Specialist, Retention Programs & Academic Support

Western Kentucky University; Bowling Green (KY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, KY seeks a Specialist, Retention Programs & Academic Support to coordinate academic support and retention initiatives, helping students transition to WKU, respond to academic difficulty, and persist toward good standing.

The role provides operational support for the Academic Recovery & Support Program, Summer Scholars, and peer coaching connections, working with campus partners to connect students with resources and promote academic success.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting students in academic support programs or retention initiatives.
• Ability to coordinate multiple tasks and maintain accurate program records.
• Commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Proven interpersonal and communication skills for campus collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day support for retention and academic initiatives, including BEP and Summer Scholars.
• Assist students in understanding academic standing, recovery expectations, and available resources.
• Teach up to 6 hours of college coursework.
• Support communication, workshop logistics, attendance tracking, and completion records.
• Connect students to peer services, advising, financial aid, wellness resources, and campus partners.
• Assist with training, scheduling, and supervision of peer coaches or student employees.
• Develop and maintain program materials, resources, webpages, forms, and templates.
• Track participation, engagement, referrals, and outcomes for programs.
• Collaborate with academic advising, Registrar, Financial Aid, Housing, TRIO, and other partners.
• Support program improvement through feedback and assessment.
• Provide occasional evening or weekend support for workshops or summer activities.

Skills

Strong organizational skills

Strong communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Commitment to diversity

Job description

Specialist, Retention Programs & Academic Support

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is a student-centered, applied-research institution committed to providing its students with a transformative academic and social experience and to elevating its surrounding communities. Founded in 1906, WKU is the third largest public four-year institution in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with approximately 16,293 students and nearly 2,612 faculty and staff employees.

Western Kentucky University is committed to empowering its campus community. At the heart of our mission, we seek to provide holistic education and employment experiences that prepare students, faculty, and staff to become effective scholars, contributors, and leaders in our ever-evolving communities.

Located 65 miles north of Nashville, TN, and just over 100 miles south of Louisville, KY, WKU's main campus is in Bowling Green, KY - a city with approximately 70,000 residents. Our population is ethnically diverse, with more than 85 languages spoken in and around Bowling Green, and people from 35 nationalities call our community home.

• We offer comprehensive wellness and health benefits to employees and their families, including domestic partners and other qualified dependents and take pride in providing a workplace culture that supports balancing the responsibilities of work and family life.
• Paid-time off for holidays, vacation and sick leave, and a tuition discount program for employees and dependents are also provided.

Learn more about WKU and Bowling Green at wku.edu/about.

Job Description:

The Specialist, Retention Programs & Academic Support supports the coordination of academic support and retention initiatives. This position assists with programs and services designed to help students transition successfully to WKU, respond to academic difficulty, connect with academic support resources, and persist toward good academic standing.

The position provides operational support for retention initiatives such as the Academic Recovery & Support Program, Summer Scholars academic support, and peer coaching / Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS)connections. The Specialist works collaboratively with campus partners to help students understand expectations, identify support needs, and connect with resources that promote academic success.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate day-to-day support for retention and academic support initiatives, including the Academic Recovery & Support Program (Best Expectation Program (BEP) formerly)and Summer Scholars academic support.
• Assist students in understanding academic standing, academic recovery expectations, peer coaching / PASS services, and available campus resources.
• Teach up to 6 hours of college coursework.
• Support student communication, workshop logistics, attendance tracking, completion records, and follow-up for assigned programs.
• Connect students to peer services, PASS, advising, financial aid, wellness resources, faculty support, and other campus partners as appropriate.
• Support the coordination, training, scheduling, and supervision of assigned peer coaches, PASS leaders, or student employees.
• Assist with development and maintenance of program materials, student-facing resources, webpages, forms, and communication templates.
• Support tracking and reporting related to participation, completion, student engagement, resource referrals, and academic recovery outcomes.
• Collaborate with academic advising, faculty, academic colleges, Registrar, Financial Aid, Housing and Residence Life, TRIO, Intercultural Student Engagement Center, and other student success partners.
• Support continuous improvement of academic support and retention programs through student feedback, data review, and program assessment.
• Provide occasional evening or weekend support for workshops, summer programming, or student success activities as needed.

Requirements:

• Experience supporting students, academic support programs, retention initiatives, peer coaching, advising, or related student success work.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, communicate clearly with students and campus partners, and maintain accurate program records.
• Commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds and experiences.

Additional Information:

Kentucky state law requires all public institutions of postsecondary education to conduct pre-employment criminal background checks to determine suitability for employment.

Western Kentucky University (WKU) is committed to a policy and practice of providing equal employment and educational opportunities to all individuals. In accordance with Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Revised 1992, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, no form of discrimination or harassment will be tolerated at WKU on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, political belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, marital status, age, uniformed services, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, or physical or mental disability in admission to career and technical education programs and/or activities, or employment practices.

Persons with disabilities, who need reasonable accommodations to participate in the application and/or selection process, may contact the Office of Institutional Equity at 270-745-5121 for assistance. To report concerns related to WKU's Discrimination and Harassment Policy, No. 0.2040 and/or WKU's Sex and Gender-Based Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Policy, No. 0.2070, please complete the Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation Reporting Form . Additional information regarding Title IX, including contact information for the Title IX Coordinator and reporting options, is available on WKU's Title IX website.