JD #

JD1182

Pay Grade:

5

Title:

Student Navigator

Unit/Project Description:

For Department use only.

A Student Navigator is required for the Faculty of Social Sciences at McMaster University. The Faculty of Social Sciences offers a wide range of programs and program combinations through the 12 departments/areas of study within the faculty. We are committed to research and teaching that serves the social, economic, cultural, and political needs of societies. Our faculty provides an education that links scholarship with experiential learning, and our graduates are knowledgeable, engaged contributors to society who pursue a wide range of career goals.

Reporting to the Associate Dean Academic, Faculty of Social Sciences, the Student Navigator will be a team player as part of the Social Sciences administrative team.

Job Summary:

Responsible for providing front-line service and support to students in areas of transition, in navigating the academic and other support systems within the program, Faculty, and University for the purpose of achieving academic success and well-being. Assist with the development of programming to enhance students’ own capacities for resilience, peer support, and self-advocacy. Support faculty and program staff in providing assistance and information to students regarding undergraduate programs, and general academic and registration procedures and policies.

Purpose and Key Functions:

• Act as a first point of contact to the student community, respond to inquiries and provide information related to student services that are specific in nature and require a thorough knowledge of established policies and procedures.
• Assist in identifying barriers and other systemic or procedural issues within the program and forward these observations to program, department or Faculty leads.
• Deliver information at presentations and workshops.
• Attend and participate in meetings.
• Collect, analyze, assess, and summarize information relevant to the decision making process to support new initiative for students.
• Conduct database, literature, and web searches to find references and articles used for a variety of documents, reports, and publications.
• Refer students to appropriate resources on campus.
• Update and maintain information in a variety of databases and spreadsheets.
• Consult relevant documentation and liaise with appropriate resource persons to obtain and provide information on a variety of diverse issues.
• Plan and coordinate a variety of events and activities such as conferences, seminars, and workshops.
• Format, word process, edit and proofread a variety of documents and materials.
• Update and maintain information on websites and social networks.
• Write a variety of documents such as correspondence, procedure manuals, reports, and minutes.
• Assemble, copy, collate, and disseminate a variety of documents and materials.

Supervision:

• Occasionally provides orientation and shows procedures to others.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's of Arts degree in a Social Sciences discipline at McMaster University.

Assets:

For Department use only.

Previous experience (volunteer or paid) in student/peer mentoring or peer support would be an asset.

Additional Information:

Candidate must be a recent graduate (2 years or less) of an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in a Social Sciences discipline at McMaster.

This is a limited term seasonal position. The first portion of the appointment will be February – May, 2019 and will resume August 2019.