Multicultural Academic Success Specialist

About SUNY Old Westbury:

The State University of New York at Old Westbury is a dynamic and diverse public liberal arts college that fosters academic excellence through close interaction among students, faculty and staff. Old Westbury weaves the values of integrity, community engagement, and global citizenship into the fabric of its academic programs and campus life. In an environment that cultivates critical thinking, empathy, creativity and intercultural understanding, we endeavor to stimulate a passion for learning and a commitment to building a more just and sustainable world. The University is a community of students, teachers, staff, and alumni bound together in mutual support, respect, and dedication to the Mission.

SUNY Old Westbury serves large populations of underrepresented, first-generation, and non-traditional students. Candidates with experience working with a similar student body, and a demonstrated commitment to supporting these populations, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Since its foundation in 1965, SUNY Old Westbury has been committed to social justice, diversity, and the empowerment of traditionally underserved populations. The University serves a large proportion of non-traditional students and has earned the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from Insight into Diversity magazine for six consecutive years.

Located on a 604-acre campus on Long Island, Nassau County, about 40 miles from New York City, SUNY Old Westbury comprises four Schools (Education, Business, Arts and Sciences and Professional Studies) with total enrollment of 4400 students. For more details about the SUNY Old Westbury, please refer to our website at www.oldwestbury.edu.

Job Description:

The primary purpose of the position is to serve the academic support needs of the University's diverse student population. Assist in efforts to advance an inclusive and engaging learning environment for historically underrepresented students or new majority. Promote holistic student wellbeing and reduce existing equity gaps in retention and graduation rates and help foster positive outcomes for all students. Promote innovative ideas on how to reach and academically engage with underrepresented students. Participate in institutional inclusivity efforts and collaborate with faculty, administrators, and staff to create and maintain programs relevant to multicultural student access, retention, and graduation.

This is a full-time, twelve (12) month, two (2)-year, grant funded position.

Reporting to the Assistant Provost, the Multicultural Academic Success Specialist will:

• Plan, develop and implement multicultural student academic support activities and activities related to retention.

• Collaborate with staff and faculty to ensure students culturally transition to the Old Westbury campus community.

• Provide direct culturally appropriate support and build capacity within the university to support diverse student cohorts with professional development activities for staff and faculty on issues related to diverse and underrepresented populations.

• Evaluate the effectiveness of support provided to multicultural students by developing and maintaining activity reports for program evaluations.

• Collaborate with support services and community-based organizations to ensure communication and understanding and to promote campus awareness of multicultural student experiences, needs, and concerns.

• Review and share current research in higher education related to the access, retention, and persistence of diverse student cohorts.

• Provide workshops and professional development that support diverse student success.

• Train and supervise student assistants.

• Participate on campus committees as directed, attend Campus Open House and other campus events.

• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and occasional weekend hours.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications:

• A minimum of a Master's degree from an accredited university or college (foreign equivalent or higher).

• A minimum of three (3) years of full-time relevant and/or related work experience in higher education. Experience includes working with college students, staff and faculty of diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, including those with different levels of academic preparation and varying physical and/or learning abilities.

• Strong oral/written communication and interpersonal skills. Ability to lead, conduct meetings and manage multiple projects.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various stakeholders throughout the campus.

• Strong presentation skills. Ability to train, advance and promote innovative ideas to faculty, student leaders, and staff to reach and academically engage historically underrepresented students or students of color and other underserved student populations, for a learning environment inclusive of equity, diversity, social justice, and inclusion relative to academic success.

• Knowledge of issues surrounding underrepresented communities on campus and how to address them relative academic student success, relative to retention and graduation.

• Acknowledge and address issues of multiculturalism, cross-cultural, intersections, racism, sexism, heterosexism, homophobia, classism, religious oppression, cultural appropriation, ableism, inclusive excellence etc. when promoting and establishing a learning environment for the diverse student cohorts.

• Proficient in MS Suite.

• Experience with higher education student databases/systems.

• Experience working with a culturally diverse student population.

• Ability to work evenings and occasional weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with first generation students.

• Bilingual.

• Experience in advising and mentoring programs.

• Experience with Ellucian Banner, EAB Navigate.

Additional Information:

Salary Range: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 commensurate with experience and education

Comprehensive Benefits: https://www.suny.edu/media/suny/content-assets/documents/benefits/benefit-summaries/FTUUPbenefitsummary-Jan-2024.pdf

Position Type: Professional

Official Budget Title: Senior Staff Assistant

Campus Title: Multicultural Academic Success Specialist

Department: Student Success

FTE: Full-time

Negotiating Unit: UUP

Salary Grade: SL-3

FLSA Status: Exempt

The successful candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

The State University of New York at Old Westbury is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, age, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to participate in the selection process, please contact the Office of Human Resources/Affirmative Action located in the Campus Center, Room I-211 or by calling (516) 876-3179.

The Annual Security and Fire Report is filed as required by federal law. The purpose of this report is to provide faculty, staff and students with campus safety information, including crime statistics and safety policies and procedures. The report contains information regarding security and personal safety, including topics such as crime prevention, fire safety, crime reporting policies, disciplinary procedures and other matters of importance related to security and safety on campus. The report also contains information about crime statistics for the previous three calendar years. You can obtain a copy of this report by contacting the University Police Department (516) 876-3333 or by downloading a copy.

Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Governor's Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@goer.ny.gov.

Application Instructions:

Please submit the following online at https://oldwestbury.interviewexchange.com:

• cover letter,
• resume,
• contact information (name, email address and telephone number) for three (3) references, and
• a fully completed Old Westbury employment application (available during the online application process).

Only applications submitted online will be considered.

CLOSING DATE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS: Open until filled. Review of applications to begin immediately.

VISA sponsorship is not available for this position.

We encourage protected veterans, individuals with disabilities, women and minorities to apply.

Employment in this position will be contingent on the College's verification of credentials and any other information required by federal or state law, and SUNY Old Westbury polices, including the completion of pre-employment screening.