Undergraduate Student Relations Officer - Jobs in Waterloo, ON

Job Description

Overview:The Undergraduate Student Relations Officer will provide direction on the implementation of initiatives that develop, support and guide strategies that increase student engagement and improve the student experience from the time of admission until graduation. The incumbent is also responsible for academic and non-academic advisement of students in the Faculty of Mathematics, with a particular focus on first year students, and academic plans that are the responsibility of the Mathematics Undergraduate Office. They are the undergraduate student contact for orientation and new student transition.Responsibilities:Student Engagement and Support

• Provide decision support to the Associate Dean, Undergraduate, Associate Dean, Co-op, and Director, Math Undergrad Office (MUO) for all student engagement issues and opportunities
• Lead, develop, coordinate, and promote programs and services aimed at enhancing the student experience
• Oversee the peer connector program
  • Hire and supervise a co-op student each term to maintain and run the operational aspects of the program
  • Recruit, manage and interview student volunteers
• Initiate opportunities for undergraduate student recognition; administer existing undergraduate recognition activities and manage the related promotions and communications
• Represent the Faculty, in collaboration with SSO and Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment, to coordinate the Faculty’s participation in transition events (e.g., Waterloo Ready)
• Lead communication strategy for class photos and establishes means for posting composites
• Engage with Associate Dean, Undergraduate, Director, MUO and MathSoc Math Graduation Committee to develop criteria and scope for the process to select valedictorian(s)
  • Promote the valedictorian opportunity to undergraduate students, coordinates the nomination and selection process, and works with selected valedictorian on speech preparation
• Serve as liaison for all Math Undergraduate Office student experience initiatives, providing counsel and direction on the faculty’s policies and procedures
• Coach student members who serve on Faculty committees. Teach proper protocols, etiquette, best practices, procedural requirements, and act as liaison between student member and Committee Chair, as needed
• Manage content of electronic communications aimed at undergraduate students, including web pages, mass mailings, and social media
• Collaborate with Academic Advisors on creation and execution of webinars, enhancing the undergraduate student experience
• Respond to inquiries and feedback from internal and external stakeholders
• Stay informed of the services, benefits, and perks exclusively afforded to Waterloo Undergraduate students
• Work with faculty and university equity offices to ensure communications are compliant with current issues pertaining to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Student Advising

• Provide academic advising on course/program selection and changes, degree requirements, preregistration, and all academic issues for a designated group of students
• Interpret and apply regulations, procedures, and policies for students e.g., enrollment, transfer, appeal processes, course records, admissions
• Monitor the academic progress of specific groups of students and provide outreach/academic counselling to students in academic trouble
• Report on and monitor academic progressions for one or more cohorts of students
• Assists with the academic advisement for one or more cohorts of students to determine degree requirements
• Assist department advisors with academic progression and academic advisement
• Advise and respond to inquiries of students interested in enrolling in the program/major that the advisor is responsible for
• Deliver immediate support to students in distress; follow up with appropriate referrals
• Summarize and document advice given to each student to ensure continuity and consistency
• Assist students in the preparation of petitions, letters of permission, and other requests
• Receive ongoing training and apply a continually evolving understanding of both the breadth and boundaries of their authority in relation to their duties
  • Mathematics’ undergraduate curriculum and academic requirements for all programs
  • Mathematics’ admissions regulations and practices, including transfer credit regulations pertaining to a wide variety of academic institutions
  • The areas of expertise that are of a particular relevance to their position
  • The University policies and Faculty regulations of a particular relevance to student issues
  • The sources of support and help that are available to students, both within and outside the University

Student Orientation

• Plan, organize, and evaluate the math undergraduate orientation program
  • Serve as the Faculty’s orientation advisor
  • Manage and supervises orientation events with the O-Team
  • Supervises, reviews, and approves all decisions
• Hire and supervise 3-4 student leaders and assist with the selection of over 100-200 student volunteers, providing direction in the areas of training, evaluation, program management, and recognition
• Work in collaboration with campus partners, Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association, the Student Success Office, other academic units, the Safety Office, and the Mathematics Undergraduate Office to develop and implement successful orientation programming
• Source and manage services with internal service departments and external vendors required to support programs, events, and activities
• Serve as the Faculty’s representative on University-wide committees, including the Orientation Planning Committee
• Work with Academic Advisors to support students in receiving a proper orientation to the University and appropriate subsequent support
• Provide administrative support, oversight and reconciliation for programs, events, and activities, including, adhering to budget projections, payment of invoices, tracking of monthly results, and reconciliation of actuals against plan

Collaboration and Integration

• Ensure representation and engagement of Faculty participation on student committees and boards
• Maintain a network with a variety of departments on campus to facilitate the effective and efficient coordination of programs, events, and activities
• Provide functional direction to colleagues/staff/faculty supporting undergraduate programs and/or events
• Stay informed on communication trends and platforms available to undergraduate students, locally and globally
• Develop and build strong relationships with university faculty, staff, and students in support of successful programs, events, and activities
• Ensure that program and event promotion, registration, and outcomes are communicated effectively
• Ensure that students have a primary point of contact for the activities, clubs, and events that they manage
• Communicate relevant policies and faculty planning processes to student leadership
• Serve on Faculty Wellness committee as MUO liaison
• Oversee all Dean’s delegations to MathSoc committees, and report to the Dean (or delegate), as needed, on vacancies and possible candidates
• Serve as Dean’s delegate on various MathSoc committees, the most likely being the Board of Directors, the Council, the Graduation Committee, and the Executive Evaluation Committee, as requested
• Serve as point person, resource, and coach for MathSoc Executive on the functioning and policies of the faculty and university
• Provide functional direction to colleagues/staff/faculty supporting undergraduate programs and/or events that increase student engagement and improve the student experience
• Manage communication projects/initiatives, draft correspondence, and reports for the Dean/Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Director, MUO as required

Research and Evaluation to Inform Strategy

• Conduct research into best practices used at other institutions
• Prepare and provide input for reports on programs, events, and activities, including environmental scans, statistical reports, proposals, and post-event reports
• Facilitate focus groups involving students to determine needs and evaluate progress. Monitors and reports regularly on student engagement
• Participate in undergraduate team meetings and committees as appropriate to support measurement and evaluation
• Establish and tracks metrics for annual evaluation of the Faculty’s success in engaging students in consultation with Associate Dean, Undergraduate and Director, MUO. Those may include retention metrics, conversion metrics, student participation in programs, events, or activities
• Analyze and produce reports for decision-making or for consultation as part of decision-making process
• Remains knowledgeable and up to date on student engagement research and best practices used at other institutions
• Undertake professional development to remain current on issues pertaining to equity, diversity and inclusion and anti-racism, and apply learning to leadership and strategy development

Qualifications:

• University undergraduate degree required
• Current standard level of first aid certification
• Three to five years of progressive experience performing duties related to student advising, including demonstrated experience providing sound academic advice and interpreting academic policy
• Three to five years of experience working with diverse student groups, preferably in an academic setting
• Experience working with student clubs, societies, volunteers, or student leadership, preferably in an academic setting, would be considered an asset
• Demonstrated experience mentoring and providing guidance to student leaders or volunteers is essential
• Project management and event management experience involving multiple stakeholders is required
• Proven crisis management experience and familiarity with campus resources, and knowledge of polices related to health and safety and ethical behaviour is required
• Must demonstrate sound judgement, tact, and diplomacy
• A record of and commitment to participating in ongoing learning and engagement in the areas of equity, diversity, inclusion, anti-racism, and accessibility. Demonstrate experience applying this learning to their leadership and to help inform strategy
• Must be an accomplished problem-solver. Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions required
• Experience writing and executing communications to various channels (email, web, print, social), preferably to a student audience
• Budget experience is an asset
• Ability to collaborate, influence, build consensus and motivate others, often with different perspectives and backgrounds
• Ability to use independent judgement in areas of time management, task prioritization, and decision-making
• Proven ability to identify problems or issues and deal with difficult or complex situations by probing for information, analyzing key information, determine implications, and facilitate solutions
• Proven ability to work independently with limited supervision
• Demonstrated ability to manage concurrent projects with tight deadlines
• Proven ability to deal with confidential and sensitive issues
• Ability to maintain and work within allocated budget
• Proven ability to prepare and monitor program success through analysis, data tracking, statistical reports, and surveys
• Ability to network and confidently represent the University at undergraduate events
• Familiaritywith universitystudentlifeand studentservices
• Confidence in public speaking with ability to address large audiences
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, showing confidence communicating with individuals from different cultures
• Advanced understanding social media and web communications
• Expertise in MS Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, MS Teams, and SharePoint)
• Expertise in digital platforms (Publication, Drupel, Own Cloud, WebEx and Zoom

Equity Statement:The University of Waterloo is committed to implementing the Calls to Action framed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. We acknowledge that we live and work on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. The University of Waterloo is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River.The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuit/Inuk, Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.Quick Apply

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