Position provides a variety of college preparatory student services to Upward Bound high school students in an effort to further the student’s successes in completing high school, gaining admission into postsecondary education, and subsequently succeeding in postsecondary education. Person in position will also maintain a daily academic advisement caseload of students, which is central to the role of ensuring student retention and promoting postsecondary academic opportunities. Duties include, but are not limited to: academically advising high school students throughout high school and pre-college to ensure retention and college placement; tutoring to improve student academic performance in response to college admissions eligibility; continuously recruiting students and promoting the program; recommending, updating, and implementing Upward Bound’s “pre-college individualized academic development plans.”; advising testing strategies to students; advising and assisting students with securing financial aid; establishing effective rapport with target school counselors, faculty, and administrators to secure student progress information and academic reports; assessing student’s academic abilities, recommending tutorial services, and providing recommended services; tutoring Algebra at a minimum; recommending grammatical outlines and vocabulary approaches to writing student scholarship essays and research papers; establishing rapport with students, faculty and school counselors; conducting recruitment presentations before groups of high school students; presenting and promoting information about Upward Bound to school personnel and community organizations during formal and informal meetings; developing and writing promotional information for school newspapers

Position will demonstrate: effective communication skills, both written and verbal, to advise, counsel, instruct, mentor, and tutor (after school) caseload of high school student advisees; knowledge of potential postsecondary barriers associated with students from low income, first generation, and minority backgrounds, and ability to advise/counsel/mentor students accordingly; knowledge of federal financial aid terminology, processes and procedures, and the ability to advise and assist students with securing aid; knowledge of agencies providing financial aid and scholarships to students, and ability to advise and assist students with securing the resources; knowledge of ACT/SAT assessments; knowledge of high school student support resources and ability to refer students when necessary; proficiency in computer software such as Microsoft operating system and Office applications as well as the software necessary to conduct internet searches, and e-mail; ability to meet timelines for reporting student information to program; thorough understanding of high school math subjects and related problem solving approaches

Bachelor’s degree in a related field and two (2) years of related work experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

Knowledge of high school graduation requirements, and the college majors and admission standards required of Montana’s universities, colleges, colleges of technology, and tribal colleges

Demonstrated knowledge of the Montana University System’s tribal college major options, admissions policies and procedures, scholarship opportunities and procedures, and the financial aid process and procedures

Demonstrated knowledge of advising practices and procedures with the ability to prepare academic plans

Proficient knowledge of student transcript review and evaluation

Effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work with diverse groups of individuals and create and maintain effective working relationships

Demonstrated skill in the use of personal computers and related software with the ability to learn new software

Knowledge of professional office practices and procedures; business English, spelling, grammar, and composition

Demonstrated ability to conduct presentations covering and explaining moderately complex subject matter