Black Initiatives Coordinator, Interior Full Time NEW

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

Job Summary

The Southern Medical Program (SMP) is a regional education site for the Faculty of Medicine’s (FoM) distributed Doctor of Medicine Undergraduate Program (MDUP). The SMP training sites are located across the traditional, ancestral and unceded territories of the Tŝilhqot’in, Secwépemc, Dãkelh Dené, St’át’imc, Syilx, Nlaka’pamux, and Ktunaxa Nations, comprised of 54 First Nations Communities. There are 15 Métis Chartered Communities within the Interior region.

The SMP is delivered in partnership with the UBC MDUP distributed sites, UBC Okanagan (UBCO) and Interior Health (IH). The four-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is designed to prepare students for postgraduate residency training by providing a foundation for socially responsible practice, lifelong learning, and excellent medical care. The MD Program offers five admissions pathways including the General Admissions Pathway, Northern and Rural Pathway, Indigenous Pathway, Black Student Pathway, and MD/PhD Pathway.

This position is responsible for coordinating and administering recruitment, outreach, and support initiatives and activities for Black medical students at the SMP. Activities include, but are not limited to, recruitment, admissions administrative support, personalised and longitudinal student support, input into quality improvement initiatives, community engagement, and communication activities.

As part of the provincial and local team the incumbent will support Black applicants applying through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway in addition to the general MDUP admissions pathway. The incumbent will work closely with MDUP and SMP colleagues within Student Affairs and Admissions as well as UBCO colleagues to ensure that innovative and responsive student service models are developed and provided to support Black students from pre-admissions activity through to graduation in the Interior.

Organizational Status
The position reports to the Manager, Administration and Operations, Interior. The position will take direction from the Black Student Initiatives Manager for provincial MDUP deliverables.

Work Performed

Recruitment and Admissions Support

Supports and implements marketing and recruitment strategies for the Black MD Admissions Pathway.

Coordinates outreach and recruitment activity targeted at prospective Black applicants and supporting growth of the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway such as pre-admissions workshops. This includes identifying and attending appropriate recruitment events, liaising with local schools and colleges through the Interior; conducting targeted information sessions, career fairs, and public events which may be in person or online.

Proposes new activities and processes supporting Black student admission, engagement, and retention in the MD Undergraduate Program; implements once approved through appropriate Faculty and University channels.

Builds and maintains trusting relationships with internal and external parties in order to coordinate recruitment activity and partnerships with community organizations.

Supports Black applicants applying to the MD Undergraduate Program through the Black Student MD Admissions Pathway and through the general MD Admissions Pathway; including, but not limited to, academic and non-academic inquiries, application evaluation and adjudication, answering prospective and current Black MD applicant questions, advising on all aspects of future application, appropriate course selection, extra-curricular involvement, test preparation, interview preparation, and application and educational financing.

Performs non-academic evaluations involving interpretation and scoring of non-academic components of applicants’ files within guidelines and an understanding that each has a subjective nature.

Performs supplemental evaluations involving reading and interpreting comments in reference letters, applicant essays and reviewing files for errors, inconsistencies and completeness.

Acts as a first point of contact and source of information to applicants in recruitment sessions and information fairs, through all modes of communication including in-person and the online application system. Training will ensure knowledge about application requirements, prerequisite process, and all complex admissions policies and procedures.

Contacts applicants, verifiers and other institutions regarding discrepancies or inconsistencies in applicant files.

Participates in the Faculty of Medicine interview activity for the MDUP admissions pathways including the General Pathway, Northern and Rural Pathway, Indigenous Pathway, Black Student Pathway, and MD/PhD Pathway as required.

Refers complex admissions questions and decisions to appropriate MDUP Admissions team member and/or Black Student Initiatives Manager for review and decision.

Participates in and assists with activities of the Black Student MD Admissions Subcommittee meetings and other FoM and UBCO groups as relevant.

Student Support

Provides personalized and ongoing support to Black medical students through the Interior, proactively engaging with students over the duration of their program.

Plans and delivers annual Orientation and graduation activities for Black medical students in collaboration with the MDUP and SMP Student Affairs and program delivery colleagues.

Works with Student Affairs colleagues to oversee and continuously improve the mentorship program established to support Black medical students.

With the MDUP Student Affairs team and program leaders, supports services and programs for Black medical students. The incumbent is not an academic advisor; however, is expected to help identify resources and liaise with those who are subject matter experts in support of students.

Participates in and supports activities of the MDUP Student Affairs Advisory Subcommittee and other FoM and UBCO groups as relevant.

Community Engagement

Supports relationship building between community organisations and relevant parties, and Faculty of Medicine faculty, staff and students.

Researches and builds partnerships and relationships with other UBCO campus units to develop, maintain, review and improve new initiatives.

Engages/participates in discussions on anti-racism policies and practices with MDUP Admissions and REDI (Respectful Environments, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion), Student Affairs (MDUP) and the Faculty of Medicine.

Acts on other projects as directed by the Manager, Administration and Operations Interior.

Performs other duties related to the qualifications and requirements of the job and will be required to act as back-up to other positions as needed.

Consequence of Error/Judgement

Works independently under minimal general supervision. Work is performed in accordance with broadly established procedures and practices requiring initiative to plan and complete reoccurring assignments independently. Impact of error is considerable as errors in judgment or decision-making could affect the futures of applicants applying to the MD Undergraduate Program. Admissions decisions are legally binding. Inappropriate policy interpretation, process implementation or document evaluation could disadvantage applicants and/or result in future appeals or legal action. Errors in admission could lead to negative precedent-setting cases, cause delays in the admissions process, and inappropriate acceptance or refusal of applicants, affecting the reputation of the program and university.

Is responsible for independent decisions within prescribed policy and procedures. Must exercise sound judgement. Must be able to justify decisions and provide rational when questioned or in the event of an appeal. Only highly complex decisions are referred to managers for assessment.

Supervision Received
Reports to the Manager, Administration and Operations, Interior. The position will take direction from the Black Student Initiatives Manager for provincial MDUP deliverables.

Supervision Given
May be required to explain work procedures to new or inexperienced staff.

Minimum Qualifications
Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline. Minimum of one to two years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

– Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

– Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

Lived experience of Black students in Canada, with experience building relationships with community members and organisations.

Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing and interact with empathy, understanding and respect of diverse and divergent perspectives and behaviours.

Demonstrated ability to build constructive and collaborative working relationships with a diversity of people.

Ability to prioritize effectively to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines.

Ability to be thorough, accurate, and have a high level of attention to detail.

Ability to interpret and apply complex policies, regulations and procedures in a fair and consistent way.

Ability to analyze problems, identify key information and issues, and effectively resolve issues.

Ability to work effectively independently and in a team environment.

Ability to work with people, policies, processes, and guidelines in a complex, dynamic environment.

Ability to exercise tact, diplomacy and discretion.

Ability to communicate with people in a courteous, calm manner.

Ability to effectively use software at an intermediate level. (e.g., Outlook, MS Word, MS Excel).

Demonstrated experience creating new initiatives and assessing impact.

Must be highly adaptable and flexible to change.

Must be able to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends, and long hours during critical periods.

Ability to travel within the BC Interior and to other UBC FoM sites.

Must not be planning to apply now or in the future to the UBC MD Undergraduate Program.

Please include a cover letter outlining how your lived experience and professional experience align with the position.