Associate Director, Honors Program

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The Opportunity

This is an exciting time to be a part of the HCCC community. The College recently launched its 2021-24 Strategic Plan, the culmination of which will align with the College's 50 th anniversary in 2024. The College was recognized by the Association of Community College Trustees as the recipient of the 2021 ACCT Northeast Region Equity Award. HCCC has recently been named one of 101 recipients, 1 of only 7 community colleges to be distinguished for the Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, a national honor recognizing U.S. colleges and universities that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. HCCC's Culinary Arts Institute was ranked as the #6 Culinary Arts program in the United States by Best Choice Schools. Most recently, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) selected HCCC as one of twenty-four colleges nationwide to be named a "2022 Most Promising Place to Work in Community Colleges."

Overview

Hudson County Community College serves one of the most ethnically diverse and densely populated communities in the United States. The College is a vibrant, urban institution of higher education whose mission is to provide its diverse communities with inclusive, high-quality educational programs and services that promote student success and upward social and economic mobility.

The STEM Division is housed in a new state-of-the-art 70,000 square-foot building, with teaching and learning space. Students conduct research with faculty, presenting their results at regional and national conferences. Additionally, students have the opportunity to be a part of the Northern New Jersey Bridges to Baccalaureate (NNJ-B2B) Alliance of five, public, associate-degree granting, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). HCCC STEM students have participated in summer research internship projects at institutions including Princeton University, The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Rutgers University, and The City University of New York (CUNY). Almost 60% of STEM faculty have PhDs. In the last two years, the STEM Division has created programs in Advanced Manufacturing, Cybersecurity and Construction Management. In 2021 the Division received a $298,806 National Science Foundation Advanced Technical grant. The overall objective of the grant is to develop and improve structured partnerships with local employers to increase internship opportunities and employment for Construction Management students and graduates.

More than 90% of HCCC's students receive scholarships, grants, and loans to finance their education, and the College's extensive financial aid program helps connect students with the resources they need. To date, the College's Foundation has raised over $3.5 million for student scholarships, and HCCC ranks first in the state of New Jersey for its award of Community College Opportunity Grant funds. About half of its more than 12,000 credit students identify as Hispanic, and more than 33% of all students were born outside of the U.S. In 2021, HCCC had two students selected from a national applicant pool to receive the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

Hudson County Community College has three campuses. The largest campus is located at the heart of Jersey City's Journal Square, which is approximately 20 minutes from New York City. The College has a North Hudson Campus, located in Union City, New Jersey and an additional location at the Hudson County Schools of Technology in Secaucus, New Jersey. The College offers 70 degree and certificate programs and more than 300-day, evening, and weekend courses throughout its three-campus network.

Hudson County Community College is committed to delivering high-quality educational experiences. HCCC is a member of the Achieving the Dream network of community colleges. Achieving the Dream is a national reform network of high-performing community colleges that are focused on leveraging data-informed best practices to promote equitable outcomes.

HCCC has two campus Libraries that provide welcoming common spaces that encourage exploration, creation, and collaboration between students, faculty, and a broader community. Our resources include a collection comprised of over 60,000 print and online books, 130 online databases, and approximately 67,000 periodicals (mostly online), nearly 2,000 DVDs, and a number of select streaming videos. In support of our many English Language Learners, our ESL collection offers a rich array of fiction and non-fiction books categorized by reading level to meet a variety of needs.

The College boasts several signature programs, including a nationally recognized Culinary Arts Institute and Nursing Program. The College's Culinary Arts Institute is one of only three programs in the New York Metropolitan region to hold accreditation from the Accrediting Commission of the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation. The Culinary Arts Institute features state-of-the-art facilities and a hands-on program that prepares students for a range of careers in the hospitality industry. The College recently announced the dedication of the Bloomberg Finance Lab, which provides students with real world experience to prepare them for employment in banks, corporations, and government agencies.

A leader in workforce development, HCCC hosted The Aspen Institute's Workforce Leadership Academy, which was the first to be offered in partnership with a community college. The Hudson County Workforce Leadership Academy was funded through a combination of public and private donors that included JPMorgan Chase, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the County of Hudson, the LeFrak Family, and Mack-Cali.

Department / Division Introduction

Academic Affairs

Position Summary

Salary Grade: 115

Reporting to the Dean of Academic Affairs and Assessment, the Associate Director of the Honors Program is responsible for advancing, supporting, and sustaining the Honors Program. The Associate Director will lead, manage, and support the design, development, implementation, and administration of all policies, procedures, practices, and activities related to the Honors Program. In addition, the Associate Director will advise and support Honors and other student honor societies regarding leadership and involvement opportunities for students.

