PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Tazewell (VA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 32,000; Part time

Job summary

Southwest Virginia Community College seeks a part-time Student Engagement and Retention Specialist to drive outreach, early alerts, and engagement activities that boost student persistence. You will plan events like Back-to-School Bash, staff Welcome Tents, and coordinate with Academic Advising and Financial Aid to remove barriers to success.

The role emphasizes collaboration, data tracking, and proactive communication to foster belonging and persistence among students at SWCC.

Qualifications

• Experience working with students in higher education, advising, student activities, enrollment services, or customer service environments.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and events while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to manage sensitive student information with confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Back-to-School Bash Planning and Implementation: coordinate and lead planning for the annual Back-to-School Bash and collaborate with campus partners.
• Welcome Tent Coordination: staff Welcome Tents and provide students with information about campus resources and events.
• End-of-Year Student Celebration: plan and coordinate the annual recognition of student involvement and achievements.
• Early Alert and Outreach Initiatives: monitor early alert lists and conduct proactive outreach to high-risk students.
• Student Retention and Intervention Support: coordinate intervention efforts with Academic Advising and support services.
• Case Management and Documentation: maintain records of outreach, engagement, and outcomes; prepare reports.
• Collaboration and Communication: work with multiple departments to coordinate support services and engagement opportunities.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Education

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Communications, Event Management, or related field

Job description

Title: PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist

Agency: Southwest Virginia Community College

Location: Tazewell - 185

FLSA: Nonexempt

Hiring Range: $21.99 - $23 per hour

Full Time or Part Time: Part Time

Job Description:

Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) offers career-training programs in numerous technical, industrial and medical fields at a reasonable cost, going so far as to even waive tuition for certain eligible students. Located in Richlands, Virginia, Southwest offers associate’s degrees in such fields as business, education, general studies, liberal arts and science. These degrees are primarily intended for students who wish to transfer to a four‑year university. Southwest also has associate’s degrees that feature programs intended to lead directly to a career in fields such as Nursing, Radiography and Administration of Justice.

The Student Engagement and Retention Specialist is a part‑time position dedicated to increasing student success, sense of belonging, and persistence through proactive outreach, early intervention, and student engagement initiatives. This role supports student retention efforts by identifying and assisting at‑risk students while also leading key engagement activities that foster connection to the institution, including the annual Back‑to‑School Bash, Welcome Tents, and End‑of‑Year Student Celebration.

Working collaboratively with Academic Advising, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, and campus partners, the Specialist helps remove barriers to student success while creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage with the college community.

Key Responsibilities:

Back‑to‑School Bash Planning and Implementation

• Coordinate and lead planning efforts for the annual Back‑to‑School Bash.
• Collaborate with campus departments, student organizations, and community partners to develop event programming.
• Coordinate logistics including vendor communication, promotional activities, event schedules, and student participation.
• Assess event participation and student feedback to improve future engagement opportunities.

Welcome Tent Coordination

• Organize and staff Welcome Tents during the first week of each semester.
• Provide new and returning students with information regarding campus resources, services, and upcoming events.
• Serve as a visible and approachable point of contact to answer student questions and facilitate connections with support services.
• Coordinate volunteers and campus partners participating in Welcome Tent activities.

End‑of‑Year Student Celebration

• Plan and coordinate the annual End‑of‑Year Student Celebration recognizing student involvement, achievements, and persistence.
• Work collaboratively with Student Affairs and campus departments to develop event programming and recognition opportunities.
• Promote student participation and collect event assessment data to measure student engagement outcomes.

Early Alert and Outreach Initiatives

• Monitor and provide outreach to the early alert student lists at the beginning of each semester.
• Conduct proactive outreach to students identified as high risk based on academic, financial, enrollment, or engagement indicators.
• Contact students prior to enrollment cancellation deadlines to address barriers and encourage enrollment completion.
• Manage and support outreach efforts related to institutional retention reports.
• Develop intervention plans and track student responses and outcomes.

Student Retention and Intervention Support

• Partner with Academic Advising to coordinate intervention efforts for students at risk of stopping out or withdrawing.
• Conduct triage calls, emails, and text outreach to assess student needs and connect them with appropriate campus resources.
• Assist students with navigating issues related to registration, financial aid, academic concerns, and institutional processes.
• Support targeted retention campaigns before census, drop, and withdrawal deadlines.
• Promote participation in engagement opportunities that strengthen students' connection to the institution.

Case Management and Documentation

• Maintain accurate records of outreach attempts, student contacts, engagement activities, and intervention outcomes within institutional systems.
• Track student participation in engagement programs and follow-up support services.
• Prepare reports on outreach efforts, event participation, student needs, and retention outcomes.
• Analyze student engagement data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with Advising, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, faculty, and student organizations to coordinate support services and engagement opportunities.
• Attend retention and student success meetings and contribute strategic recommendations based on student trends and outreach results.
• Serve as a resource for students requiring assistance navigating institutional services.
• Support cross‑departmental efforts that enhance student belonging and persistence.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Experience working with students in higher education, advising, student activities, enrollment services, or customer service environments.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and events while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to manage sensitive student information with confidentiality.

Additional Considerations:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
• Experience planning events, student programs, or engagement initiatives preferred.
• Experience with student information systems, CRM platforms, retention software, or event management systems preferred.