Director of TRIO Student Support Services Program

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MCLA has appeared on U.S. News & World Report's list of Top Ten Public Colleges for 11 consecutive years, earning the No. 6 spot on the list of Top Public Liberal Arts Schools in the nation for 2026. The College's focus on affordable education and economic prosperity is reflected in additional 2026 U.S. News rankings:
No. 6 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for liberal arts colleges in the state and No. 4 for Top Performer on Social Mobility for public liberal arts colleges in the country. These rankings measure how well schools graduate students who receive Federal Pell Grants. Learn more a.edu

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The Program Director for the TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSS) oversees a U.S. Department of Education grant-funded program providing comprehensive academic and holistic services to college students to support their academic, social, personal development, and well-being needs. Students served by TRIO SSS are first generation, come from a low-income background, and/or have a disability. The Project Director will lead the development, implementation, administration, assessment, staffing, models, and activities of the program in accordance with federal regulations, grant objectives, and MCLA strategic priorities.

The Program Director helps advance an institution-wide collaborative model for TRIO SSS.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Reports to the Dean of the Library and Integrated Student Support

SUPERVISION EXERCISED: Supervises TRIO program staff and student employees

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversee the strategic planning, administration, assessment, reporting, and implementation of the TRIO SSS grant in accordance with USDOE TRIO SSS rules and regulations and in alignment with MCLA priorities.
• Manage the program budget and authorize expenditures of federal funds in collaboration with involved departments and offices.
• Complete and submit the project's Annual Performance Report (APR) in accordance with USDOE instructions and with support from MCLA collaborators including Institutional Research, Grants staff, and TRIO SSS program staff,.
• Collaboratively develop and implement a recruitment and persistence plan for TRIO students; assure equal access to project services for all project participants; develop and scaffold tiered engagement and intervention strategies and activities that are universal and customized in design, as well as impactful in closing equity gaps.
• Supervise the selection/eligibility of TRIO SSS program participants according to SSS guidelines; collect and maintain program data and prepare reports as required by the USDOE and MCLA.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, professionally support, and evaluate TRIO project staff and student employees.
• Allocate advising and engagement caseloads among the director and project staff.
• Provide academic coaching, encouragement, and support to 160+ program participants.
• Apply principles of appreciative advising and active learning to build rapport, engagement and trust with students.
• Help students design and implement academic success plans that include goals and objectives and address areas of need. Support…