Quantitative Literacy Student Success Coach
Opportunity Guide
https://www.unity.edu/
Unity College is a leader in sustainability science, educating responsible, optimistic individuals committed to solving the world’s most pressing environmental problems.
For over fifty years Unity College has been preparing the next generation of environmental professionals and leaders to successfully face real-world challenges. Unity College, America’s Environmental College located in Unity, Maine, serves a broad range of students from all backgrounds across the U.S. - and the world. To be responsive to the rapidly changing needs of students and society, Unity College offers both flagship campus and distance education programs for undergraduate and graduate-level environmental degrees.
On Unity’s flagship campus, the liberal arts curriculum is built upon a unique framework of sustainability science - the first of its kind in the nation. A distinctive approach to learning provides students with an exceptional, high-quality education, enabling them to drive real change with leading-edge knowledge and expertise within any of 17 environmentally focused majors. Unity College’s unique location provides extraordinary opportunities for hands-on learning and research, allowing active and engaged students to work together with forward-thinking faculty to make true community-based learning possible. From 225 wooded acres of farmland in rural Maine, the College prepares each of its students to make a mark on the world. Affordable housing and amenities are available in Unity and in nearby communities, including the more populated centers of Bangor (34 miles away), the state Capitol of Augusta (39 miles away), Belfast (24 miles away) and Waterville (18 miles away).
Unity College’s distance education unit, started in 2016, extends the effects of a Unity College education to adult learners, and beyond the physical confines of the flagship campus. Unity College Online offers affordable, accredited master’s degrees and non-degree credits, ideal for working professionals seeking to advance their careers, helping students become the change maker the world needs while still honoring their commitments, wherever they are.
Unity College seeks to attract employees who share a commitment to the environment and to human diversity, and who have an interest in helping students develop an understanding of the richness and complexity of individuals and society.
The Opportunity: Quantitative Literacy Student Success Coach
Unity College’s Department of Academic Support is seeking a creative, flexible, and compassionate educator for the role of Quantitative Literacy Student Success Coach (Coach). This is the perfect opportunity for an individual who enjoys teaching in both small group and one-on-one settings to ensure the success of Unity students. The Coach will be not only empowered but encouraged to envision, design, and execute new initiatives related to Student Success, working across departments to bring instruction and co-curricular learning into alignment. Serving two main functions as a student advisor and a specialist in teaching quantitative competency, the Coach will have the opportunity to support individual students with quantitative coursework and to teach Unity Experience courses for incoming students.
Housed in the Collaborative Learning Center (CLC) and under the leadership of the Dean of Academic Support, Student Success Coaches primarily serve as advisors, helping students plan their academic program, take advantage of support resources and opportunities for co-curricular learning, and prepare for graduation and successful employment. They are empowered to work with Academic Affairs, the Wellness Center, Residence Life, the CLC, Information Services, the Office of Career Services, Business Office, Financial Aid and other student services to serve as a single point of contact for everything a student at Unity needs. They connect with students both in the classroom, as instructors in foundational courses, and through their work in other areas of campus life. The focus and expertise of the Quantitative Literacy SSC is on building student capacity in mathematics, quantitative reasoning, and the use, communication, and interpretation of data. The Quantitative Literacy SSC teaches in the mathematics course sequence, provides training for peer tutors in quantitative literacy, and provides support to students in coordination with math faculty.
The successful candidate will be an academic advisor, counselor, or STEM educator with experience supporting the academic progress and persistence of learners in a higher education environment. Comfort navigating and teaching quantitative topics include applied statistics, biometry, calculus, and algebra is required.
Performance Objectives
Program Leadership and Development
- Envisions, designs, and implements learning enhancement programs that support student success and sustainability science education.
- Works with the Dean of Academic Support to stay current on curriculum, academic policies and procedures, and campus processes.
- Supports Collaborative Learning Center peer education programs. Provides training for student peer tutors.