Essential Responsibilities

1. The Associate Director will perform the following duties:
   
   
   • Lead, manage, and support the design, development, implementation, and administration of all policies, procedures, practices, and activities related to the Honors Program.
   • Conduct pre-semester Honors Program Orientations. Schedule, organize, and facilitate Honors Paper Presentations, Poster Showcase, and Honors Dinner events.
   • Lead and support initiatives to maintain and expand the current Honors Program in support of the College's mission.
   • Plan Honors global experiences and promote study abroad opportunities for honors students.
   • In collaboration with Deans and academic coordinators, the Associate Director manages course scheduling and development of new course offerings that support the expansion of the Honors Program.
   • Facilitate student development by assisting the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society (Beta Alpha Phi Chapter) Advisor with creating awareness and advising students on scholarship application and leadership opportunities.
   • Perform designated assessment duties and maintain student information within Colleague and Honors Program databases for past, current, and perspective students.
   • Develop and maintain partnerships with the Advisement, Enrollment, and Early College offices to support college-wide enrollment in addition to Honors Program enrollment.
   • Develop and maintain options for Honors Program Scholarships in partnership with the HCCC Foundation.
   • Promote innovation and best practices in honors pedagogy.
   • Collaborate with the Grants office to identify grants for the Honors Program.
   • Serve as the lead in offering coordinated activities, events, and initiatives jointly with all college academic honors societies.
   • Manage the College's Honors Program membership with external programs, such as the National Collegiate Honors Council.
   • Maintain memberships, attend necessary meetings and conferences, provide relevant information to Honors Program students.
   • Promote the expansion of articulation agreements, partnerships, transfer talks, and scholarship possibilities with institutions in New Jersey and the surrounding area.
   • Develop, maintain, and expand marketing and marketing materials of the Honors Program to current and perspective students.
   • Actively participate in program promotion, enrollment-related events, registration, Open House, and Student Orientation.
   • Serve as an advisor for the two Honors Program student organizations: Honors Student Council & Honors Rhapsody Newsletter.
   • Manage the Honors Lounge and activities related to the lounge.
2. Ensure the prompt identification and timely resolution of student issues, provide advice and guidance, and explain established processes and procedures to ensure that students have the information that they need to successfully progress through their program.
3. Refer student issues to the appropriate Student Affairs or Academic Affairs office, as necessary. Follows, enforces, and ensures compliance with relevant federal, state, and local regulations, established Student and Academic Affairs policies and procedures, and the rules and regulations defined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
4. Develop professional and management skills through independent research, networking, attending seminars and workshops, to maintain awareness of current and changing trends in education specific to Honors Education.
5. Serve as an active member of various internal and external committees. Represents Academic Affairs and the College to external constituencies and projects a positive image of professionalism, appearance, confidentiality, courtesy, conduct, honesty, fairness, and personal integrity at all times.

Position Requirements

Education and Experience

Master's Degree in Higher Education, Student Development, or related field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education and a minimum of two years' experience in academic advising in higher education.

• Experience in honors enrollment management including recruitment, progression, and retention.
• Demonstrated experience working with underrepresented students, first generation college students, low income, and non-traditional students.
• Demonstrated knowledge of student leadership and experience working with student leaders.
• Experience guiding students through the process of engaging in undergraduate research.

Special Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Willingness to actively engage with institutional student success initiatives. An understanding of and commitment to the role of a comprehensive community college in an urban multi-cultural setting. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate and interact effectively with faculty, staff, students, and administrators. Ability to write concisely, express thoughts clearly, and develop ideas in a logical sequence. Ability to work independently and solve problems and approach challenges in a flexible or creative way. Willingness to assume a variety of tasks and the ability to adapt and work effectively as the College advances. Demonstrated computer skills with various computer software programs and Ellucian-Colleague or similar higher education student information system, virtual meeting platforms, and social media.

To Apply

Address letter of application, resume and salary requirements including three references to: resumes@hccc.edu and lguastini@hccc.edu by January 20, 2023.

As a New Jersey First Act Employer, new employees must establish a primary residence in New Jersey within one year unless an exemption applies.

HCCC is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. We are committed to ensuring a diverse and inclusive learning and working environment. Decisions on employment are made on the basis of the qualifications of an individual for the particular position being filled. Women, veterans and minorities are encouraged to apply.

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