GEAR UP Kentucky (GUK): Postsecondary Transition Coordinator

Application Due Date:  Preference given to applications received by July 8, 2022; open until filled.
Location:  Field position in Northern KY.
Travel:  Frequent and significant in-state travel required; occasional out-of-state travel required.
Compensation: Upper 60s to low 70s.

Overview

GEAR UP Kentucky is a federal grant program coordinated by the Council, which works with students and schools in low-income communities to support college preparation and success. GEAR UP Kentucky is a competitive federal grant program designed to increase the college-going rate. In 2018, the Council was awarded a seven-year, $24.5 million grant to serve at least 10,000 middle and high school students in at least 10 school districts. This is the fourth GEAR UP state grant for Kentucky that has been administered through the Council. GEAR UP positions are for the term of the grant.

Duties and Responsibilities

Direct Services for Students and Families

Provide direct services to GEAR UP Scholar students and families at assigned campuses in the northern KY area.

Student services - Postsecondary level

• Develop and implement annual postsecondary services plans for each assigned partner campus.
• Establish relationships with university/college staff and faculty in key campus offices/departments that provide student support services.
• Directly implement student services for GU Scholars with a focus on connecting students with campus resources and support systems and with other GU Scholars on campus (current and alums).
• Provide individual and small group coaching and support services to GEAR UP Scholars via text, email, phone, in-person events, and/or office hours.
• Coordinate an early campus orientation for GU Scholars attending assigned institutions prior to the beginning of their first year of postsecondary education.
• Coordinate peer mentoring/leadership program for GUK first year students.
• Host on-campus or virtual workshops focused on building first-year success skills, supporting retention, awareness of campus resources, or other relevant topics related to first-year success.
• Serve as a member of the GUK Scholars team.

Family services - postsecondary level

Provide services and support to GEAR UP Scholar families at assigned institutions via text outreach and other identified activities/strategies.

Student services - District level

Work with District Program Managers in all GUK high schools to connect early with students with priority focus on schools within region of assigned postsecondary institutions through collaborative delivery of services such as:

• Coordination of workshops/sessions highlighting their assigned institution (in cooperation with admissions, financial aid, etc.).
• Participation in campus visits.
• Participation in senior events.
• Co-delivery of final senior year curricula lesson.
• Delivery of an advising session.
• Introduce GUK Scholars program to high school juniors.
• Serve as a member of the Postsecondary Pipeline team.

Summer Academy Coordination

Serve as Site Director of annual 3-week Summer Academy on 4-year university campus (2023 – 2025), including but not limited to:

• Serve as a member of the Summer Academy team.
• Work with Associate Director of Postsecondary Transition and Success, campus partners and other staff to plan Academy curricula, schedule and logistics.
• Serve as the lead GUK staff on-site for the duration of the Academy; will include overnight and weekend stays on campus for the duration of the Academy to ensure adequate student supervision.
• Oversee the daily operations of assigned Summer Academy.
• Develop staffing plan and provide supervision of summer academy staff and students at assigned campus.
• Ensure that all academy schedules and activities are implemented as planned.
• Monitor and support staff and students to ensure all are in compliance with rules, policies and guidelines of the academy and university.
• Address, document and monitor student issues (academic, behavioral) and personnel issues.
• Implement student disciplinary action as needed.
• Coordinate daily communications with GUK academy staff, Associate Director, and/or GUK Senior Leadership to address updates and any issues.
• Coordinate implementation of GUK-provided curricula and activities (e.g. GUK 101).
• Assist with evening and weekend activities.
• Develop a summative report outlining successes and challenges of assigned Academy, including recommendations for continuous improvement.

Development and Coordination of Postsecondary Services

Develop and define programmatic content and implementation plans for assigned GEAR UP Scholars service area including:

• Develop and define programmatic content and implementation plans for assigned service area in accordance with established deadlines including goals and objectives, target audiences, delivery format and methods, partnership parameters, key deliverables, timelines, data collection guidelines, budget guidelines, staff implementation tools and training, and feedback strategies for improvement.
• Communicate progress regularly with Associate Director of Postsecondary Transition and Success and Associate Director of Operations and Development to ensure alignment to project goals and requirements.
• Participation in GUK project teams aligned to GEAR UP Scholar service area.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Operations and Development to deliver staff training plans/products; continually discuss and provide timely responses to feedback regarding implementation challenges to ensure continuous improvement.
• Work with GEAR UP Scholars team to analyze data regarding implementation and impact; make recommendations for improvement to Associate Director for Postsecondary Transition and Success as requested/needed.

Communication and Information Management

• Communicate GUK vision and mission effectively to all stakeholders.
• Collect and maintain accurate and complete data on delivery of all services in accordance to GUK timelines and FERPA guidelines including weekly submission of service delivery data and submission of quarterly GUK reports.
• Adhere to FERPA/confidentiality expectations regarding any student/institutional data as outlined in GUK Data Collection and Use policies and procedures.
• Maintain calendar in Microsoft Outlook and communicate work plan and schedule to Associate Director of Postsecondary Transition and Success, according to agreed-upon practice and agency policies.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in education, sociology, public administration, project management, or other related discipline.
• Ten years professional experience in related field.

Preferred

• Master’s degree or above.
• Work experience in a college/university.
• Work experience in a grant-funded environment and/or grant administration.

Contact Information

Interested applicants should send a letter of application specifically addressing the responsibilities and qualifications of the position, a resume, and the names, titles, and contact information for at least three professional references to:

Rae Smith, Human Resource
Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education
100 Airport Road 
Frankfort, KY 40601
CPE.HR@ky.gov