- Assists with retention and re-recruitment efforts through outreach, connection, and academic and mentoring support for new and returning students.
Academic Advising
- Enhances a robust academic advising system that improves graduation rates and supports post-graduation student outcomes.
- Advises between 20-40 Unity College students in their overall academic and career planning. Provides one-on-one academic mentoring for academically at-risk students as needed.
- Connects students with useful resources in all departments across campus.
- Assists students and resolves problems in a variety of complex situations and dynamics.
Teaching
- Provides mathematics instruction, feedback, and support.
- Develops and delivers student skill building workshops through the Collaborative Learning Center.
- Teaches up to 12 credits of math, Unity Experience, or Unity Transfer Experience per year. Provides support for students in courses through Unity College Online.
- Prepares and delivers assigned courses. Participates in instructor groups for course planning, delivery of course content through college learning management system and assessment and evaluation of student work.
Institutional Responsibilities
- Contributes to the College’s commitments of sustainability and of supporting a diverse and inclusive working and learning environment.
- Assumes responsibility to maintain and upgrade professional knowledge and skills regarding regulations, industry trends, current practices, new developments and applicable laws.
- Serves as a role model for the College’s standards of conduct.
- Demonstrates a high degree of commitment to customer service and student success.
The Qualified Candidate
Unity College seeks a talented higher education academic advisor and mathematics instructor to serve as its next Quantitative Literacy Student Success Coach. The qualified candidate brings a track record of success in supporting the academic needs of students in a higher education environment.
Specific Requirements Include:
- Understanding of and passion for the higher education sector.
- 1-3 years of experience providing quantitative literacy education, academic advising, and/or student success programs in a post-secondary education environment.Experience in more than one of these areas is preferred.
- Must enjoy teaching small group courses and supporting students one-on-one.
- Excellent communication and people skills are required.
- Satisfactory completion of post-secondary coursework in quantitative analysis including statistics, biometry, calculus, and algebra.
- Basic crisis intervention skills or the desire to learn (self-harm, sexual assault, substance abuse, etc.)
- Must have valid driver’s license and good driving record.
- Bachelor’s Degree in Counseling, Education, STEM field, or a related discipline required, Master’s degree highly preferred.
This position offers a competitive salary with generous benefits.
Unity College is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other occupationally irrelevant criteria.
To Apply
Candidates may apply by clicking the APPLY NOW button below.
To assure confidential tracking of all applicants, no applications will be accepted via email. ALL INQUIRIES WILL BE HELD IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.
This search is being managed by Laura Weinman, Assistant Vice President of KEES. Questions may be addressed to lweinman@kees2success.com
KEES is a retained search and nonprofit consulting firm that builds transformative teams and leaders. For more information, please visit www.kees2success.com.
In and Around Unity
Come explore the area in and around Unity, including the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts, the Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and our Field of Dreams - a beautiful outdoor recreation area just a short walk from campus. If you like local and organic farming, don’t miss the Unity Farmers’ Market or the nationally recognized Common Ground Country Fair, which is held each fall and organized by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association.
In and Around Maine
There are also lots of amazing places to explore in and around Maine. Within a two-hour drive from campus you’ll find the breathtaking Acadia National Park - home to Mt. Desert Island and Schoodic Point. You’ll also find Baxter State Park, where you can spend the day climbing Mt. Katahdin, and Reid State Park, with its long, sandy beaches, picnic areas and scenic views. And if you like to ski, be sure to check out Sugarloaf and Sunday River ski resorts, also within a two-hour drive.
Here are some other fun attractions not far from campus:
Within A One-Hour Drive:
Within A Two-Hour Drive:
- Moosehead Lake: boating, hunting, fishing, snowmobiling
- Popham Beach: swimming, fishing, sea kayaking, birdwatching
- Port Clyde: ferry to Monhegan Island
- Portland:the Arts District and Old Port Historic District
- Rangeley Lakes: skiing and recreation
- Sebago Lake State Park: boating, swimming, camping, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing
