Coordinator of Student Advising - CEDAR Navigator-2

The Corrections Education, Development, and Re-entry (CEDAR) Center is an externally funded program working to provide educational opportunities to incarcerated Vermonters and the staff at the Department of Corrections. The CEDAR Center delivers high-quality education that empowers incarcerated learners to build meaningful careers, strengthen their wellbeing, and improve their quality of life in custody and beyond.

In partnership with VDOC, CCV delivers post-secondary education to incarcerated Vermonters - providing personalized academic, advising, and career support.

CEDAR Navigators provide advising services to special populations and are responsible for ensuring students make consistent progression toward achieving their educational goals. They work closely with students from admissions through graduation to provide the guidance and support students need to persist and achieve their goals. They ensure their program reaches their enrollment targets by developing and maintaining strong relationships and partnerships with CEDAR administration, Department of Corrections (VDOC) officials, social services agencies, and all students affiliated with Vermont’s correction system. They participate in the design and implementation of enhanced advising practices and curriculum to improve retention and student success. This is a 3-year, grant funded position.

Job Summary

CEDAR Navigators support students through the full arc of their educational and re-entry journey, including post-release transition, workforce preparation, and continued enrollment in postsecondary education. This includes advising students into- and registering them for courses at Vermont State University (VTSU), supporting transfer and continuation pathways, and coordinating services that bridge incarceration and community-based education and employment. Navigators must understand the policies, procedures, and programming at three separate institutions: CCV, VDOC, and VTSU.

• Serve as an integral member of the academic center’s team focusing on student recruitment and advising from admissions through graduation or the completion of their credential
• Help students acclimate to the policies, expectations, and culture of higher education
• Assist students with exploration of career pathways that align with their life goals, interests, and strengths, referring students to financial aid, career counseling, and Learning Centers as appropriate
• Help students select course schedules, develop education plans, conduct degree audits, and track their progress toward degree/credential completion and successfully prepare for job searches and/or transfer
• Work closely with coordinators of teaching and learning to ensure the students’ needs are met by annual course schedules
• Check in with students at key decision points along their paths and maintain consistent interaction with students via face-to-face, phone, text, and email communications
• Provide real-time interventions and use proactive advising tools to support student retention
• Work with faculty and coordinators of teaching and learning to identify barriers to learning and persistence and recommend approaches to overcome barriers to enhance student success
• Develop and maintain strong strategic relationships and partnerships with CEDAR administration, Department of Corrections officials, social services agencies, and all students affiliated with Vermont’s correction system
• Participate in professional development activities to enhance effectiveness of student advising at CCV
• Provide advising to incarcerated Vermonters, the staff at the Department of Corrections and other services to special populations (e.g. TRIO, ADA, veterans)
• Provide front line intervention and faculty support in situations that require immediate or special action or observation
• Support students in re-entry planning, including post-release educational continuation, employment readiness, and connection to community-based resources
• Advise and register students into courses at Vermont State University and support transfer, dual enrollment, and continuation pathways
• Coordinate with employers, workforce partners, and community organizations to align educational pathways with job opportunities for justice-involved students
• Provide ongoing advising and support to students post-release to ensure persistence in higher education and/or employment pathways
• Navigate cross-institutional systems, policies, and procedures to support student enrollment and success beyond CCV
• Other duties as may be assigned

Supervisory Responsibility: None

Minimum qualifications (Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities)

Education: Master's degree

Experience: 3 -5 years professional experience in the education, student services, counseling, corrections, or a related professional field.  Direct experience with Vermont’s Correction system highly valued.

Travel and flexibility in work hours required. Must have valid driver’s license and reliable personal transportation.

Experience supporting re-entry, workforce development, or cross-institutional higher education pathways preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to work in and foster a highly collaborative and student-centered environment

• Expert communication skills, with excellent interpersonal and discretionary communication skills and a commitment to working effectively and cooperatively with diverse constituents

• Effective listening and analytical skills to assess needs and develop successful solutions to complex problems

• Knowledge of higher education policies and procedures, including familiarity with student development theory

• Demonstrated skill in planning and prioritizing work activities, attending to details, managing multiple projects, and meeting deadlines

• Strong technological proficiency

• Ability to work under conditions of high volume during peak periods

• Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic background of college staff, faculty and students

·         Prior experience with justice-impacted people preferred. 

Physical Requirements: Duties performed causes light fatigue of eyes, fingers, or other faculties as a result of repetitive motion and/or long periods of standing or sitting. Duties require little physical effort in work with light to moderate (up to 25lbs) easy-to-handle materials.

Working Conditions: Job is generally performed in general office or comparable working area with many and frequent distractions such as noise and interruptions. Frequent visits to spaces within correctional institutions across the state will be necessary. Work schedule may vary during high volume periods. 

In-state travel approximately 2 days per week and a hybrid (home and office) work schedule available.

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