Academic Coordinator (TRIO Upward Bound Program)

Reporting to the Director of Upward Bound, the Academic Coordinator provides individual and group advising and coaching; develops Individual Graduation Plans; facilitates academic, leadership, college-preparation, financial-literacy, career-readiness, and student-success workshops; monitors participant progress; and helps students navigate college curricula, degree requirements, admissions, scholarships, and postsecondary pathways.

Grant-Funded Position

This position is fully funded through the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound Program grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding, continuation of the program, programmatic needs, satisfactory job performance, and achievement of applicable grant objectives. The employee must comply with federal TRIO regulations, grant terms, institutional policies, documentation standards, and reporting requirements, including preparation and submission of the Annual Performance Report.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise and coach Upward Bound participants, seniors, and Bridge students regarding secondary-school completion, college readiness, admission, enrollment, persistence, degree planning, career development, and graduate or professional education.
• Develop and maintain Individual Graduation Plans and help participants understand college curricula, degree requirements, and pathways supporting timely completion.
• Provide individual and group coaching addressing academic preparation, personal barriers, goal setting, time management, academic mindset, anxiety, procrastination, career exploration, scholarship opportunities, and academic or social concerns.
• Monitor participant attendance and engagement in supplemental instruction, tutoring, workshops, advising, and required meetings; provide timely intervention and positive reinforcement.
• Facilitate workshops focused on academic skill building, leadership, college preparation, financial literacy, career readiness, and student success.
• Collect, verify, enter, and maintain participant, service, attendance, academic, enrollment, persistence, and completion data in Blumen and other approved systems.
• Use the National Student Clearinghouse and other authorized sources to track postsecondary enrollment and completion outcomes.
• Support the preparation, verification, and timely submission of the U.S. Department of Education Annual Performance Report and other required grant or institutional reports.
• Track progress toward program objectives and assist with assessment, documentation, record retention, data integrity, and continuous-improvement activities while protecting confidential information.
• Coordinate facilities, participant transportation, field trips, college tours, travel, workshops, meetings, student supplies, stipends, and other approved program logistics.
• Maintain participant files, applications, eligibility documents, correspondence, activity materials, and program records; collaborate with instructors, tutors, counselors, school personnel, families, faculty, staff, community representatives, and program partners.
• Attend assigned program meetings, recruitment activities, school visits, community events, conferences, and professional-development activities, and perform other grant-consistent duties assigned by the Director.

Required Qualifications

• Experience working with students in college-access, academic-support, youth-development, secondary-school, postsecondary, or related educational programs.
• Evidence of successful relationship building with faculty, staff, community representatives, parents and families, teachers, school administrators, or other partners.
• Experience with partnerships, strategic planning, operational planning, program coordination, or student services.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in education, counseling, social science, student affairs, or a related field.
• At least three years of progressively responsible experience in higher education, college access, TRIO, student services, program coordination, or a large organization.
• Experience with Upward Bound or another TRIO program, Blumen, federal grant reporting, the National Student Clearinghouse, participant tracking, or preparation of the U.S. Department of Education Annual Performance Report.
• Experience coordinating workshops, student activities, travel, tutors, instructors, student workers, volunteers, or program records.
• Professional or personal background supporting effective engagement with the educational needs of low-income, first-generation, and other program-eligible students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Professional Attributes

• Knowledge of college-access, academic-support, student-success, and postsecondary-transition practices for low-income and first-generation students.
• Ability to advise, coach, motivate, and build trusting relationships with secondary-school and college students.
• Strong organizational, program-coordination, recordkeeping, data-management, analytical, problem-solving, presentation, interpersonal, and customer-service skills.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, school personnel, families, community partners, and diverse stakeholders while managing multiple priorities and meeting deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, student or grant databases, and electronic records systems; experience with Blumen is desirable.
• Commitment to educational opportunity, inclusive excellence, accountability, confidentiality, sound judgment, and continuous improvement.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in professional office, classroom, school, college, and community environments with frequent interaction with participants, families, school personnel, University employees, and community partners. The position requires extensive computer use, data entry, meetings, workshops, travel, and participant activities; evening and weekend work may be required. The employee must be able to sit, stand, walk, communicate, use standard office equipment, travel among program sites, supervise student activities, and lift or carry program materials weighing up to 25 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. Extensive travel of up to 80% may be required based on the program calendar and grant needs.

SUNO Benefits

SUNO offers eligible employees a comprehensive benefits package that may include:

• Health insurance: through the Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB). Learn more
• Retirement: through the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL). Learn more
• Dental insurance: offered through UNUM. Learn more
• Vision insurance: offered through UNUM. Learn more
• Paid time off and University holidays: for eligible positions, in accordance with University policy. Learn more

Benefit eligibility, enrollment, employee contributions, coverage, leave accrual, and retirement participation are governed by applicable plan documents, state law, University policy, appointment type, and employment eligibility.

Application Materials

Applicants should submit a letter of interest, current résumé, unofficial transcripts for all degrees awarded, and contact information for three professional references. Official transcripts and additional documentation may be required before appointment. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of all University-required pre-employment screenings and continued compliance with applicable grant, driving, travel, youth-protection, training, and University requirements. Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Non-Discrimination Statement

In compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other federal, state, and local laws, Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) forbids discriminating or harassing conduct that is based on an individual's race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, national origin or ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, membership in Uniformed Services, and all other categories protected by applicable state and federal laws.

This commitment applies but is not limited to decisions made with respect to hiring and promotion, the administration of educational programs and policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other University-administered programs. Discriminatory acts of any kind are strictly forbidden.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Office of Human Resources.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER • STATE AS A MODEL EMPLOYER (SAME)