| Position Title: |
Charter to College Student Support Specialist |
|
| Location: |
Big Rapids (Main Campus) |
|
| Department: |
31100 - Charter Schools
|
|
| Advertised Salary: |
$43,888 - $45,500; Salary commensurate with education, experiences, and other requirements. |
|
Benefits:
|
Comprehensive benefits package (health care, vacation, etc.). Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.
Admin / Admin Temp Benefit Plans
|
|
| FLSA: |
Exempt |
|
| Temporary/Continuing: |
Continuing |
|
| Part-Time/Full-Time: |
Full-Time |
|
| Union Group: |
N/A |
|
| Term of Position: |
12 Month |
|
| At Will/Just Cause: |
Just Cause |
|
| Summary of Position: |
Under the supervision of the Director of Charter Schools, the Charter to College Student Support Specialist will strengthen the relationship between Ferris State University and its authorized charter schools by supporting student outreach, engagement, and recruitment efforts. Based in Big Rapids, this full-time, in-person position is responsible for developing and coordinating programs and opportunities that create clear and accessible pathways from charter high schools to the university. This position requires statewide travel.
The position will serve as a liaison to charter school students, counselors, and alumni; organize college access events; support dual enrollment and summer programs; and assist with data col-lection and reporting to measure program effectiveness. This individual will also work closely with academic and administrative offices, including admissions, the registrar, and the School of Education, to implement collaborative programming that benefits both charter school students and the University.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of college access programming, excellent interpersonal communication skills, the ability to work across departments, and a passion for helping underrepresented and first-generation students succeed in higher education.
The anticipated start date of this position is October 2025, however this is an estimated date and can be revised if needed. |
|
| Position Type: |
Staff |
|
| Required Education: |
• Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, higher education, or a related field. |
|
| Required Work Experience: |
• Experience working in K-12 or higher education, preferably with charter schools or college access programs. |
|
| Required Licenses and Certifications: |
|
|
| Physical Demands: |
- Office Environment
- Moving
- Sitting
- Driving
|
|
| Additional Education/Experiences to be Considered: |
• Familiarity with dual enrollment, early college, and similar credit-bearing programs.
• Experience working with underrepresented or first-generation college students. |
|
| Essential Duties/Responsibilities: |
1. Charter School Engagement & Recruitment
• Participate in on-campus visits for students from partner charter schools, including collaboration with university departments.
• Serve as a liaison between the university and charter school college/career counselors to promote post-secondary opportunities.
• Develop and implement strategic recruitment initiatives targeting charter school students, in collaboration with the university’s admissions and enrollment teams.
• Along with the FSU recruiting team, represent the university and CSO at college fairs, charter school events, and community functions.
• Act as the primary connection between the CSO and charter school alumni attending the university by coordinating RSO group activities, events, and engagement opportunities.
• Assist with any grant opportunities administered by the University for the benefit of the charter schools.
• Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty, and staff to thrive authentically.
• Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
2. Program Coordination
• Support and assist with dual enrollment, early middle college, summer programming and other for-credit opportunities for charter school students.
• Partner with academic departments and the registrar’s office to ensure seamless implementation of these programs.
• Assist in tracking and reporting student participation and success in these programs.
• Work with the School of Education to expand opportunities for teacher placement in FSU charter schools.
• Coordinate and organize all class presentations and School of Education tours and initiatives.
• Assist with planning Grand Openings for new schools, and represent the CSO at charter schools' special events.
3. Strategic Development & Communication
• Identify and recommend new initiatives that foster stronger pipelines from charter schools to the university.
• Collaborate with marketing and communications staff to create materials tailored to charter school students and families.
• Maintain regular communication with charter school leaders and counselors to promote engagement and gather feedback.
4. Data & Reporting
• Monitor enrollment trends from charter schools and analyze data to inform future outreach and program development.
• Provide regular reports to CSO leadership on recruitment efforts, student engagement, and program outcomes.
Operates a university or personal vehicle safely while carrying out job responsibilities.
• Any other duties assigned within the position classification area. |
|
| Marginal Duties/Responsibilities: |
|
|
| Skills and Abilities: |
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate across departments and work with diverse student populations.
• Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
|
| Required Documents: |
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Unofficial Transcript 1
|
|
| Optional Documents: |
|
|
| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
Unofficial Transcript 1 (REQUIRED): Applicants must attach a copy of an unofficial transcript of Bachelor’s degree in education, communications, higher education, or a related field as well as a cover letter and resume. Transcript must include Institution name, applicant name, date degree attained, degree awarded. Finalist will be required to submit an official transcript. |
|
Initial Application Review Date:
|
September 29, 2025 |
|
| Open Until Position is Filled?: |
No |
|
Posting Close Date:
|
September 26, 2025 |
|
| EEO Statement: |
Ferris State University, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, is committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within its community. Ferris offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates seeking careers in a student-focused environment that values opportunity, collaboration, diversity and educational excellence. Learn more about the Ferris Mission and community at ferris.edu. The University actively seeks applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. For more information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit: Ferris Non-Discrimination Statement. |
|
| |
Click here to learn more about working at FSU and KCAD. |
|
| |
|
|
