Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Student Resource Specialist

• Title: Student Resource Specialist
• Class: Academic Professional
• Exempt Status: Exempt
• Level: 3

Nature and Scope of Work

The Student Resource Specialist is responsible for providing a broad range of services in support of students enrolled in such programs as High School Completion, General Education Diploma, Youth Empowered to Succeed, Multicultural Academic Program, development education, or specific professional/technical programs. Incumbents initiate student contact to ensure student success within programs, provides career and vocational advising, admissions advising, and counsel on attendance and other issues; researches and evaluates available community services in assisting students at removing barriers, and develops and implements recruitment and retention strategies. Designs and delivers workshops and mini training sessions and credit level courses. Incumbents in this classification work independently at an assigned campus or remote site.

Principal Accountabilities (includes some or all of the following)

1. Advises students on program requirements. Develops academic goals. Evaluates student’s academic history and education, including transcript evaluation. Introduces students to resources available through the college. May assist students in career exploration.
2. Works collaboratively with program faculty and department chair to develop strategies for keeping at-risk students in class. Works collaboratively with other departments to facilitate and address student and program needs.
3. Provides support for students experiencing family, personal, or economic crises, which may impact school performance. Helps students access needed counseling services, support networks, community health, or housing services.
4. Develops, facilitates, and delivers classroom instruction on various topics such as time management, study strategies, goal setting, learning styles, career planning, and communication skills.
5. Consults with a variety of social service agencies in the community to explain program requirements generally, or address individual student progress or needs.
6. Develops, implements and maintains marketing, recruitment and retention strategies for assigned program. Creates brochures, orientation materials, forms, and documents for distribution and/or presentation. Coordinates activities to introduce students to available community services and campus resources. Facilitates orientation meetings. Makes presentations to schools, community organizations, churches, and other groups to explain program.
7. Maintains an active case file on each enrolled student. Maintains accurate case notes and documentation. Ensures confidentiality is maintained. Maintains statistical information and summarizes information in reports as needed. Submits required paperwork according to specified timelines.
8. Performs related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office environment. Evening hours are required. Occasional weekend hours may be required.

Physical Requirements

Occasional lifting of marketing materials and display units used for college/high school fairs required. Travel between campuses and various remote sites requires the ability to drive and use of a personal vehicle.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Psychology, Social Science, Counseling, or related field. Experience performing the duties of this job may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis; OR degree and experience requirements established by the Subject Area Committee and approved by the Vice President of Academic and Student Affairs.

Demonstrated experience working in an educational or social service environment. Demonstrated experience working with at-risk and culturally diverse populations. Experience working with students or clients in advising and developing goals. Experience assessing student needs and coordinating educational and community based services. Experience managing caseload and case files. Fluency in a second language may be required dependent on job assignment. Industry experience may be required depending on assigned program.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Considerable knowledge of local, state, and federal rules and regulations, PCC academic requirements high school completion requirements, CIM/CAM, Prep, PASS or Perkins goals relating to specific program assigned.
• Considerable knowledge of subject area and faculty issues.
• Considerable knowledge of ethnic and cultural issues.
• Knowledge of assessment, testing, and the interpretation and application of test results.
• Knowledge of available college and community resources and/or programs.

Skills in:

• Skill in operating a computer and various supporting software packages.
• Skill in delivering public presentations.
• Skill in effective advising and counseling techniques.
• Skill in analyzing, interpreting and assessing data related to student progress, persistence, retention, success and drop out retrieval.

Ability to:

• Ability to work with at-risk and culturally diverse populations.
• Ability to prioritize multiple projects and work in an environment with regular interruption.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor during emotionally charged situations.
• Ability to explain policies and procedures/rules and regulations in a non-threatening manner.
• Ability to operate a variety of office equipment.
• Ability to effectively communicate in oral and written form.
• Ability to meet required timelines.
• Ability to manage and keep organized detailed information about the program and student progress.

Reviewed: 12/2018

• Revised: 6/2005
• Replaces: 11/2001