Educational Navigator, UPWARD - Prison Education Program - FT

Under the general direction and supervision of the Dean for UPWARD – Prison Education Program, the Educational Navigator of UPWARD – Prison Education Program provides justice-involved students with information, advice, and guidance suitable to the attainment of career and technical, academic transfer, and/or employment.

This position will work with the populations at the Nebraska State Penitentiary, Community Corrections Center-Lincoln, and Reception and Treatment Center as they attain college-readiness status, apply to programs of study based on career planning, test and register for courses, and assist throughout the academic term to provide or direct students to needed assistance for academic success. The UPWARD Educational Navigator will also connect students with holistic reentry planning and preparation to enhance post-carceral success.

This position requires travel to all correctional facilities and SCC campuses as needed to perform the essential functions of the Educational Navigator responsibilities as deemed necessary, work with the campus administration and staff on each campus and department of corrections to enhance student success, serve as the communication link between NDCS students, staff, and campus administration, and serve as a member of the campus and college administrative units.

This is a full-time regular position based out of Lincoln, but works across correctional facilities and campuses in a 15-county area.

Essential Functions

Assist justice-involved individuals with career development activities

1. Assist current and prospective students in developing educational goals leading to career and employment choices based on reentry-friendly careers, individual abilities, interests, and personality characteristics.
2. Administer, score, and interpret career guidance and other assessment interests; provide occupational and educational information to enable individuals to formulate career decisions.

Collaborate with College Assessment & Testing Services

1. Collaborate with assessment and testing services to provide advising services to current and prospective students who have completed college placement testing.
2. Assist in off-site test administration and test score interpretation with prospective students.
3. Assist in the interpretation and implications of test scores as they relate to the admissions and registration processes.
4. Follow up on student referrals from the assessment and testing center to interpret placement scores and advise students on course placement, career development, program admission, and appropriate testing resources.

Provide Advising Services

1. Provide presentations, workshops, and individual group meetings to current and prospective students regarding educational opportunities.
2. Collect and analyze information about individuals through records, tests, interviews, and other professional sources to appraise interests and abilities, and personality characteristics to aid students in making and carrying out career, technical, and educational objectives.
3. Assist with general registration activities. Routinely assist students with course registration and advising.
4. Provide the students with information regarding college admissions and specific program requirements, deadlines, and information.
5. Serve as a primary point of contact for students regarding the admissions process and transitioning to college.
6. Work with interested students to identify basic skills and/or developmental learning needs, assist with the selection of a program of study aligned with career planning, recommend course enrollment, encourage scholarship applications and/or third-party support, and lead justice-involved students towards an overall plan of completion.
7. Through motivational interviewing, assess student interest and skill, and coordinate access to educational programs with facility staff.
8. Provide information and assistance as needed in other areas of enrollment and student support to present a positive public image of the College.

Recruit Students

1. Promote the UPWARD correctional program to justice-involved students, responding to questions regarding the program.
2. Explain to potential students and their families program requirements, including release of information procedures.
3. Stay abreast of changes in SCC programs and how those changes may impact UPWARD program students.
4. Provide individual and group career counseling and informational sessions, providing student onboarding programming.
5. Collaborate with Admissions to support the recruitment and Admissions process.

Update and Maintain Proper Records

1. Through continuous communication with the Dean, Institutional Research, Financial Aid, and other key SCC personnel, ensure student and program records are updated and maintained for proper record keeping and reporting. This includes reviewing outcome data and participating in program improvement plans to enhance the ongoing development of the program.
2. Ensure program databases and classroom inventories are maintained. They will utilize and maintain records associated with student admissions and advising. In collaboration with Enrollment Management, enter, analyze, interpret, and discern admissions data and trends, identifying barriers to enrollment and working as part of the student enrollment and student success teams to develop.

Comply with Administrative Directives

1. Ensure academic integrity and compliance with all college, state, and federal directives to ensure a successful program.

Support faculty and the learning environment

1. Work closely with a broad range of faculty to create a positive and engaging learning environment at carceral locations.
2. Assist students as they navigate the multiple learning modality environments, providing input and feedback to the Dean for continuous improvement.

Reporting Internal/External

1. Participate in the development and reporting of results related to prison education and correctional facility instructional spaces to internal and external constituencies.
2. Assist in the development and distribution of an UPWARD – Prison Education Program annual report.

Special Projects

1. Work with the Dean of the correctional program on special projects for the instructional division or college.

Professional Growth

1. Participate in professional conferences and meetings; maintain liaisons with national, regional, state, and local agencies in secondary and post-secondary opportunities.

Communication and Public Relations

1. Communicates with the public, students, faculty, and staff daily. Works with community committees and organizations to promote and enhance the college and its activities.
2. Active as a public speaker and handles campus concerns in areas of responsibility.

Participates in Accreditation/Program Reviews

1. Serves as division representative responsible for the evaluation of student services activities being reviewed by outside agencies. Coordinates Student Publications
2. Assists in developing, reviewing, and revising UPWARD – Prison Education Program enrollment brochures and information.
3. Assists in the development, review, revision, and distribution of student publications such as the college catalog, program materials, alumni newsletters, schedule of classes, student services brochures, and other UPWARD – Prison Education Program publications that contain student information.

Assist with the Preparation and Distribution of Reports

1. Aids in preparing reports and institutional data related to campus student services and college admission, enrollment, recruitment, and registration activities requested by State and Federal agencies. Examples include IPEDS, CCPE, ACT, and College Board, FTE reports, Enrollment reports, and statistics.
2. Works in collaboration with the Administrative Director of Institutional Effectiveness in the development of data.

Other Duties as Assigned

1. Perform related work as required to ensure the effective operation of the division.

Promote a Culture of Belonging

Support and promote an environment of belonging where all students, faculty members, and college employees feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to contribute. Foster a community where each individual and their varied perspectives enrich the educational experience and create a safe and respectful environment. Support the College’s policies and programming related to access, fair employment, and equal opportunities for all.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in counseling, human relations, psychology, or other related field. OR an Associate’s degree plus three (3 ) or more years of experience in Psychology, Human Services, Criminal Justice, or other related field.
2. Two (2) years of professional work experience at a secondary and/or post-secondary institution in one or more areas of College Student Affairs*
3. Must possess and maintain a current, valid Driver’s License and the ability to qualify for auto insurance.

*A Master’s degree may substitute for one year of required work experience. College Student Affairs is defined as Admissions, Recruitment, Testing, Financial Aid, Counseling, Placement, Assessment, Career and/or Academic Advising, Retention or Registration, or in a Human Services, Counseling, or Social Work field.