MIRACOSTA COLLEGE
CLASS TITLE:
RETENTION SERVICES SPECIALIST
BASIC FUNCTION:
Under the direction of the Faculty Director of Retention Services, coordinate the development of
major departmental components. Oversee learning assistance services at the San Elijo
Campus.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES:
1. Develop and coordinate a system of matching faculty and staff with students to provide
academic support based upon student needs.
2. In consultation with the Director and faculty members, coordinate the development of learning
communities linked to specific courses. Manage and direct the learning community needs of
faculty and tutors. [E]
3. Ensure that academic support services are provided to all students at all district sites. Identify
and implement intervention strategies related to student learning styles and best retention
practices. [E]
4. Assist in the preparation and delivery of presentations to faculty, campus units, administration
and the community.
5. Coordinate student success workshops. Solicit topics and college personnel to facilitate
workshops. Evaluate effective delivery of workshops. [E]
6. Train, provide work direction and guidance to tutors; recruit, interview, hire and evaluate
student and non-student workers; provide consultation sessions to tutors to ensure
professional and personal growth. Identify and assess potential areas of concern and
provide solutions. [E]
7. Collect, organize, analyze and disseminate research projects and reports for retention
department activities that maintain and increase district wide retention goals. Ensure
completion of Program Review components.
8. Research best practices for international tutor certification standards. Based on those
standards, plan and implement training for new and veteran tutors and learning community
facilitators. [E]
9. Serve as the System Administrator and designated liaison for the Tutoring and Writing
Centers for all SARS software products. The System Administrator serves as manager,
analyst/troubleshooter, and trainer for SARS software products. Serve as the System
Administrator and designated liaison for SARS Alert, a campus wide early alert system. [E]
10.
Perform related duties as assigned.
MIRACOSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
(E) = Essential job function
8/19/09
RETENTION SERVICES SPECIALIST
2
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:
KNOWLEDGE OF:
Tutoring and Academic Support Center program goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and
practices.
District-wide retention efforts.
Student academic support needs.
Leadership principles and techniques applicable to District staff, peer tutors, campus aides and
other student employees.
Recruitment and training principles and techniques.
Methods and practices of recordkeeping and report preparation. Statistical recordkeeping
techniques.
Computer software programs for financial, scheduling, recordkeeping, web editing and word
processing applications.
Implement and maintain department technology initiatives; i.e. SARS GRID and associated
programs
Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
District organization, operations, policies, and objectives.
Applicable sections of State education code and other applicable laws.
Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
ABILITY TO:
Learn to interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, policies and procedures and apply them in
a variety of procedural situations.
Plan, organize and implement academic support programs and workshops.
Provide training and direction to peer tutors and program aides.
Organize and assemble data and prepare reports.
Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Work independently with little direction.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.
Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
Exercise sound judgment in complex matters.
Meet schedules and timelines.
Work confidentially with discretion.
Maintain department web pages.
Demonstrate sensitivity to and understanding of diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural,
ethnic and disability issues.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Education and experience equivalent to an Associate of Arts degree and two years closely related
experience.
LICENSES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
Valid California driver license.
WORK DIRECTION, LEAD AND SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Peer tutors, student workers and campus aides.
MIRACOSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
(E) = Essential job function
8/19/09
RETENTION SERVICES SPECIALIST
3
CONTACTS:
Students, faculty, lab supervisors, library staff, the public, and staff members from various
departments.
PHYSICAL EFFORT:
Primarily sedentary with intermittent standing, walking, bending or stooping; occasional light
lifting and carrying of objects weighing 25 pounds or less; light to moderate repetitive use of
computer keyboard, mouse or other control devices; ability to travel and/or drive to a variety of
locations on and off campus as needed to conduct district business.
EMOTIONAL EFFORT:
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships involving appropriate interactions
and communications personally, by phone and in writing with a variety of individuals and/or
groups of individuals from diverse backgrounds on a regular, on-going basis; ability to work
effectively with minimal direction or supervision on a variety of tasks concurrently while meeting
established deadlines and changing priorities.
WORKING CONDITIONS:
Primarily busy office/classroom environments; frequent to constant contact with and
interruptions by individuals in person or by phone; intermittent exposure to impatient, angry
and/or verbally aggressive individuals; may be required to work at any district location during
day and/or evening hours including occasional weekends on an as-needed basis.
MIRACOSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT
(E) = Essential job function
8/19/09