Coordinator, Student Success Programs & Strategic Outreach

University of St. Thomas; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas seeks a collaborative Coordinator of Student Success Programs & Strategic Outreach to lead student engagement initiatives, foster belonging, and promote academic success.

This role supports signature programs like the Mendenhall Summer Institute and Freshman Symposium and serves as a back-up success coach as needed. Ideal candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in a related field, 2–4 years in student services or program coordination, and comfort

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Education, Communication, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in higher education student services, event planning, program coordination, or student affairs.
• Demonstrated experience planning student-facing events that attendees actually attend.
• Comfort with student success platforms (Watermark SS&E, EdSights, or equivalent).
• Strong organizational skills with multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and implement student engagement programs and events.
• Collaborate with campus departments to develop cross-functional outreach.
• Build relationships with students through direct outreach and follow-up communications.
• Coordinate logistics, scheduling, tracking, and assessment for programs.
• Lead administrative coordination for the Mendenhall Summer Institute and Freshman Symposium.
• Provide student-facing guidance before, during, and after programs.
• Document student contacts, interventions, and outcomes in designated systems.
• Monitor engagement trends and generate reports for planning and assessment.

Skills

Interpersonal warmth

Organizational skills

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Higher Education or related field

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Watermark SS&E

EdSights

EAB Navigate

Job description

UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS

COORDINATOR OF STUDENT SUCCESS PROGRAMS & STRATEGIC OUTREACH

DIVISION OF STUDENT SUCCESS

Position Summary

The Division of Student Success at the University of St. Thomas seeks a collaborative, student-centered, and strategic professional to serve as Coordinator of Student Success Programs & Strategic Outreach.

The Coordinator of Student Success Programs & Strategic Outreach leads student engagement initiatives that promote connection, belonging, and academic success. This highly student-facing role plans and facilitates programs and events, builds relationships with students across the university, and supports strategic outreach efforts through effective communication, follow-up, and data tracking. The ideal candidate is passionate about working with students, creating welcoming and inclusive environments, and using data to inform outreach and improve student outcomes. Individuals with experience supporting first-generation, Hispanic, and other historically underserved student populations are strongly encouraged to apply.

The role also carries direct planning responsibility for Mendenhall Summer Institute and Freshman Symposium - two of UST's signature student success programs - and serves as back-up success coach for students who receive an academic alert but have no assigned success coach. This person works across every program in the Division.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and implement student engagement programs and events that foster student connection, belonging, and success.
• Collaborate with campus departments and student-facing offices to develop and promote cross-functional programming and outreach initiatives.
• Build and maintain relationships with students through direct outreach, event participation, and follow-up communication.
• Coordinate logistics, communications, scheduling, participant tracking, and assessment activities for student success programs and special initiatives.
• Serve as co-planner and primary administrative coordinator for the Mendenhall Summer Institute, including student communications, event logistics, and program implementation.
• Act as a primary student-facing representative for the Mendenhall Summer Institute, providing guidance and support before, during, and after the program.
• Support the planning and execution of Freshman Symposium, including participant communications, scheduling, event coordination, stipend processing, and administrative support.
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive records of student interactions, outreach efforts, and engagement activities across multiple student success platforms.
• Reconcile student contact data across systems to ensure consistency, completeness, and compliance with institutional standards.
• Monitor student engagement trends and generate reports to support assessment, planning, and decision-making.
• Provide outreach and intervention support for students who have been identified through academic, attendance, behavioral, wellness, or engagement alerts when no assigned Success Coach is available.
• Conduct timely follow-up through phone calls, emails, text messaging, virtual meetings, and in-person appointments.
• Connect students with appropriate campus resources and services to address academic, personal, financial, and well-being concerns.
• Document student contacts, interventions, referrals, and outcomes within designated student success systems.
• Identify and elevate high-risk student concerns to appropriate campus offices and support teams.
• Support retention, persistence, and student success initiatives through proactive outreach, communication campaigns, and coordinated intervention efforts.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of student success, engagement, retention, and strategic outreach objectives.
• Knowledge of key platforms EdSights and Watermark.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Education, Communication, or related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in higher education student services, event planning, program coordination, or student affairs.
• Exceptional interpersonal warmth and genuine ease with students - this is the most student-facing non-coaching role in the Division; the right candidate is energized by student interaction, not just tolerant of it.
• Demonstrated experience planning student-facing events that draw genuine attendance - not just coordinating logistics but designing experiences students actually choose to attend; the candidate should be able to speak to specific events they designed and what made students show up.
• Proficiency in reading and understanding data at both the little-picture and the big-picture level - seeing which individual student needs a call AND which populations the Division is systematically failing to reach; both skills required, not optional.
• Comfort with student success platforms (Watermark SS&E, EdSights, or equivalent) or clear demonstrated ability to learn quickly
• Strong organizational skills; ability to manage multiple programs and deadlines simultaneously without losing sight of individual students
• Commitment to the Catholic and Basilian mission of UST and the holistic development of every Celt

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Education, or a related field.
• Four or more years of progressively responsible experience in student services, student success, academic support, advising, retention, or program coordination.
• Demonstrated experience planning, implementing, and assessing a first-year experience program, summer bridge program, student success institute, or other cohort-based student success initiative as the primary student-facing coordinator.
• Experience utilizing student contact tracking systems, early alert platforms, advising technologies, or case management tools, with a demonstrated commitment to translating student data into timely and meaningful student outreach.
• Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish strongly preferred.
• Experience supporting first-generation, low-income, DACA-eligible, veteran, underrepresented, or otherwise underserved student populations.
• Experience with student success and advising platforms such as Watermark SS&E, EAB Navigate, EdSights, or similar student engagement technologies.
• Demonstrated commitment to student persistence, retention, belonging, and academic success in a diverse higher education environment.

Work Environment and Schedule

This is a student-facing position that follows the University's standard working hours requirements. Regular availability and presence during established office hours are essential to providing reliable support to students, faculty, staff and campus partners.

Employees receive vacation time for rest, recuperation, and personal matters. Because of the nature and scope of this position, vacation scheduling should be coordinated to minimize conflicts with important meetings, events, scheduled office activities, and critical operational deadlines.

Mission and Values

The University of St. Thomas is a private Catholic liberal arts university in Houston, Texas, guided by the Basilian values of Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge. UST serves approximately 3,200 students and holds Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. A significant portion of our students are first-generation college students - and the Division of Student Success coordinates the institutional response to ensure every Celt has a clear pathway to graduate, flourish, and live out their calling.

The University of Saint Thomas is committed to the religious, ethical, and intellectual traditions of Catholic higher education. As permitted by law, practicing Catholics who will advance the mission of the school are preferred for this position. However, the University invites all qualified applicants to apply