Upward Bound / MESA Coordinator

Available Title(s):

1481-YN_ADMINPRO - Student Services Coordinator/Advisor 1

Business Title:

Upward Bound / MESA Coordinator

Employee Type:

Admin. Professional (+) (Fixed Term)

Time Type:

Full time

Position Term:

12 Month

Position Details:

Summary of Duties:

The Upward Bound/ MESA Coordinator is a full-time position serving two outreach grants helping pre-college youth at Wellpinit and Inchelium high schools prepare for and succeed in post-secondary education. The coordinator will support Steven’s County Upward Bound at Wellpinit High School 3 days a week serving first-generation low-income high school students who wish to go to college with advising, workshops, and college and career focused field trips. The Upward Bound/ MESA Coordinator will spend the other two days a week supporting Spokane MESA providing STEM activities and programming for middle and high school students at Inchelium School District and alumni outreach.
Primary work location Wellpinit, WA 3 days a week, Inchelium, WA 1 day a week, remote 1 day a week with occasional travel to WSU Spokane or field trips.
About Upward Bound:
Upward Bound is a federally funded TRIO program whose purpose is to identify, select, and assist first generation, and/or low-income high school students to succeed in postsecondary education. Stevens County Upward Bound is hosted by WSU Spokane and serves students in grades 9-12 at Mary Walker, Columbia, and Wellpinit High Schools.
About Spokane MESA (Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement):
Spokane MESA is one of six Washington MESA centers in the state with the mission to inform, equip, and empower underrepresented students by providing them a community who supports their pathways to higher education in STEM. The support is through mentorship, academic programs, interactive workshops, industry presentations/field trips, and competitions. These experiences give them the tools to create innovative solutions and become the next leaders in STEM. Spokane MESA serves students and their teachers in grades 6-12 in Spokane Public Schools, Cheney School District and Inchelium School District.

Duties & Responsibilities Include:

Upward Bound Program Coordination and Implementation at Wellpinit High School: 45%

• Support a case load of 10-25 Wellpinit HS students toward post-secondary completion.
• Develop, coordinate, and implement student involvement strategies to provide a program experience for high school students to achieve academic success in preparation for enrollment and completion of a post-secondary education degree.
• Establish effective mentoring relationships with students to help them improve academically, develop college-readiness skills and behaviors, and improve accountability to agreed upon goals.
• Monitor program participants academic performance frequently. Provide opportunities for interventions and support for students as needed.
• Chaperone campus visits and other full day and overnight educational field trips.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with school administrators and staff and collaborate with a wide variety of community partners to support college access for students.
• Develop Individualized Success Plans for each student accepted into the program and part of the caseload, outlining the goals the student will work towards during the time they are in Upward Bound.
• Provide program services in accordance with program goals, Washington State University policies, and Federal grant requirements. Monitor program activities to ensure consistency with program goals, with WSU policies and procedures and with Federal grant requirements.
• As part of the UB team, design and supervise a 6-week summer program including full day and residential components both locally and involving travel.

MESA Student Programming and Outreach, Inchelium MS/HS: 20%

• Oversee a cohort of students from grades 6-12 at Inchelium MS/HS, including high school “at-large” students from the program who are not enrolled in a MESA class.
• Advise and facilitate a MESA/MESA CTSO club after school.
• In coordination with the Director, work with school counselors and teachers in developing, coordinating and implementing outreach, recruitment, and retention efforts for prospective and current program participants, to maintain the quality in the program.
• Organize competition preparation/planning, guest speaker, workshop, and field trip opportunities in math and/or science classrooms to promote student involvement and to encourage academic development and career awareness.
• Work with Director in planning academic program curriculum, aligning activities in and out of the classroom to curriculum needs of the school district.
• Coordinate pre-event workshops with teachers. Collaborate with teachers and community mentors in the development of hands-on classroom and field trip activities that align with curriculum.
• Chaperone and supervise students during field trips to regional college campuses and Regional, State, and National MESA Day competitions

Upward Bound Alumni and Mentorship Project Development for Mary Walker, Wellpinit, and Columbia High Schools: 10%

With support from the team, research and design and Upward Bound Alumni and Mentorship Project:

• Manage social media, outreach, and resources for UB alumni.
• Create both virtual and in-person events and activities that bring alumni and current UB high school students together for mentorship opportunities and to build college going culture in all three target schools.
• Create and maintain assessment and evaluation for the project for reporting and development.

MESA Coordination: 10%

• Organize and implement the Spokane MESA program in accordance with the local and statewide curriculum guidelines.
• Develop and maintain relationships with school personnel and community groups etc. to facilitate communication and cooperative efforts which ensure optimal success for student participants.
• Collaborate with and advise area professionals who are recruited to mentor student participants and assist with events.
• Work in partnership with college support programs and community partners to educate students on their post-secondary opportunities in STEM.
• Under direction, and working collaboratively with team members, collect and disseminate data needed for reports, proposals, budgets, and grants pertaining to program goals, achievements, and evaluations.
• Assist in the development of program evaluations to enhance program and participant opportunities and outcomes.

