Academic Advisor - IBEST Program

Position Summary:

The Academic Advisor for IBEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training) serves in a fast-paced team environment as a high-level resource specialist supporting the success of a diverse student population participating in IBEST and other Adult Education transition programs. This position will provide holistic, wraparound services to IBEST students, advising them on programs of study, admissions, and completion requirements for degrees, certificates, and occupational programs, and will assist students in completing PCC educational plans that meet their academic and career goals.

The Academic Advisor for IBEST will serve as a primary liaison between the Adult Basic Education for College & Career (ABECC) Division and the College programs supported by the IBEST model. This includes sharing information about IBEST programs with staff and faculty and collaborating with college partners to integrate recruitment, admissions, and advising efforts in order to create a seamless experience for each learner. This forward-facing role will also regularly communicate and collaborate with multiple community partners in efforts to successfully integrate services and resources toward multiple goals including completion of career training and academic programs, earning an HSE diploma, and/or employment.

About Adult Basic Education

For more than 50 years, Pima’s Adult Basic Education division has served adult learners in Pima County with Adult Basic Education, Adult Secondary Education, English Language Acquisition for Adults, Refugee Education, Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship, Student Engagement, IBEST, and Transition programming and services. Each year, thousands of adults are served at college campuses, in community locations, virtually/online, at the Pima County Jail, and primarily at three large learning centers. ABECC and Pima Community College are committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels and in all programs and services. Pima’s Diversity Plan guides the ongoing work of Adult Basic Education where we aim to ensure that individuals of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, abilities, religious beliefs, and sexual orientations feel a sense of belonging and the ability to thrive. ABECC is proactive in seeking opportunities for employees to learn about and improve DEI for our students, staff, instructors, and community.

The work schedule for this position is flexible and may include working evenings and weekends and local travel.

Continued employment in the position is contingent upon continued funding through designated external sources.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise students about IBEST certificate programs and College services
• Assist students with admissions and completion requirements as well as funding processes including FAFSA and/or co-enrollment with external partner programs
• Collaborate with College faculty, staff and community partners to coordinate a seamless and holistic approach to student development within IBEST programs
• Assist students in completing PCC Educational Plans to meet their academic goals
• Participate in monthly IBEST Operations meetings with teams composed of College faculty and staff, and community partners including Arizona@Work, JobPath and others. Collaboratively monitor student progress and coordinate ongoing individualized support for students, including academic and employment advising, connections to internships and employment, and resources to remove barriers to program completion, employment and training
• Communicate with current and prospective students, faculty members and other College staff and division teams about IBEST activities such as information sessions, employment events or site visits
• Schedule office hours/appointments with students virtually and in person at the campuses students attend. Visit classrooms to share information about advising resources and foster connection with students. Contact students in their assigned program areas to inform, invite, and schedule them to utilize their advising services
• Support the transition of Adult Learners into and through college-level programs. Provide assistance to adult learners to successfully navigate college systems
• Research and recommend resolutions for complex student advising concerns
• Analyze confidential student information, identify issues and discrepancies, make recommendations for appropriate action based on findings
• Participate in/on a variety of College and community committees, workshops, meetings, training sessions, task forces, and conferences
• Provide leadership in developing a genuine service ethic within student affairs and promoting an environment of excellence, support, and satisfaction throughout the College

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree and
• One year experience in student services, coaching, and/or advising

or

• Candidates who possess similar minimum objective qualifications should describe in detail the education and work experience you regard as establishing the equivalency

Preferred:

• Two years experience in student services, coaching, and/or advising

The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Knowledge of student services, academic advising principles, and student development theory, practices and trends
• Knowledge of adult education and workforce development services
• Experience developing academic planners such as MyDegreePlan, completing graduation applications, substitution requests and curriculum requirements
• Ability to demonstrate curiosity and humility in seeking to understand and empathize with diverse populations in an effort to foster diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Ability to foster and maintain cooperative working relationships with groups within a diverse, multicultural, academic, and workforce environment. Work positively and effectively as a contributing member of a team
• Ability to work effectively with leadership, governance and faculty across a wide range of academic and business operations areas with multiple constituents
• Critical thinking skills to identify, evaluate, research and solve complex problems that cross multiple areas of student services
• Skills in managing multiple projects and time while under pressure to meet deadlines
• Skills in public speaking and group facilitation, including presenting in front of large groups, and creating effective presentation materials
• Knowledge of the Workforce Investment Opportunity Act (WIOA), current state and national trends in Adult Basic Education and applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations