Position Number: 003917

Department: University College (Adm)

Employment Type: Permanent - Full-time

Months Per Year: 12

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Primary role of a Learning Specialist is to assist, teach and advise at-risk and/or underperforming student-athletes in addition to those with documented learning disabilities. This position will also serve as the Tutor Coordinator for the Athletic Academic Center. Additional duties include supervision of tutors, academic mentors; Academic Advising and Support; and Instruction.

Learning Specialist:

Maintain a current knowledge of the academic rules and procedures of the University, Conference and the NCAA ; interact effectively with a diverse caseload of student-athletes, identify those student-athletes who fall into the category of academically high risk; conduct initial risk assessment for all new student-athletes; meet regularly with at-risk student-athletes and keep detailed notes outlining progress and/or concerns; teach college learning and study skills; meet on a regular basis to develop and carry out individualized academic plans with at-risk population; refer students to the appropriate support services on campus, communicate with AAC Team about the progress of individuals in caseload; summarize and report academic performance data on assigned student-athletes at mid-term and at the end of each semester to the Director; act as the main liaison with the Office of Disability Services; act as the main liaison with those who provide educational testing of student-athletes; keep abreast of best-practices of learning specialist processes and systems.

Tutor Coordinator:

Recruit, hire, train, supervise and evaluate tutors and academic mentors; conduct all aspects of the AAC Tutorial Program (Coordinate and schedule appointment times; track appointment attendance; communicate session times and evaluations to respective AAC staff and coaches); maintain the tutoring website; teach, enforce and foster a spirit of compliance with the Academic Integrity Code for all tutors, mentors, and student-athletes; oversee the interactions of tutors and student-athletes; maintain a current knowledge of academic rules and procedures of the University as well as applicable NCAA rules regarding tutoring; record and track time worked by temporary staff members; use records to cross check tutor timesheets and complete payroll, conduct end-of-semester assessment of tutoring program as a whole and of each individual tutor separately.

Other duties:

Assist with recruiting visits when appropriate, teach 1-2 sections of transition courses for student-athletes each academic year, participate in athletic department and Office of Undergraduate Education professional development and meetings as directed

Minimum Experience / Education:

Master’s degree with at least 2 years of experience in academic support programs working with NCAA student-athletes in a learning specialist role or at least 2 years of experience working with K-12 students with documented learning disabilities.

Preferred Education Skills and Experience:

• Experience conducting risk academic risk assessments for student-athletes.

• Experience working with a tutorial program for student-athletes including hiring, training, supervision of tutors.

• Demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills to clearly and effectively interact with a variety of diverse audiences and constituencies;

• Interpersonal skills and political acumen to build effective bridges and collaborative relationships and knowledge of best practices related to delivery of academic services for student-athlete populations.

• The candidate must demonstrate in-depth knowledge of and experience with the educational and cultural needs of a diverse student body and be able to relate to diverse students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni and community leaders.