Academic Counselor - Upward Bound

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16,293 students and nearly 2,612 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our ever-evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

Western Kentucky University seeks to attract talented faculty and staff who are inspired individually to contribute to WKU's strategic plans and ongoing success. We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life. Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided.

Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green /about .

About Upward Bound (UB)

Upward Bound at WKU is a TRIO program grant-funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Upward Bound provides motivational, educational, and cultural enrichment to potential first-generation and low-income high school students from Allen, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan counties (including Russellville Independent School District). Upward Bound's mission is to prepare students for success in post-secondary education.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides guidance, academic advisement, and mentorship for first-generation, low-income participants by:
• Conducting workshops, group meetings, and one-on-one sessions in: secondary and post-secondary course selection, goal setting, study skills, ACT/SAT test application and preparation, college selection, financial aid applications, college admissions applications, scholarship applications, career planning, and postsecondary enrollment processes.
• Working closely with school personnel to support participants.
• Collaborating with parents/guardians on student progress.
• Works with director to plan and coordinate cultural, social, and recreational programming.
• Collaborates with director, academic coordinator, and other program staff to develop and implement academic programming for the approximately 24 school visits, ten Saturday Sessions, and the six-week pre-college summer program.
• Tracks and maintains records of student progress by:
  • Working with school counselors to collect grades, test scores, transcripts, and other relevant academic data.
  • Maintaining a record of all student contacts and services provided.
  • Assisting director in annual performance report (APR).
• Assists in program recruitment by:
  • Conducting recruitment and information sessions, classroom visits, tabling, and individual student and parent meetings at schools and within the community.
  • Guiding students and parents through the recruitment and intake processes.
  • Travels frequently to target schools (all target schools are within a 50-minute drive from WKU).
• Attends professional meetings and trainings, and participate in professional…