People Strategy, Equity, and Culture

First Year Experience Coordinator

  • Title: First Year Experience Coordinator
  • Class: Academic Professional
  • Exempt Status: Exempt
  • Level: 4

Nature and Scope of Work

Under the direction of management, the First Year Experience Coordinator is responsible for planning, developing, implementing and evaluating a collegewide “First Year Experience” program aimed at increasing engagement, persistence, retention and success of new students. Programming will be rooted in student belonging and wellbeing, emphasizing strategies and approaches that support positive outcomes for students who belong to traditionally underserved communities. The incumbent will facilitate Student Affairs and Academic Affairs cross-functional collaboration in the design and implementation of programming that aligns with the College’s equitable student success goals and adopted Academic and Career Pathways (guided pathways) framework.

Principal Accountabilities

  1. Under the direction of management, guides and facilitates the exploration, design and implementation of potential high impact First Year Experience (FYE) programming and practices intended to improve equitable student success outcomes in the first year of study at PCC. Programming may include such elements as college/program orientations, onboarding activities, career exploration & decision-making, success classes/workshops, peer mentoring, and welcome events.
  2. Maintains, applies and shares expertise and knowledge of evidence-based best practices for culturally responsive, anti-oppressive, equitable and inclusive programming that positively impacts new student learning and success in a community college environment.
  3. Assists with the development and facilitation of a First Year Experience advisory body composed of key collaborators from student affairs, academic affairs, financial services, current students, and community partners.
  4. Advises college administration on the implementation and progress of First Year Experience programming, including the impact student support and intervention activities have on equitable student success outcomes during students’ first year at PCC.
  5. Partners and collaborates with Institutional Effectiveness and Academic & Career Pathway leaders to gather and track new student enrollment and persistence statistics, analyze data, and report on the First Year Experience program interventions’ success rates and impact. Establishes and evaluates metrics related to FYE program interventions in order to ensure continuous improvement of student success outcomes.
  6. In close partnership with Academic & Career Pathway faculty, advisors and leaders, coordinates the development of curriculum designed to support new student career/academic exploration, academic program/pathway selection, and academic success at the course and program level.
  7. Supports, facilitates and prepares reports on specific grant and/or funding source goals and activities related to the development and implementation of First Year Experience programming (e.g., Title III grant).
  8. As part of the New Student Engagement team, collaborates with colleagues across Student Affairs and Academic Affairs divisions and departments to ensure full, intentional, and seamless integration of First Year Experience programming within overall Academic & Career Pathways student services, support and guidance systems.
  9. In close partnership with faculty, academic advisors, Disability Services, Identity Center Coordinators and other academic and student support staff, maintains the integrity of First Year Experience programming, branches programming, fills resource gaps, and includes the experiences and knowledge of people who are traditionally underrepresented in higher education institutions.
  10. Applies inclusive and human-centered program design and implementation techniques that are centered on and responsive to the experiences and knowledge of individuals and communities that have been traditionally underserved by higher education institutions.
  11. Develops and executes a comprehensive First Year Experience communication and engagement plan for students and the college community.
  12. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office environment. Occasional evening and weekend hours may be required. Ability to provide own transportation to and from campuses and/or offsite functions may be required.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Education or related field. Relevant experience may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-by-year basis.

One year of demonstrated experience in student services or counseling in a post-secondary or adult learning environment, coordinating, developing and/or implementing services, systems, processes, and/or programs designed to improve persistence, retention and student success.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:
  • Knowledge of new student program approaches and principles that strengthen resilience factors and create support structures;
  • Effective project coordination techniques;
  • Student success strategies and retention techniques.
Skills in:
  • Coordinating and managing projects;
  • Applying human-centered, culturally-responsive and inclusive design and facilitation principles;
  • Developing program objectives;
  • Evaluation, assessment and continuous improvement practices;
  • Operating a computer and various supporting software packages.
Ability to:
  • Effectively plan and facilitate meetings, work sessions and events that achieve desired outcomes;
  • Work with diverse academic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff and community;
  • Foster and support an inclusive and equitable learning and employment environment;
  • Communicate an awareness of how cultural background and privilege influence perceptions, values and practices;
  • Organize and communicate information to culturally and linguistically diverse groups of people;
  • Facilitate engagement with students in different modalities including social media.

Revised: 5/2023

  • Reviewed 12/2018
  • New: 2/21/2008

Portland Community College is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other protected class.