Department: Student Affairs 

Job Type: Continuing

Full-time/Part-time: Part Time (>910 hrs/year) 

Campus: Milton 

Reports to: Manager, Mathematics and Statistics Learning Support

Employee Group: PAG 

Application Deadline: November 28, 2024

Requisition ID: 8671 

Wilfrid Laurier University is a leading multi-campus university that excels at educating with purpose. Through its exceptional employees, students, researchers, leaders, and educators, Laurier has built a reputation as a world-class institution known for its rich student experience, academic excellence, and global impact. With a commitment to Indigenization and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, Laurier’s thriving community has a place for everyone.

Laurier has more than 21,000 students and 2,100 faculty and staff across campuses in Waterloo and Brantford, as well locations in Kitchener and Milton. The university is committed to providing an inclusive workplace, a flexible work policy and employing a workforce that is reflective of local and national demographics. Laurier's Waterloo, Kitchener, and Brantford campuses are located on the shared traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishnaabe, and Haudenosaunee peoples. This land is part of the Dish with One Spoon Treaty between the Haudenosaunee and Anishnaabe peoples and symbolizes the agreement to share, protect our resources, and not to engage in conflict.  Laurier's Milton campus is located on the traditional territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and part of the Nanfan Treaty of 1701 between the British Crown and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy.

Position Summary

The Program Coordinator position is based at the Milton campus, with regular hours also scheduled at the Brantford campus. The incumbent will work with the Manager, Co-Curricular Learning Support to design, implement and maintain a number of academic learning support programs, ensuring consistent programming with the Waterloo campus. The Program Coordinator will be involved in identifying specific areas of concern for students and through faculty inquiries, for a variety of disciplines. They will assist in developing appropriate programming, conducting workshops, and coordinating a tutoring/mentoring program to aid in the transition to university level expectations. The Program Coordinator will act as the first point of contact and a resource for students enrolled in 100-level mathematics courses, and will also provide academic support for a variety of statistics based courses from a wide range of academic departments, primarily at the undergraduate level. The Program Coordinator may also undertake special projects, including in conjunction with other units within Student Success and Retention, related to the evolving development of Co-Curricular programming, as well as its online presence, through social media and virtual resources.

Accountabilities

Mathematics and Statistics Learning Support

The incumbent will be the first point of contact for inquiries regarding learning support for mathematics and statistics-based courses, and will provide oversight to such learning support programming that is offered at the Milton and Brantford campuses.

• Provides mathematics and statistics content support to students individually and in small groups;
• Supports students in the development of professional work habits; pedagogical objectives include improving students’ skills in problem solving and time management, and the development of efficient and effective learning strategies;
• Schedules and provides oversight to peer-led support sessions, facilitated by student employees, such as drop-in help sessions and facilitated study groups;
• Designs and conducts workshops to strengthen student knowledge of key foundational math skills;
• May conduct pre-exam review sessions of course content in consultation with course instructors.

Contextualized and Curricular Learning Support

Contextualized learning skills support is designed to meet the specific needs of a course at the time a student requires the support. Students receiving support at the moment they face challenges are more likely to be motivated to continue in the course.

• Working with the manager and faculty, the incumbent identifies courses that would benefit from additional learning supports;
• Researches and provides recommendations for a variety of contextualized learning support programs or resources that could be designed to integrate with a course to improve student success and persistence;
• Collaborates with colleagues and faculty to design and implement approved curricular learning support programs;
• Assists with the development and implementation of a peer tutor connection program.

Additional Responsibilities

• Ensures consistency in the program delivery of learning support services with the Waterloo campus;
• Maintains accurate attendance records for all programming and provides participation reports to the manager;
• Makes hiring recommendations to the manager; aids in the training, scheduling, mentoring, and evaluation of a team of 5 to 6 undergraduate student employees;
• Builds and maintains a positive and collaborative working relationship with student staff, professional colleague, and faculty;
• Maintains a broad knowledge of initiatives for enhancing student success in both Canadian and international post-secondary environments, for use in developing programs to enhance student academic success;
• Evaluates texts, software, and other websites to grow a bank of resources for student use;
• Develops outreach opportunities to promote both co-curricular learning support programs, as well as other Student Success programs and resources;
• Liaises with other university units to remain current on academic policies and resources available to students, to make informed referrals when appropriate;
• Contributes to special projects related to the evolving development of the co-curricular learning support unit.

Reporting Relationships

This Position Reports to: Manager, Co-Curricular Learning Support

The Co-Curricular Learning Support unit hires approximately 5 student employees to assist with the delivery of programming on the Milton and Brantford campuses, during each Fall and Winter Term. The Program Coordinator is responsible for assisting the manager with the hiring, supervision, and ongoing training and development of these student employees.

Qualifications

• Master of Science degree in Statistics, Mathematics, or related field and a Bachelor of Education degree, OR a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics, Mathematics, or related field and a Master of Education;
• A minimum of 4 years of work-related experience, which must include practical experience in the field of post-secondary education;
• Knowledge of the secondary level mathematics and science curriculum, as well as associated introductory level university courses in these fields;
• Pedagogical skill in optimizing the educational value of formal learning support programs, and in developing diagnostic and assessment tools;
• An understanding of the research and trends related to transition, retention and student success, as well as to metacognition, learning development theories and strategies;
• Experience developing interactive learning materials and curricular workshops for in-person and online delivery;
• Experience delivering presentations and facilitating interactive workshops to both small and large groups;
• Experience assisting students in applying strategies to course content and requirements;
• Experience coordinating logistics involving multiple inputs and resources;
• Experience hiring, training, and supervising student employees;
• Experience using statistical software (R, SPSS, Stata) and mathematics preparation software (preferably LaTeX);
• Experience with course management systems (D2L recommended);
• Demonstrated research skills to gather complex information from a variety of sources, including the ability to apply statistical analysis to data;
• Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills;
• Sensitivity to issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and access in a post-secondary environment;
• Demonstrated team skills with an ability to work independently;
• Mental health training an asset to support at-risk students.

Hours of Work

This is a part-time, continuing position. The normal hours of work are 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, three days a week, with time split between the Milton campus and Brantford campus, Monday to Thursday, from August 15 to April 30 each year. Flexibility in hours will be required, including occasional evening and/or weekend work due to programming and student appointments. Whenever possible, the manager will adjust the work schedule so that no more than 17.5 hours are worked in a week.

Compensation 

Level: E

Rate of pay: $41.09 - $43.44 with an annual step progression on anniversary date up to $46.96.

Considerations for new hire step placements include, qualifications and length/depth of required experience, relevant market rates for similar jobs, internal equity, and estimated learning curve in starting the job.

Wilfrid Laurier University endeavors to fill positions with qualified candidates who have a combination of education, experience, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties of the position while demonstrating Laurier's Employee Success Factors.

Equity, diversity and creating a culture of inclusion are part of Laurier’s core values and central to the Laurier Strategy. Laurier is committed to increasing the diversity of faculty and staff and welcomes applications from candidates who identify as Indigenous, racialized, having disabilities, and from persons of any minority sexual and gender identities. Indigenous candidates who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact the Office of Indigenous Initiatives. Candidates from other equity deserving groups who would like to learn more about equity and inclusive programing at Laurier are welcomed to contact Equity & Accessibility. We have strived to make our application process accessible, however if you require any assistance applying for a position or would like this job posting in an alternative format, please contact Human Resources. Contact information can be found at careers.wlu.ca/content/How-to-apply/

Should you be interested in learning more about this opportunity, please visit www.wlu.ca/careers for additional information and the online application system. All applications must be submitted online. Please note, a resume and cover letter will be required in electronic form.