Nursing Academic Success Coach & Assistant/Associate Professor of Practice

Simmons University; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible hours

Remote work opportunities

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Simmons University in Boston’s Fenway area seeks a part-time Academic Success Coach to support nursing students in the Bridge & Mentoring Center. The role emphasizes targeted coaching, resource navigation, and interventions to promote NCLEX readiness and timely degree completion.

The position requires a Master’s in Nursing and current Massachusetts RN licensure, with 5+ years in nursing education or student support.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in nursing is required.
• 5+ years of experience with nursing education, advising, coaching, student success, or case management.
• Experience teaching at the college level is preferable.
• Strong communication, organizational, and collaborative skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to clinical and academic excellence.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students across diverse identities and perspectives.
• Maintain current, unrestricted RN license in Massachusetts.

Responsibilities

• Develop individualized Student Success Plans and provide targeted tutoring for high-risk nursing students.
• Coordinate with tutors, mentors, and faculty to support NCLEX readiness and degree completion.
• Provide wraparound support and navigate financial aid, scholarships, and community resources.
• Participate in curriculum development, governance, and program evaluation.
• Maintain currency in discipline and licensure through professional development.
• Mentor junior faculty and participate in program and university committees.

Skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Coaching

Student support

Professional development

Education

Master’s degree in nursing

Massachusetts RN license

Job description

ABOUT SIMMONS

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University has a strong tradition of empowering women and challenging traditional gender roles. Simmons was founded for equality 125 years ago as one of the first higher education institutions dedicated to helping women become leaders. Today, our university continues to grow and evolve and now offers Boston’s only women’s undergraduate program and graduate programs open to all. You’re joining our community at an especially exciting time as we continue to innovate for the future. Simmons recently launched a six school academic structure that leverages our expert faculty and longstanding expertise in professions that make our communities stronger. In addition, we continue to highlight our high-value education proposition that is delivering greater ROI to students and putting them on the fast track to career growth and success. You’ll find that people who work here truly believe in our mission of preparing students to become social justice-oriented leaders who excel in their professions and their communities. This commitment and pride make for a dynamic workplace. As a university that values diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

This part-time (0.5 FTE), benefits-eligible 10-month contract faculty position is based in the School of Nursing & Physical Therapy Bridge & Mentoring Center and primarily supports the prelicensure Nursing programs by providing targeted support to high-risk students facing academic challenges (including but not limited to low exam scores, course failures, and program readmission). The Academic Success Coach provides comprehensive academic coaching, resource navigation, and wraparound support to promote student success, persistence, graduation, NCLEX-RN readiness, and workforce preparation among participants in the Bridge & Mentoring Center. This position helps students identify and overcome academic, financial, and personal barriers and connects them to institutional and community resources that support timely degree completion.

Coaching (Teaching) Responsibilities

• Develop individualized Student Success Plans.
• Provide small group targeted tutoring for high-risk students.
• Provide proactive academic coaching focused on study strategies, time management, financial literacy, resilience, NCLEX preparation, and professional development.
• Monitor student progress using early-alert systems and coordinate timely interventions.

Resource Navigation Responsibilities

• Assess financial, social, and personal barriers affecting student success.
• Assist students in accessing financial aid, scholarships, and eligible trainee support.
• Connect students with tutoring, mentoring, faculty support, counseling, accessibility services, and other academic resources.
• Connect students with housing, food, transportation, childcare, mental health, wellness, and community resources.
• Maintain a comprehensive resource directory.
• Collaborate with program leadership, faculty, mentors, tutors, Student Affairs, Financial Aid, and community partners to coordinate student support services.
• Document student engagement, referrals, and outcomes.

Service Responsibilities

• Participating as a team member in curriculum development and maintenance.
• Participating in program, department, college, and university meetings, committees, and activities.
• Participating in faculty governance and program evaluation.
• Membership on SON and University committees.
• Mentoring junior faculty in academic and practice-related matters.
• Participating in faculty governance and program evaluation.

Professional Engagement Responsibilities

• All contract faculty are expected to maintain currency in their discipline and licensure as required to carry out their duties at the University, including:
• Participating in professional development to remain relevant in the discipline.
• Maintaining certifications and licensure, if applicable, to remain current in the field.
• Maintaining involvement in the broader academic and professional community in accordance with disciplinary/professional standards.

Qualifications/Skills

• Master’s degree in nursing required.
• More than 5 years of experience, significant accomplishments, and professional certification relevant to nursing practice are required for Assistant Professor of Practice rank; more than 10 years for Associate Professor of Practice rank.
• Experience in nursing education, academic advising, coaching, student success, or case management.
• Strong communication, organizational, and collaborative skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to clinical and academic excellence.
• Previous teaching at the college level is preferable.
• As a condition of your employment at Simmons, you are required to hold and maintain a current and unrestricted Registered Nurse License in Massachusetts.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students across a broad range of social and personal identities and perspectives.
• Creative problem solver.

Terms of Service

This is a Boston-based 10-month contract non-tenure role that reports to the Assistant Director of the Bridge and Mentoring Center. Consistent with the Faculty Policy Manual (FPM), contract faculty are expected to teach seven courses per year or the equivalent as approved by the Dean, and will receive an annual evaluation. The teaching load for this position is reduced according to its proportional status and is fulfilled through half-time coaching and resource navigation responsibilities rather than by a specified number of didactic course sections. Faculty are expected to adhere to all applicable Simmons policies.

Target hire date for initial start is October 1, 2026, or as soon as possible.

Salary Range

.5 FTE salary of $37,000 to $39,000

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws effective October 29, 2025, Simmons University is committed to pay equity, transparency and clear communication throughout the hiring process. This is a benefits-eligible position. Actual compensation will be based on factors such as experience, education, skills, equity, and external market benchmarks that help guide compensation decisions. Our compensation philosophy is centered around a comprehensive package that includes pay, health benefits, and retirement savings offerings that can be seen here, as well as work-life balance initiatives such as flexible hours and remote work opportunities. We are committed to offering a package that empowers individuals to thrive in their roles, contribute meaningfully, and lead with confidence.

Simmons University is committed to inclusive excellence in all aspects of an individual’s community experience. As a university committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, Simmons encourages applications from all under-represented groups. Simmons is committed to creating, developing, promoting, and enhancing inclusive hiring practices-at all levels, for all positions-ensuring diverse talent pools and the delivery of a consistent positive candidate experience. Simmons is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to continuing to develop a more diverse faculty, staff, student body, and curriculum.

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway area, Simmons University is a small, private, non-sectarian University which has educated students for enriching careers and purposeful lives since 1899. Working at Simmons means joining a collaborative, diverse and mission-driven community of educators and professionals. We prepare students to be leaders for themselves, their communities and the world. Our faculty and staff members lead by example - sharing a commitment to excellence and putting the students first.

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