Bilingual Academic Advisor

Job Title: Bilingual Academic Advisor

Bergen Community College is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Bilingual Academic Advisor to join our team. As a key member of our advising staff, you will play a critical role in supporting the academic success and retention of our students, particularly those participating in the Title V grant.

Job Summary:

The Bilingual Academic Advisor will provide comprehensive advising, academic, and financial aid support to students, while promoting services that are culturally competent and inclusive. This position requires a strong understanding of the community college mission and a commitment to open door access policy.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with Stakeholders: Coordinate all financial aid, advising, and academic services in collaboration with key stakeholders, including tutoring, academic advising, personal counseling, financial aid, faculty, student life, and other academic advisors.
• Student Planning and Retention: Partner with students to develop their long-range plans of academic study through Student Planning, and include strategies to increase drop prevention.
• Cohort-Based Advising: Track, monitor, and follow-up with students under assigned cohorts through the cohort-based advising model, and develop a system to document retention and attrition statistics.
• Demographic Data Analysis: Track and analyze demographic data of students to support programming for first-year students and other assigned student cohorts, incorporating co-curricular programming that addresses key indicators of student success.
• Success Benchmarks: Monitor and track student retention and other success benchmarks, and create desegregated data reports and provide periodic outcomes on key performance indicators.
• Advising and Retention Tracking: Work in partnership with the Senior Director of Advising, serving as an information liaison to the Advising/Counseling Team and implementing technologies for advising and retention tracking.
• Workshops and Presentations: Develop and conduct workshops, classroom presentations, and coordinate events to support student academic and personal success.
• Walk-in and Scheduled Appointments: Participate in advising through walk-in times and scheduled appointments at the Advising Center and at targeted events, such as New Student Orientation and Welcome Week activities.
• Course Selection and Placement: Follow placement test score standards and provide guidance on course selection based on student performance.
• Referral and Partnerships: Refer students to appropriate campus resources for assistance with disability services, academic and personal issues, and other college-related concerns, and develop partnerships in the community to ensure Title V students have access to external service providers as needed.
• Event Planning and Partnerships: Assist and partner with colleagues to ensure events and other learning opportunities that support career students in reaching their academic and career goals.

Requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree REQUIRED; Master's degree in Leadership, Student Affairs, Higher Education, Counseling, Social Work, Psychology, Human Services, Vocational Rehabilitation, or related field preferred.
• Experience: Experience working with individuals within an institution of higher education is required.
• Financial Aid Knowledge: Knowledge of Federal and NJ State financial aid a plus.
• FERPA and Disability Laws: Full knowledge and understanding of FERPA is preferred. Knowledge of state and federal laws and statutes relating to the rights of individuals with disabilities with specific attention to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act is desired.
• Communication and Presentation: Ability to develop workshops and possess strong presentation skills.
• Organizational and Analytical Skills: Able to maintain accurate files and records to ensure documentation in compliance with established policies and regulatory guidelines.
• Technical Skills: Experience creating and revising office systems and procedures by analyzing processes, files, and standard operating procedures. Must be proficient with Microsoft Office programs required; Extensive knowledge of Datatel/Colleague preferred.
• Interpersonal and Customer Service Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, excellent organizational and time management skills. Must possess excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Communication and Multitasking: Excellent communication skills and ability to multi-task assignments.
• Decision-Making and Teamwork: Must have sound judgment capability and ability to make routine decisions. Must be a team player, as well as, able to work independently and ability to work respectfully with a diverse student and employee population.
• Travel and Flexibility: Must be able to travel to any of the three locations. Ability to work some evenings as needed.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Communication
• Customer and Student Focus
• Building Relationships
• Organizing
• Planning

Benefits:

• Annual Salary is $45,000 (Grant Funded)
• NJ Educators Health Plan with free Vision and Dental. NJ State Pension plan.
• 15 vacation days, 15 sick days, 4 personal days, 2 floating holidays, all designated holidays and 5 non-designated holidays a year. 3 Partial Sick Days.

About Bergen Community College:

Bergen Community College is committed to excellence in diversity and equity and creating an inclusive learning and working environment. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and consider applicants for all positions regardless of race, color, religion, creed, gender, age, national origin, marital and veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other legally protected status.

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