Staff associate - academic coordinator - of arts

Location: North Adams, MA Category: Administrative Posted On: Tue Oct 21 2025 Job Description:

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Academic Outreach Coordinator (AOC) is responsible for coordinating and implementing comprehensive academic and holistic advising services designed to promote learning, retention, persistence, engagement, well-being, and success of students in college as they navigate towards their current and future goals. The AOC provides direct advising, coaching, intervention strategies, referrals, workshops, and various supports to empower students and student cohorts as scholars and engaged members of the MCLA community. The AOC serves as an academic advisor and success coach, helping structure success plans and connect students to tiered levels of support and opportunity. The AOC helps the Director and colleagues construct and implement universal and customized models, programs, assessments, initiatives, enrollment management tactics, and projects assigned to their annual portfolio of projects. It is essential that AOC partners with faculty, advisors, staff and students to offer highly collaborative, student centered, strengths-based, culturally responsive, data-informed and holistic engagement and advising approaches to working relationally and effectively with students from all backgrounds.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports directly to Director of Academic Advising and Support (AA&S), and to the Executive Director for Student Persistence on special projects.

SUPERVISION PROVIDED: May supervise a cohort of student employees.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Academic Advising & Support.

Deliver high-quality, holistic and academic advising and success coaching to support students as scholars and learners, and as they navigate through their academic experience, transitions and planning. Collaboratively contribute to the development, implementation, and assessment of comprehensive academic advising and support models.
Serve as an academic advisor, success coach, and project developer or coordinator. Work commitments are assigned through a portfolio of evolving AA&S projects informed by the Director and a caseload or cohort of undergraduate students to advise.
Foster a welcoming and supportive transition for students transitioning into the college and between academic years and academic milestones, e.g., first year, sophomore, junior, senior, re-entry, & graduate. Engage with students in active listening, cultural responsiveness and appreciative inquiry in ways that build trust and self-efficacy, foster learning and personal development, cultivate relationships, encourage reflection, provides for timely and accurate guidance about resources to aid students in making well informed decisions, and to persist in college.
Proactively work with students and colleagues to create and monitor customized student success plans. Independently and consistently maintain the integrity of academic records, student registration, and monitoring student progress.
Consult on and provide comprehensive academic planning support that includes course selection, scheduling, consultations on policies and exceptions, and degree pathway planning as well as guidelines and support for stop outs and returns.
Provide intensive academic and well-being support and interventions for students at risk through consultation with the Director and other colleagues. Recommend tactics and approaches to mitigate risk and close equity gaps.
Enhance retention, success, persistence, well-being and belonging of all students through universal practices and initiatives. Through customized practices and initiatives, serve students where equity gaps and opportunities exist. Partner with colleagues to integrate support for all students, and specifically for students of color, First Gen students, students with disabilities, neuro-divergent students, veterans, athletes, international students, honor's program affiliated students, transfer students, over 25 yr. age student population, and various identity affiliations.
Conduct ongoing advising, coaching and intervention sessions in person and within online platforms. In a timely and accurate manner, document information and sessions on student success platforms, specifically in EAB Navigate360 and other advising dashboards. Utilize student information systems, shared advising platforms, professional association materials, and learning management systems.
Participate in college strategies to reduce late course registration and address various enrollment management goals.
Serve as a mandated reporter per the MA State EO Plan and Federal Title IX guidelines. Follow FERPA regulations, institutional policy and ethical guidelines for student confidentiality of notes and records.
Serve as a facilitator of forums, workshops, and skill-development sessions as identified in team strategic planning.
Develop and contribute to the overall student experience, promoting respectful relationships, belonging, and community.

Administration, Coordination & Collaboration.

Assist the Director of Academic Advising & Support in preparation of information for periodic reporting and a comprehensive annual report. Engage in ongoing assessment practices and guidance consultations with Director and with the Executive Director of Persistence to advance commitments, communications, continuous improvements, enrollment management tactics, proactive implementation of student opportunities and interventions, and role alignment with new and coordinated priorities, outcomes and models. Additionally, create models, proposals, and outlines for the coordination of programs and projects.
In alignment with MCLA and the office of Academic Advising & Support, serve as an ambassador, and as a collaborative and accountable partner. Contribute to the implementation of shared goals and tactics with Academic Advisors, First Year Onboarding and Faculty Success Coaches, Disability Resources, TRiO Student Support Services, Trailblazer Tutor Program, and mentoring programs in Athletics, MERC, and the Dean of Students' office. May be asked to provide specific student advising, in support of TRiO SSS registered students.
Assist with and participate in faculty and staff advising training sessions.
In consultation with the director, demonstrate sound fiscal and resource management. Implement and be accountable for administrative duties, policies, shared/consultative decision-making, and team practices. This includes collective and direct support for front-facing communications. All staff engage in triage responses.
Acquaint and stay current with MCLA's, AA&S's, and higher education policies, practices and resources. Set goals for and participate in professional development opportunities.

General.

Attendance at all campus signature events may be required and are often encouraged. This role may include occasional weekend and evening commitments. Some examples include first year onboarding, admission events, convocation and opening academic year events, commencement, affinity group receptions, and signature events.
Additional responsibilities may be assigned as needed within the scope of related work duties and the priorities of the role and the office. At times, a flexible schedule may be required beyond specific business hours. This is a predominantly in person, on campus, direct student-facing role.

Job Requirements:
Minimum earned Bachelor's degree.
2 years of experience in a role of similar complexity, pace, subject area, and responsibility.
Experience working with students in a college setting, and prior experience working in an academic support setting (preferred). Knowledge of student development theory, and holistic and wellness resources.
Commitment to working in partnership with student affairs and academic affairs in support of student persistence, engagement, & retention.
Evidence of working effectively with students from different backgrounds, and in successful collaboration with institutional and community partners to promote equity and inclusion.
Knowledge and practice with some of the following educational technology platforms, such as, but not limited to, SIS-Banner, LMS-Canvas, advising dashboards and reporting tools, e.g., EAB Navigate, Degree Works, Maxient, and Argos. Proficient in the use of standard Microsoft products.
Knowledge of FERPA regulations and ethical guidelines for student confidentiality notes and records.
Proven strong decision making, intercultural communication, presentation and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively and adaptively with students, staff, and faculty.
Strong focus on proactive student support, innovative problem-solving skills, flexibility, attention to detail and organization, and ability to excel in an evolving environment.
Ability to work independently, and collectively, and in consultation on department and institution priorities.
Coordination experience with people, projects, presentations, and programs.

Additional Information:
This is a grant-funded, full time permanent position within the APA Union. Salary for this position is $49,100-$52,500.

Until further notice, in response to the Presidential proclamation, issued on September 19, 2025, imposing a significant fee on the entry of individuals with new H-1B visas, this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities. Should you need to request a reasonable accommodation for the application process, please email Brenda Stokes, Executive Director of Human Resources.

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is deeply committed to fostering a community of excellence, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We provide equal access to educational, co-curricular and employment opportunities for all applicants, students, and employees regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital or parental status, veteran status, or membership in any other legally protected class. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any educational program or activity that they operate, which extends to admission and employment.

Inquiries about Title IX, Equal Opportunity, or ADA/504 and other non-discrimination policies may be directed to MCLA's Interim Title IX and Equal Opportunity Coordinator, to the Assistant Secretary of the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, or both.

Lucas Morrill

Interim Title IX and EO Coordinator

375 Church Street, North Adams, MA 01247

Telephone: (413) 662-5103

[email protected]

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

33 Arch Street, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02119-1424

Telephone: (617) 289-0111; FAX: (617) 289-0150; TDD (877) 521-2172

[email protected]