Requisition Details

Two Support Staff Full-time New Positions

(First consideration for Support Staff and Academic positions will be given to internal applicants in accordance with the respective Collective Agreements)

The Student Success Advisor (SSA) is the first point of contact for the Student Affairs department and in many cases, academic advising support. The incumbent provides academic advising to students through a wide range of Conestoga initiatives that supports Student Success and retention. The Advisor is also responsible for identifying barriers to Student Success, responding to a wide variety of inquiries from students, staff, and faculty, assessing student concerns, facilitating academic and personal problem-solving, and making appropriate referrals.

Successful candidates will be required to conduct work within Ontario and must be available to work on campus as required. Please note there are two vacancies for this position. One vacancy will be working out of the Kitchener – Doon campus located at 299 Doon Valley Drive Kitchener, ON N2G 4M4, and the second vacancy will be working out of the Guelph campus located at 460 Speedvale Ave. West, Guelph, ON N1H 0A8.

It is anticipated that this position will meet the needs of the department through a hybrid work arrangement with 3 days on-site, and 2 days remote.

Responsibilities:

• Advising students using a strengths and skills-based approach, grounded in student development, and lifecycle theory and practice
• Assessing student requests, needs, and concerns through appointments and drop-in services (in-person, phone, virtual) and facilitating problem-solving using College information systems and resources
• Researching and piloting new delivery models to better meet the needs of students
• Monitoring online referrals from faculty and staff, reaching out to students to understand needs and identify barriers to success
• Providing appropriate guidance and individualized feedback to support students in successfully navigating the college system, including institutional expectations, academic policies, and procedures
• Facilitating appropriate connections and referrals to support student concerns (e.g. personal, mental health, financial, academic, career)
• Enabling students to develop life skills that support academic development and success (e.g. time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills)
• Assisting in the development of Student Success plans and academic plans, including support plans and progress reports to support the WSIB Public College Service Agreement
• Maintaining confidential documentation of direct and in-direct service
• Staying current with AODA and the Ontario Human Rights Code, College policies and procedures, and advising and retention best practices
• Planning and delivering workshops and presentations to support Student Success and persistence
• Advocating for student academic and personal success, by identifying and reporting circumstances that may adversely impact student’s academic progress
• Connecting with at risk student populations post-acceptance (e.g. WSIB students) to proactively schedule advising appointments, provide information and resources on services available, and field questions, concerns and referrals to other departments as appropriate
• Acting as a School point of contact for admission procedures, such as clarifications, alternate offers, credit transfer and turnaround documents, and pathway options
• Conducting early intervention initiatives to provide support and resources that promote retention for students deemed at risk of not successfully completing their semester
• Working in close collaboration with the other offices and contributing to the planning and execution of outreach and events to support student persistence
• Taking a lead in building awareness of Student Affairs and various supports during the academic cycle, through timely communications to faculty and students and varied outreach methods
• Acting as a resource and champion to the College community in identifying and understanding the needs of students and the support required for student persistence/retention
• Collecting and maintaining statistics relevant to Ministry or grant reporting guidelines and the requirements of the College in coordination with the Student Affairs team
• Working with the Student Affairs and the academic team to evaluate the effectiveness of service delivery and identify key areas for improvement in service delivery
• Representing the college on relevant College and community committees (e.g. Crown Ward Committee) as directed
• Liaising with other college departments as appropriate to support Student Success

Qualifications:

• Three-year Diploma/Degree in Social Sciences, Education, Human Resources, Leadership/Management, or a related field is required
• A completed credential in adult education, academic advising, student affairs/services, and/or mental health is preferred
• Three years of recent experience providing academic or career advising to a post-secondary population
• Demonstrated knowledge of student and adult learning and development theory, approaches, and best practices
• Working knowledge of student academic and personal advising theories, approaches, and best practices
• Good understanding of academic operations, as well as knowledge of college post-secondary, continuing education, and/or apprenticeship programs
• Demonstrated experience working with and supporting a diverse student/client population
• Understanding of rules related to advising privacy and confidentiality
• Ability to positively relate and work with students, faculty, staff, administration, and the general public in a variety of situations (one-on-one and groups) is essential
• Demonstrated listening, coaching, and facilitation skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment
• Displays strong organizational ability with close attention to details
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency with business computer applications including Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, One Drive, OneNote, Excel), SharePoint, Student Information Systems (SIS), and Learning Management Systems (eConestoga), plus internet researching skills and basic familiarity with office procedures is necessary
• Ability to learn and adapt to new software applications is important

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