Peer Outreach Specialist

On-Campus ACA Variable

US Work Authorization is REQUIRED

The Utah State University Statewide Campuses is seeking Peer Outreach Specialists. Successful applicants will be positive, motivated self-starters who are seeking the opportunity to work as part of a learning team assisting students at Utah State University Uintah Basin.

POSITION SUMMARY: Statewide Peer Outreach Specialists serve under the direction of the campus directors of students and support student persistence through targeted efforts that increase engagement; contentedness; virtual classroom and technology-readiness; and timely referrals to resources, services, and supports. Peer outreach specialists will also support enrollment campaigns that will target semester to semester registration and the re-enrollment of students who have left USU. Peer Outreach Specialists must attend USU at a Statewide campus or center and work under the direction of that campus/center director of students. Peer outreach specialists will also work in supporting our social media campaigns through myusu, Facebook and Instagram.

RESPONSIBILITIES

·        Time Commitment 5-10 hours per week

·        Participate in weekly check-ins with campus director of students

·        Participate in on-boarding and training, including FERPA compliance

·        Participate in regular outreach and communication with students as assigned including emails, texting, and phone calls to:

• Students identified as being at-risk of not-persisting through analytics including students with a decrease in persistence probability, students with low class participation or low course grades, students in their first semester, and other students as assigned.
• Non-registered students as part of a campaign to support the enrollment of students who attended in the current semester but are not enrolled in a future semester
• Other assigned students, as deemed appropriate to foster connection and support to their local USU location.

·        May assist academic advisors in supporting appointment preparedness, helping students identify their academic advisor and show students how to schedule appointments

·        Be knowledgeable about who the local campus success coordinator is and provide referrals to the success coordinator when needed

·        Support students’ engagement by:

• Providing a friendly peer experience and point of contact at the student’s home campus
• Interacting with students in a positive, professional, and empathetic manner
• Using reflective listening, and questioning techniques; providing feedback, and some crisis management and referrals
• Other duties as assigned by the campus director of students

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

·        Must by a current USU student taking classes affiliated with a Statewide Campus

·        Must be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or higher)

·        Some familiarity USU student-facing systems (Canvas, Banner, USU webpages)

·        Personal computer access – webcam, microphone, and the internet

·        Proficient written and oral communication and interpersonal skills

·        Completed at least two semesters at USU

·        Cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.5 or higher

·        Excellent self-management – scheduling, follow through, and maintaining records

·        Positive attitude and desire to help others succeed

EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR STUDENT SUCCESS

·        Increase students’ sense of belonging at USU and the Statewide Campuses

·        Increase students’ understanding of people, resources, and supports available to them

·        Increase timely referrals to resources and services

·        Increase students’ preparedness for advising appointments and decrease missed appointments

·        Increase semester to semester persistence

·        Increase re-enrollment of students who have left the university