Academic Success Coach and Retention Specialist

University of St. Thomas; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 54,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition Remission

Generous Retirement Contributions

Comprehensive Health Coverage

Fully Paid Insurance

Paid Parental Leave

Job summary

The University of St. Thomas seeks an Academic Success Coach and Retention Specialist to partner with identified students facing academic difficulty, providing coaching, goal setting, and connections to campus resources.

You will work across Academic and Student Affairs to strengthen student success and retention. Responsibilities include developing individualized plans, conducting workshops, and monitoring progress, while collaborating with faculty, advisors, and campus partners to promote

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Three years of experience in an academic setting, preferably in academic advising and/or student services.
• Certification as an academic success coach or interest in gaining certification.
• Experience working with students from various backgrounds.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic guidance and support with regular student meetings.
• Develop individualized academic success plans with clear goals.
• Deliver workshops on learning strategies and resilience.
• Maintain confidential coaching records and track progress in CRM.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to coordinate interventions.
• Support retention initiatives and participate in campus events.

Skills

Bachelor s degree

Three years experience

Diversity experience

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree (preferred)

Job description

OVERVIEW

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for a Academic Success Coach and Retention Specialist position within the Center for Student Achievement.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition Remissionfor employees, spouses, and dependents
• Generous Retirement Contributionsto support your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverageincluding medical, dental, and vision
• Fully Paid Insurance: disability, life, and AD&D
• Paid Parental Leaveto support growing families

Salary Range: $54,250 to $60,000

The University of St. Thomas has provided a salary range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

JOB SUMMARY

The Student Success Coach partners with identified incoming students and students experiencing academic difficulty, such as academic warning, suspension and dismissal, to support their academic success, personal growth, and persistence. Through individualized coaching, proactive outreach, and connections to faculty, staff, and campus resources, the coach helps students develop academic skills, navigate challenges, build resilience and belonging, and connect their education to meaningful goals and future aspirations. Working collaboratively across Academic and Student Affairs, the coach supports retention efforts and develops programming and workshops that strengthen academic skill development, student engagement, and overall student success.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Academic Guidance and Support
  • Meet regularly with students experiencing academic difficulty to assess strengths, challenges, goals, and barriers to success.
  • Develop and implement individualized academic success plans with clear, measurable goals.
  • Provide coaching on academic skill development, including study strategies, time management, note-taking, goal setting, test preparation, and use of campus resources.
• Academic Programming
  • Facilitate workshops or seminars on learning strategies, academic resilience, stress management, and related student success topics.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to coordinate programming and avoid duplication of services.
• Progress Monitoring and Feedback
  • Track student progress toward academic goals and document interventions, outcomes, and follow-up actions.
  • Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of coaching sessions and student progress using our CRM Salesforce.
  • Use student success data and institutional systems to identify trends, evaluate interventions, and inform outreach strategies.
  • Provide constructive feedback to help students make informed academic and career-related decisions.
• Communication and Campus Collaboration
  • Serve as a liaison among students, faculty, academic advisors, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners.
  • Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students in need of support and develop coordinated intervention strategies.
  • Participate in case management, student success meetings, or care-team processes as appropriate.
  • Communicate with professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity to student privacy.
• Resource Referral and Student Advocacy
  • Refer students to appropriate campus resources, including tutoring, counseling, financial aid, accessibility services, career services, and other support offices.
  • Help students understand and navigate university policies, academic procedures, and student support systems.
  • Support students through academic standing processes, including suspension and dismissal appeals, when appropriate.
  • Advocate for students’ academic needs while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and institutional policy compliance.
• Retention Projects and Outreach
  • Support retention initiatives, outreach campaigns, and student success projects.
  • Participate in marketing, information tables, orientation, recruitment, and campus events to promote academic success services.
  • Assist with assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement of academic success initiatives.
  • Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Three years of experience in an academic setting, preferably in academic advising and/or student affairs/student services
• Certification as an academic success coach or interest in gaining certification.
• Experience working with students from various backgrounds

Preferred Qualifications

• An earned master’s degree

An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.