OTC - Details - Coordinator of Prison Education (2024)

JOB TITLE: COORDINATOR OF PRISON EDUCATION DEPARTMENT: ADMISSIONS

SALARY RANGE: $45,000 - $50,000FLSA: EXEMPT

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR: Director of Student Success - Admissions

SCHEDULE DETAILS: Full-time (Office hours are 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. on Friday.) Flexibility to work any shift within these hours is required. Occasional evening and weekend work is also required. This position will routinely work on site at Ozark Correctional Center in Fordland, Missouri and the Springfield OTC campus.

Position Summary

The Coordinator of Prison Education spearheads OTC’s prison education program, including the recruitment, enrollment, and management of courses offered to individuals who are currently incarcerated. The position provides administrative support for the program and acts as a liaison between the prison, OTC, and the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Additionally, this position serves as an Admissions Counselor for applicants to the college. Admissions Counselors work to ensure student success in achieving educational and career goals through proactive, sustained contact with college applicants, shepherding students through the onboarding process from application to first registration. Performance will be evaluated by monthly tracking of metrics related to key performance indicators (KPI). Admissions Counselors work in concert with Student Success staff throughout the college system to help achieve singularity of mission, consistency of student experience, and overall institutional success.

Essential Job Duties

• Provide on-site administrative and academic support services to correctional education students at Ozark Correctional Center in Fordland, Missouri.
• Lead OTC’s transition from the Second Chance Pell experiment to a formal Prison Education Program.
• Recruit and screen prospective incarcerated students.
• Ensure completion of admissions and financial aid processes for selected students, including the application for admission, course registration, FAFSA, etc.
• Assist students with retrieving necessary documentation for completion of financial aid files, including tax documentation, high school transcripts, etc.
• Order and maintain an inventory of tablets, keyboards, student textbooks and instructional supplies.
• Distribute equipment and materials to students and maintain a record of what has been provided.
• Respond to emerging issues that disrupt learning and seek assistance where necessary to resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Be available to address student questions and concerns throughout their enrollment while incarcerated.
• Assist students with reentry planning and connect them with the appropriate resources to ensure they can continue their education following release.
• Complete any mandatory reporting related to OTC’s prison education program.
• Collaborate with local, state, and national agencies for the advancement of higher education in prison, with a particular focus on participation in the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development’s prison education program initiative.
• Maintain a working knowledge of federal guidelines related to correctional education.
• Provide proactive support to student applicants throughout the onboarding process to help students overcome barriers and increase enrollment for the college.
• Facilitate student program fit, initiation of financial aid application, first registration, and introducing students to their assigned College Navigator.
• Oversee analytics and data management related to student onboarding key performance indicators.
• Conduct and help evaluate the college orientation experience.
• Build relationships with students, faculty, and staff in support of the student success program.
• Exhibit exemplary attendance and punctuality.
• Comply with college policies and procedures.
• Perform assigned responsibilities, duties, and tasks according to established practices, procedures, techniques, and standards in a safe manner and with minimal supervision.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• 2 years of experience in social work, case management, prison education, or re-entry services.
• Exceptional relational skills with a variety of diverse people.
• A desire and aptitude to improve systems and processes.
• Outgoing and engaging personality.
• Proficiency with a variety of computer operations, and the ability to learn and adapt to new software.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher learning.
• Prior experience working with justice-involved individuals.
• 5 years of experience in social work, case management, prison education, or re-entry services.
• Previous experience tracking metrics and working with KPIs.
• Experience with Lantern or Canvas.
• Experience working within a collegiate setting.

Working at Ozarks Technical Community College Provides Great Benefits

• Medical insurance coverage for employees through the CoxHealth network at no cost to employees.
• Dental, LTD and group life insurance coverage for employees at no cost to employees.
• Access to the on-site OTC Health and Wellness Clinic at no cost for employees and their dependents.
• Use of the OTC fitness center at no cost to employees.
• Twelve (12) tuition free college credit hours per fall and/or spring semester and six (6) college credit hours per summer term for employees and/or their dependents.
• College matches the employee PSRS/PEERS retirement at 14.5% or 6.86%

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, and walk; use hands to finger/touch, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee must be able to move around and about their area, and operate a computer as needed. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

***OZARKS TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY, INTERPRET, OR APPLY THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN ANY WAY THE INSTITUTION DESIRES. THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IN NO WAY IMPLIES THAT THESE ARE THE ONLY DUTIES, INCLUDING ESSENTIAL DUTIES, TO BE PERFORMED BY THE EMPLOYEE OCCUPYING THIS POSITION. THIS JOB DESCRIPTION IS NOT AN EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, IMPLIED OR OTHERWISE. THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP REMAINS “AT-WILL.” THE AFOREMENTIONED JOB REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE QUALIFIED DISABLED INDIVIDUALS.