Training and Collaboration: 10%

• Develop and maintain big picture understanding of the TRIO family of college access programs and collaborate with state, regional, and/or national organization activities.
• Attend annual TRIO conferences. 
• Participate in virtual and in-person training.
• Engage in personal professional development and training in the aspects of the MESA program and the platforms used in the National Engineering Design Challenge, as well as MESA STEM Curriculum. 
• In collaboration with other staff, compile alumni data and connect with alumni as well as the volunteer corps through newsletters, social media, LinkedIn, and email. 
• Collaborate with the MESA team on Teacher Professional Development and whole staff site visits to Inchelium. 

Other: 5%

• Upward Bound and MESA staff meetings and one-on-one meetings with the Directors.
• Serve on committees as appropriate.
• Other duties as assigned by Upward Bound or MESA 

Required Qualifications: Positions require a Bachelor’s degree and two (2) years of professional work experience in student services or related education/experience. A Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for one (1) year of professional work experience. Any combination of relevant education and professional experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year‐for‐year basis.

Additional Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in mathematics, engineering, science, or education with a STEM emphasis or a related field.
• Two years of experience working with low-income, first-generation, and/or academically at-risk high school students.
• Must be willing to travel, including occasional overnights and 1 week for Spring Break and up to 4 weeks in June and July.
• Valid unrestricted Washington driver’s license.
• Proficiency in the use of computers and MS Office software programs.
• Strong interpersonal skills that facilitate communications, team building, problem solving and conflict management skills, with demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse group of people, including peers, university and school administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents, and the general public.
• Reliable transportation is required to accommodate regular travel to Wellpinit and Inchelium School Districts.
• Must have experience working with, and demonstrating a caring positive attitude towards, people with culturally diverse backgrounds.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience developing, maintaining, and/or using computerized record and information management systems.
• Secondary teaching certificate with one or more endorsements in STEM disciplines.
• Three years or more teaching experience in middle/high school mathematics or science.
• Demonstrate management, organization, communication, event coordination, and leadership skills.
• Experience working with teachers, students, parents, university staff and community representatives.
• Experience in school curriculum development in math or science.
• Experience or contact with local business and industries that provide careers in math, science, technology, engineering, or related fields.
• Prior personal experience with MESA, Upward Bound or similar programs.
• Experience, lived or serving, with first-generation/low-income/underserved/ or disadvantaged populations.

Additional Information:

Area/College: WSU Spokane
Department Name: Division of Student Affairs
City, State, Zip: Spokane, WA 99201
Department Link: https://spokane.wsu.edu/studentaffairs/
Monthly Salary: $3,750.85 - $4,575 | Commensurate with education and experience
In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate’s current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position. Successful candidates typically begin up to mid-point of the salary range. For more information regarding Administrative Professional (AP) Compensation at Washington State University (WSU), please visit the following website: https://hrs.wsu.edu/managers/classification-compensation/ap-compensation-structure/ .
WSU offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical, dental, life and disability insurance package for employees and dependents; retirement; deferred compensation and optional supplemental retirement accounts.
For a more detailed summary of benefits offered by WSU for AP staff visit: https://hrs.wsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/2024-Benefit-Overview-for-Faculty-and-AP.pdf .

Find total compensation information here: https://hrs.wsu.edu/managers/recruitment-toolkit/total-compensation/ .

Overtime Eligibility: Overtime Eligible
FTE: 100%
This is a temporary position ending 8/31/2025 and is expected to renew annually with the grant cycle. Annual renewal is dependent on the need for extension and/or if additional funding is secured to extend employment. Funding cycle runs September 1 - August 31.
 

Posting Close Date: Posting has been extended. Applicants must submit their completed application by Sunday, May 5, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
 

Background Check: This position has been designated by the department to require a background check because it requires access to children or vulnerable adults as defined by RCW 74.34, engages in law enforcement, requires security clearance, interacts with WSU students in a counseling or advising capacity, has access to personal identifying and/or financial information, unsupervised access to university buildings/property, or other business-related need.  A background check will not be completed until an initial determination of qualification for employment has been made.

Application Instructions:

Applicants must upload the following documents to their online application. 

• Curriculum Vitae/Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

External candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/CV” section of your application. 

Internal candidates, please upload all documents in the “Resume/Cover Letter” section of your application.

Documents may be submitted in one file or separate files. Applicants are encouraged to upload as a PDF if possible. Application materials should clearly communicate how the applicant meets all required qualifications and additional requirements.

WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected].

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WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EDUCATOR AND EMPLOYER. Members of ethnic minorities, women, special disabled veterans, veterans of the Vietnam-era, recently separated veterans, and other protected veteran, persons of disability and/or persons age 40 and over are encouraged to apply.

WSU employs only U.S. citizens and lawfully authorized non-U.S. citizens. All new employees must show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

WSU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, education and employment for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact Human Resource Services: 509-335-4521 (v), Washington State TDD Relay Service: Voice Callers: 1-800-833-6384; TDD Callers: 1-800-833-6388, 509-335-1259(f), or [email protected] .