Indigenous Learning Strategist

Date Posted: 04/02/2024
Req ID: 36747
Faculty/Division: VP & Provost
Department: SL: Academic Success
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)
Position Number: 00035624

Description:

About us:

Student Life connects life to learning. We believe every student should have the opportunity to participate in university life actively and find connection and community while discovering new ways of thinking and being in the world. We provide resources, support and engagement opportunities that are inclusive and accessible, ensuring every student can build experiences that set them up for a lifetime of success.

Within the Division of Student Life, the cluster of Student Life Programs and Services, supports students as they achieve personal, academic, career and civic goals. We engage students throughout their learning and development with the following units: Academic Success, Accessibility Services, Career Exploration & Education, Centre for Community Partnerships, Clubs & Leadership Development, Housing, Indigenous Student Services, Mentorship & Peer Programs, Multi-faith Centre, Orientation, Student Success, Transition & Engagement and TCard Services. Together with staff, faculty, students, alumni, employers and community partners, we provide an integrated and coherent path to success that reflects our students' diversity.

In support of U of T's vision, Student Life Programs and Servicesis committed to creating diverse, accessible, inclusive and welcoming spaces of opportunity that foster deepened engagement, learning, personal growth, and identity development for all students. We are committed to embedding these principles into all thework we do, reducing barriers so that students from all backgrounds and lived experiences can feel a sense of belonging in the communities they find here.

To align with our strategic priorities, and the specificities of this role, we encourage individuals from Indigenous communities to apply.

Your opportunity:

Under the general direction of the Learning Strategies Programming Lead, and guidance of Directors in Academic Success and First Nations House, the Indigenous Learning Strategist is responsible for developing multi layered learning communities of academic skills supports for an diverse population of full-time and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. The Indigenous Learning Strategist will engage with faculty members and other staff across the Division of Student Life and the university more broadly to develop programming that responds to the academic skills development of students within specific programs and courses. Examples mayinclude: course-specific in class presentations; peer facilitated study sessions; orientation workshops; meeting individually and in small groups with students to clarify and problem solve individual issues related to learning, critical thinking, and time management. Work will also include developing peer-mentors to (co) deliver programming, assessing programming, and creating online materials and supports to enhance student learning.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing advanced academic and learning skills counselling
• Advising students on the development of their educational plans
• Probing for information from students to identify learning and performance needs
• Developing components of learning support programs
• Conducting a detailed analysis of student feedback and learning outcomes to inform program planning activities
• Developing student assessment plans to support student learning outcomes and competencies
• Facilitating psychoeducational workshops that promote the development of coping strategies and skills

Essential Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a related program of study (e.g. Education) or an acceptable equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum four years related experience in academic support in a multi-disciplinary setting to Indigenous undergraduate and graduate students at the university-level.
• Demonstrated experience working with Indigenous communities and peoples.
• Knowledge and awareness of the life experiences and needs of Indigenous students.
• Must be an experienced and recognized facilitator of groups.
• Must have experience developing peer mentoring programs.
• Must be able to demonstrate success in facilitating partnerships with constituents from a variety of institutional areas.
• Demonstrated experience in coaching.
• Excellent computer skills (e.g. Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Superb interpersonal, listening, and communication skills for fostering student development and negotiating conflict.
• Excellence in understanding anti-oppression frameworks and delivering programming to enhance equity.
• Excellence in managing projects through effective setting of priorities.
• Honed organizational skills.
• Creative problem solving skills.
• Ability to initiate independent collaborations with faculty and staff to enhance students' learning experiences and sense of belonging.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Demonstrated initiative to maintain awareness of current and emerging trends in university level learning and to incorporate them into their work.

Assets (Nonessential):

• Certification in Learning Strategies, Coaching, or Supplemental Instruction.
• Experience with E-Learning.
• Training in Humanities, Social Sciences, Life Sciences, Engineering and/or Math.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the learning needs of students with disabilities.

To be successful in this role you will be:

• Approachable
• Communicator
• Multi-tasker
• Organized
• Problem solver
• Tactful

Closing Date: 04/16/2024, 11:59PM ET
Employee Group: USW
Appointment Type: Budget - Continuing
Schedule: Full-Time
Pay Scale Group & Hiring Zone:
USW Pay Band 13 -- $83,150 with an annual step progression to a maximum of $106,336. Pay scale and job class assignment is subject to determination pursuant to the Job Evaluation/Pay Equity Maintenance Protocol.
Job Category: Student Services
Recruiter: Blythe Campbell

Lived Experience Statement
Candidates who are members of Indigenous, Black, racialized and 2SLGBTQ+ communities, persons with disabilities, and other equity deserving groups are encouraged to apply, and their lived experience shall be taken into consideration as applicable to the posted position.