Position Overview

The Student Support Specialist – Academic Reading and Writing will collaborate with faculty, deans, and the Academic Support Center to develop resources and services to support college students in a competency-based education environment. Learning resources and services will include academic writing, reading comprehension, critical thinking, communication, study skills and success strategies. In addition to collaborating with Calbright staff and faculty to develop resources and services, the academic support specialists will work remotely to provide personalized tutoring and guidance to students through virtual platforms such as video calls, chat, and email.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

The duties below are representative of the role and are not intended to cover all of the duties performed as within the scope of work.

• Conduct online tutoring sessions with students, focusing on competency-based education principles. Help students develop and demonstrate essential academic reading and writing skills, critical thinking abilities, and effective study habits.
• Assess students’ reading abilities and develop personalized lesson plans to address their specific needs. Help students improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, and study skills.
• Identify areas where students are struggling and provide targeted instruction to help them overcome challenges. Utilize assessment tools and feedback to track students’ progress and adjust teaching strategies accordingly.
• Work closely with students to understand their learning goals and develop strategies to achieve them. Provide guidance on effective reading techniques, note-taking, and time management to enhance their overall academic performance.
• Regularly assess students’ performance and provide constructive feedback to help them improve. Monitor their progress and provide ongoing support to address any difficulties they may encounter.
• Stay informed about current trends, research, and best practices in reading instruction and college-level academics. Continuously explore and utilize educational resources, digital tools, and teaching materials to enhance the tutoring experience.
• Assists in the development of specialized workshops and programs, leading workshops as needed.
• Keep detailed records of tutoring sessions, student progress, and communication for administrative purposes. Prepare reports on student achievements and areas for improvement as required.
• Maintains relevant confidential student information in student database and files, and/or special program databases, and/or additional corresponding reporting systems.
• Required to abide by all college policies and procedures.
• Perform other related duties as assigned that support the objective of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Requires strong knowledge of reading strategies, comprehension techniques, and study skills applicable to college-level coursework.
• Requires a basic familiarity with e-learning platforms, adaptive learning technologies, and other digital resources.
• Requires a basic understanding of competency-based education principles and their application in tutoring sessions.
• Requires the ability to communicate in a professional manner, orally and in writing, in both formal and informal settings with students, faculty, staff, managers, and others involved with the program.
• Requires proficient knowledge of computer applications including common office productivity software, internet, and software applications and platforms supporting academic and higher education in general.
• Requires the ability to organize and prioritize work, manage time, and meet program deadlines.
• Demonstrate understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds, disability, and sexual orientation of community college students, staff and faculty.
• Requires the ability to perform the essential responsibilities and functions of the position.
• Requires the ability to be flexible and adaptable in a fast paced environment.
• Requires the ability to work independently and remotely with minimal supervision.
• Requires the ability to work cooperatively with students, faculty and staff, as well as external service providers, families, community organizations, and other agencies.
• Requires the ability to maintain confidentiality.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors of Arts Degree in English, TESOL, ESL, Reading, or Education
• Two years of experience in an educational environment with experience in academic tutoring, teaching, or group learning facilitation.
• A sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse abilities and academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Desired Qualifications

• Master of Arts Degree in English, TESOL, ESL, Reading, or Education
  Prior tutoring or teaching experience, preferably in reading instruction or college-level education.
• Experience developing online learning resources
• Experience conducting online tutoring sessions with students, using various digital tools and resources to facilitate learning.

Working Conditions and Travel

• Calbright College is a statewide online college where all instruction and support are done via various online technologies both in person and remotely. Calbright College has administrative offices in Sacramento available for use. When working remotely, employees should be able and willing to use digital communication tools as used by the college, and have the ability to work on a computer for extended periods of time.
• Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude the employee from retaining employment.
• The person holding this position is considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in Calbright College policies, procedures, and Title IX.
• Calbright College celebrates all forms of diversity and is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive environment within which students, staff, administrators, and faculty thrive. Individuals interested in advancing Calbright College’s strategic diversity goals are strongly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.
• Requires the ability to function in a remote online instructional environment performing work of primarily a sedentary nature. Requires the ability to use hearing and speech to make presentations to groups and carry on conversations over the phone and in-person. Requires speaking skills to communicate with staff and students in one-on-one and small group settings, on the phone, and to distinguish sound prompts from various types of equipment. Requires near visual acuity to read printed materials and computer screens. Requires sufficient hand/arm/finger dexterity to retrieve work materials, operate a personal computer keyboard, and operate standard office equipment. Requires the ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Work is performed indoors where minimal safety considerations exist.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Calbright College provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, veteran status, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Calbright College complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

Who We Are

Calbright College is one of California’s newest community colleges – the first statewide, online campus designed to bridge the gap between employers with unfilled positions and students who don’t have either the time or money to attend a traditional school. Our mission is to increase economic mobility and close equity gaps for working adults who lack easy access to traditional forms of higher education by offering online, flexible, affordable skills-based programs that provide tangible economic value for both working adults and hiring managers.

How to Apply

To apply, email your resume and letter of interest to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Your cover letter must include responses to the following:

• Describe how your skills, education, and professional experience meet the minimum qualifications described in this job posting.
• Describe how your past work experience prepares you for success in this role at Calbright.
• Calbright has a very diverse staff and student population with respect to academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation and ethnic backgrounds. Please describe your skills, education, professional development, community involvement, and/or professional experience working with these diverse groups.