Assistant Director of Academic Support and Student Persistence

Milwaukee School of Engineering; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, life, disability and視

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan with company 6%

13 paid holidays

Paid Time Off

Educational benefits for employees and

Job summary

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) invites applications for a full-time Assistant Director of Academic Support and Student Persistence. This role leads the Raider Center for Academic Success, overseeing tutoring, coaching, and persistence initiatives to promote student learning and degree completion.

The Assistant Director collaborates with faculty and campus partners to remove barriers, design interventions for returning and transfer students, and ensure coordinated support for diverse

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years of progressively responsible experience in academic support, student success, or related higher education roles.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, manage budgets, and develop effective programs.
• Strong skills in data analysis, assessment, and applying findings to practice.
• Experience with diverse student populations, including first-gen students.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of RCAS academic support services.
• Coordinate tutoring services across disciplines and supervise tutors.
• Lead training and development of tutors through CRLA certification.
• Develop and facilitate workshops on study skills, time management, and resilience.

Skills

Staff supervision

Budget management

Data analysis

Program development

Student affairs knowledge

Education

Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or related field

Tools

CRLA certification program

Job description

Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) is an academic institution intrinsically tied to the real world - a confluence of industry knowledge, work ethic and an enduring desire to know more. The university offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in engineering, computer science, machine learning, user experience, construction management, actuarial science, business and nursing. With about 3,000 students, faculty and staff, MSOE is large enough for big opportunities and small enough for personal attention.

A Small University Dedicated to Achieving Big Things

MSOE is a supportive environment where everyone is valued. Our method of learning by doing is our distinction: it is how we teach, how we learn and how we serve. MSOE’s top priority is serving our students. By joining our community, you are building the leaders of tomorrow.

Our Mission

MSOE is the university of choice for those seeking an inclusive community of experiential learners driven to solve the complex challenges of today and tomorrow. We are united by our six values - collaboration, excellence, inclusion, innovation, integrity and stewardship - which represent the core of our campus culture. MSOE has embarked on an ambitious strategic plan, Extraordinary Together, that propels the institution forward. At MSOE, we are dedicated to promoting an academic environment marked by an unwavering respect for every individual.

Summary

MSOE invites applications for a full-time Assistant Director of Academic Support and Student Persistence to join our Raider Center for Academic Success team! Under the supervision of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, the Assistant Director of Academic Support and Student Persistence serves as a key leader within the Raider Center for Academic Success (RCAS), overseeing the daily delivery of comprehensive academic support services that promote student learning, persistence, and degree completion.

The Assistant Director provides operational leadership for tutoring services, success coaching, academic skill development, and student persistence initiatives designed to remove barriers to student success and improve academic outcomes. The position leads support efforts for returning, transfer, and non-traditional students while collaborating closely with faculty, academic departments, and campus partners to ensure students receive coordinated, proactive, and individualized support.

As a central member of the Student Affairs team, the Assistant Director serves as a critical liaison between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, helping students navigate academic challenges while fostering resilience, engagement, and personal growth.

Key Responsibilities

Academic Support Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of RCAS academic support services.
• Coordinate and supervise tutoring services across academic disciplines to ensure high-quality, accessible, and student-centered support.
• Recruit, hire, train, mentor, and evaluate student tutors.
• Lead the training and professional development of peer tutors through the College Reading and Learning Association (CRLA) certification program and maintain institutional certification standards.
• Oversee tutoring operations, scheduling systems, and the tutoring help desk.
• Develop and facilitate academic skill-building workshops focused on learning strategies, time management, study skills, note taking, test preparation, executive functioning, and academic resilience.
• Assist in the implementation of supplemental instruction and peer-assisted learning initiatives for gateway and high-demand courses.

Success Coaching & Student Persistence

• Serve as the primary Success Coach for returning, transfer, and non-traditional students experiencing academic challenges.
• Develop individualized success plans that promote persistence and academic achievement.
• Coordinate interventions for students returning on academic probation.
• Lead implementation and ongoing revision of the Returning Student Course (RSC) curriculum.
• Teach RSC Academic Success courses.
• Coordinate outreach through Early Alert and other student success initiatives.
• Support students participating in Financial Aid Academic Plans.
• Monitor student progress and collaborate with campus partners to ensure timely interventions.

Transfer Student Success

• Lead initiatives that support the successful transition and persistence of transfer students.
• Coordinate Transfer Student Orientation and transition programming.
• Provide individualized success coaching for transfer students.
• Collaborate with Enrollment Management, faculty, and Student Affairs offices to improve the transfer student experience.

Student Support & Advocacy

• Serve as a compassionate resource for students experiencing academic, personal, or situational barriers to SUCCESS.
• Assist students in navigating campus resources and connecting with appropriate support services
• Collaborate with the Dean of Students and Director of Academic Support and Student Persistence to support students experiencing extenuating circumstances.
• Provide academic support and resource coordination for students involved in Title IX or student conduct processes, as appropriate.
• Support initiatives serving first-generation students in collaboration with other RCAS staff.
• Serve as the primary liaison between RCAS and academic departments regarding tutoring, academic support, and student persistence initiatives.
• Build collaborative relationships with faculty to identify student needs and improve academic support services.
• Partner with academic departments to recruit qualified tutors.
• Work collaboratively across Student Affairs and Academic Affairs to coordinate holistic student support.

Assessment & Program Improvement

• Collect and analyze data related to tutoring, success coaching, and student persistence initiatives.
• Assist in assessing the effectiveness of RCAS programs and recommend improvements based on data and best practices.
• Support preparation of departmental reports and assessment activities.
• Assist with maintaining the RCAS website, scheduling systems, and communication platforms.
• Stay informed of emerging research and best practices in student success, academic support, tutoring, and persistence.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible experience in academic support, student success, or related higher education roles.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, manage budgets, and develop effective programs.
• Strong skills in data analysis, assessment, and the application of findings to practice.
• Experience working with diverse student populations, including first-generation and underrepresented students.
• Knowledge of best practices in student retention, persistence, and academic support strategies.
• Experience with early alert/student success technologies and online academic support platforms.

Why Join MSOE?

At MSOE, we invest in our employees’ professional and personal growth. MSOE offers competitive, fully comprehensive benefit plans to all full-time employees including medical, dental, life, disability and vision insurance, 13 paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and paid parental leave, as well as a 403(b) retirement plan with company matching of up to 6% of employee earnings and immediate vesting. Educational benefits are available for employees and family members. Plus, employees have access to our state-of-the-art fitness center at no charge. Located in the heart of downtown Milwaukee, MSOE is just blocks away from the beautiful lakefront, the theater district, museums, sports and music venues, parks and shopping. To view more detailed information about MSOE, please visit www.msoe.edu/hr.

The above statements reflect the general details necessary to describe the principle functions of the occupation described and shall not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be inherent in the occupation. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

It is the policy of MSOE to provide equal employment opportunity to all individuals regardless of their race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military and veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic characteristics, marital status or any other characteristic protected by local, state or federal law. This policy applies to all jobs at the University and to all the terms, benefits, and conditions of employment/enrollment.