Central Washington University is recruiting a PALs Coordinator to join our Learning Commons team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $40,333 - $48,400 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here.

The Learning Commons provides students with group tutoring Peer-Assisted Learning (PALs) for historically difficult courses, as well as individual tutoring. Student employees tutor students one-on-one in math, writing, and a wide variety of subject-specific courses. Other Learning Commons resources include Peer Mentoring and Exploratory Advising. The Learning Commons is located in Brooks Library.

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

This position is responsible for the creation, implementation, management, assessment, and marketing of one of the Learning Commons supplemental academic programs, the Peer-Assisted Learning (PALs) program, which offers strategic academic support for historically-difficult courses and general education courses. The PALs Coordinator has responsibility for all PALs programming, provides oversight and direction of group tutoring programs, and additionally makes decisions for the day-to-day operations of PALs, the supervision and training of PALs tutors, and the structure of the support offered. This position collaborates extensively with faculty and other campus partners to engage students in usage of Learning Commons services. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Administration
- Recruit, train, and oversee Peer Tutors for all PALs/group tutoring
- Develop and teach supplemental instruction curriculum that aligns with CRLA certification requirements
- Create content for and lead weekly professional development meetings for tutors
- Develop instructional materials and resources as needed
- Collaborate with Learning Commons administrative team to develop and update tutoring manuals, policies, and procedures
- Communicate with faculty across all campuses and online to determine appropriate academic support measures and coordinate with other Learning Commons staff to support student success
- Implement and regularly assess the policies and procedures for PALs that enable the program to function effectively and consistently across multiple disciplines and across general education
- Support faculty in understanding, supporting, and following the requirements of PALs policies to align with best practices
-Lead PALs programs according to governing principles of the Council for the Advancement of Students (CAS), College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA), and National College Learning Center Association (NCLCA)
- Represent the Learning Commons in extensive collaboration with academic units to develop supplemental instruction for high-need courses
- Develop curriculum centered around CRLA requirements, metacognitive revision strategies, and current learning theories. Additionally, develop ongoing onboarding materials, student binders, and handouts to use for PALs and Learning Commons student employees
- Consult with the Learning Commons staff and students in strategizing a forward vision for PALs programming

Supervisor Duties
- Actively engage in ongoing recruitment and hiring of a diverse workforce of 30-40 student employees
- Oversee PALs leader observations and performance evaluations; provide ongoing and timely feedback to PALs leaders about performance
- Ensure student employees have necessary resources
- Oversee and direct the work of student employees; serve as mentor, coach, and leader, resolve complaints or issues in a timely manner; and, in consultation with the Assistant Director; take corrective action in a timely manner
- Promote professional development opportunities
- Communicate information to student staff on an ongoing basis to promote inclusion in and engagement with the Learning Commons
- Recognize and reward student employees for good performance
- Schedule student employee work hours/shifts; monitor hours worked; approve payable time and absence requests
- Value and encourage diverse perspectives, creativity, and teamwork

Assessment
- Make programmatic decisions based on assessments of student and faculty involvement, success rates, GPA comparisons, and funding. Determine appropriate support structures based on faculty and student need, and data required by governing bodies
- Run queries on course success rates to inform decision making regarding courses with high need for support
- Oversee tracking of attendance, ensuring that appropriate recordkeeping and data management is maintained
- Develop and provide reports to track quality, participation, and results of courses supported by group tutoring
- Engage in research and evidence-based assessment; use reports and metrics to inform decision making for PALs programming
- Engage PALs leaders in assessment, program building, and marketing
- Schedule all PALs sessions and manage all daily operations related to supplemental instruction/group tutoring
- Monitor PALs engagement in courses and take responsibility for creating high quality programming

Marketing and Outreach
- Manage regular communications, marketing strategies, and materials about PALs
- Work with Learning Commons Staff to ensure website has up-to-date information regarding all PALs offerings
- Work directly with advisors and faculty to support students in high-need and general education classes
- Participate actively in new student orientations (in Ellensburg and at the Centers), Centers visits, classroom visits, and other scheduled events to represent the Learning Commons

- Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's Degree
• Experience creating and providing training opportunities
• At least one year of experience working in peer education, mentoring, advising, or coaching
• Experience conducting assessment and using data to inform decision making
• Demonstrated ability and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and experiences
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position

Preferred Qualifications

• College-level tutoring and/or teaching experience
• Experience teaching college success courses
• College-level coursework in a STEM field
• Supervisory experience
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from a variety of backgrounds.
• Working knowledge of MS Office programs and student database management systems
• Knowledge of Supplemental Instruction, tutoring best practices and theory, and CRLA certification requirements
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU's commitment to inclusion and diversity

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position has a minimum annual salary of $40,333 and maximum annual salary of $56,467. The Hiring Department's expected hiring range is $40,333 - $48,400. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the hiring range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position.

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (1 hour lunch)

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.