ability to work on campus, with schedules that meet student needs including some evenings and/or occasional weekends to support student events, in a variety of setting to support students is required.
• Ability to speak an Indigenous language is an additional asset.

Application Deadline:  November 28, 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 2.

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 . 

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.