Retention Advisor

Alabama Community College System; Bay Minette (AL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Coastal Alabama Community College is seeking a Retention Advisor to provide proactive, intrusive advising and case management to support student persistence, academic success, and completion.

The role identifies at-risk students, develops individualized success plans, and monitors progress throughout the academic year, collaborating with faculty, financial aid, admissions, and student support services to improve retention and graduation outcomes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• 1–3 years of experience in advising, counseling, student services, admissions, retention, or related higher education field.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple student cases simultaneously.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and student information systems.

Responsibilities

• Provide proactive outreach to students identified as academically, financially, or personally at risk.
• Conduct regular follow-up meetings, phone calls, text messages, emails, and virtual appointments.
• Utilize intrusive advising techniques to encourage continued enrollment and completion.
• Document all student interactions within the institution's CRM (Target X).
• Monitor early alert reports, attendance concerns, and faculty referrals using Dropout Detective.
• Review midterm grades and academic progress.
• Assist students with academic recovery strategies.
• Support students placed on Academic Warning, Probation, or SAP Warning.
• Encourage utilization of tutoring, learning labs, and academic support services.
• Contact students who stop attending classes, withdraw, fail to register, or have holds or unpaid balances.
• Assist students with re-enrollment processes.
• Work with Admissions and Advising to facilitate registration.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Problem-solving abilities

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Student information systems

Job description

Posting number: 08588

Department: COASTL-501120-Student Advising

Job classification: Retention Advisor

Posting type: Open

Categories: Professional, Student Services, Higher Education, Professional Education

Summary

The Retention Advisor provides proactive, intrusive advising and case management to support student persistence, academic success, and completion. The Retention Advisor identifies students who may be at risk of attrition, develops individualized success plans, connects students with campus resources, and monitors student progress throughout the academic year. This position collaborates extensively with faculty, advisors, financial aid, admissions, and student support services to improve retention and graduation outcomes. Appropriate placement on the Alabama Community College System salary schedule C3-3.

For more information about salary schedules, refer to https://www.coastalalabama.edu/human-resources/.

For any questions or additional information, please contact the Human Resources Department at [e-mail].

Examples of duties

At a minimum, the essential functions of this position shall include:

Student Success and Retention

1. Provide proactive outreach to students identified as academically, financially, or personally at risk.
2. Conduct regular follow-up meetings, phone calls, text messages, emails, and virtual appointments.
3. Utilize intrusive advising techniques to encourage continued enrollment and completion.
4. Document all student interactions within the institution's CRM (Target X).

Academic Monitoring

1. Monitor early alert reports, attendance concerns, and faculty referrals using Dropout Detective.
2. Review midterm grades and academic progress.
3. Assist students with academic recovery strategies.
4. Support students placed on Academic Warning, Probation, or SAP Warning.
5. Encourage utilization of tutoring, learning labs, and academic support services.

Enrollment Persistence

1. Contact students who:
   • Stop attending classes
   • Withdraw
   • Fail to register
   • Miss financial aid requirements
   • Have registration holds
   • Have unpaid balances
2. Assist students with re-enrollment processes.
3. Work closely with Admissions and Advising to facilitate seamless registration.

Data Management and Reporting

1. Utilize student success software (e.g., Dropout Detective, EAB Navigate, TargetX, CRM systems) to identify at-risk students.
2. Maintain accurate records of outreach and interventions.
3. Prepare reports on retention activities and student outcomes.
4. Analyze trends and recommend strategies to improve persistence.

All positions at Coastal Alabama have the job responsibilities below:

1. Handles sensitive information in a confidential manner.
2. Maintains a highly professional attitude and demeanor at all times.
3. Provides responsible, appropriate, and satisfactory leadership on campus and within the College.
4. Communicates positively and professionally in all aspects of the position.
5. Attends all employee meetings, College meetings, and professional development activities.
6. Becomes thoroughly familiar with all pertinent state and national policies and comply with said policies.
7. Serves on and provide information to college committees as needed.
8. Complies with ACCS and College policies, as well as state and federal laws.
9. Ensures the positive promotion of the College and integration of all campuses within the College.
10. Is prompt and punctual in reporting for work, meetings, and office hours.
11. Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

1. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
2. One (1) to three (3) years of experience in advising, counseling, student services, admissions, retention, or related higher education field.
3. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
4. Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
5. Ability to manage multiple student cases simultaneously.
6. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and student information systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Knowledge of student development theory and retention strategies.
2. Strong advising and coaching skills.
3. Excellent customer service orientation.
4. Ability to build rapport with diverse student populations.
5. Ability to interpret academic records and institutional policies.
6. Strong written and verbal communication skills.
7. Ability to maintain confidentiality under FERPA.
8. Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
9. Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Coastal Alabama Community College is an equal opportunity employer.?It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, shall be discriminated against on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law.

Coastal Alabama Community College is also an equal opportunity educator. It is the policy of the College that no student or other person because of age or race/color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, or the like shall be excluded or limited from participation in or be denied the benefits of any college program or activity.

It is College policy to provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement to all applicants and employees as required by appropriate federal and state law.

Coastal Alabama Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees. Applicants in need of an accommodation(s), should contact the Human Resources Office prior to the interview.

Coastal Alabama Community College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to the awarding.The College reserves the right to fill the position within one year of the stated anticipated starting date or not to fill the position due to budgetary or operational considerations.?Further, the College reserves the right to fill more than one position in the same job classification should another vacancy occur during the search process.

Coastal Alabama Community College is a multi-campus organization and employees of the College may be assigned to work at any of the College worksites, may be required to travel among various work sites for both day, evening, and weekend responsibilities, and must provide their own mode of transportation.

Coastal Alabama Community College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-verify). E-verify electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.

In accordance with Alabama Community College System policy and procedures, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from the criminal background check.

Applicants must adhere to the College's prescribed interview schedule and must travel at their own expense.