Student Retention Specialist

Lawson State Community College; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 30,686 - 43,704; Part time

Job summary

Lawson State Community College is looking for a Student Retention Specialist to assist TRiO students with academic support services. This part-time role involves personalized coaching and planning, aimed at enhancing student success and retention.

The ideal candidate will have at least an Associate's degree, with two years of relevant coaching experience, emphasizing proactive support for students.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of relevant academic advising/coaching experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide academic success coaching to TRiO students.
• Assist students in learning necessary materials.
• Develop proactive interventions for program participants.
• Provide holistic educational planning for second-year students.
• Maintain accurate contact data for participants.
• Conduct assessments relevant to students' success.
• Participate in recruitment and enrollment of program participants.
• Assist with program reports and events.
• Develop training for TRIO Student Workers.
• Maintain confidentiality of students' issues.

Education

Associate’s degree

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Position Summary

The Student Retention Specialist provides academic support services and individual/small group coaching sessions designed to assist TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) students with developing and implementing tools to succeed academically. The person in this position is responsible for developing meaningful relationships that promote academic and personal success in a college environment. This position is on a non‑tenure track and is ineligible for non‑probationary status due to finite funding and duration as provided in Alabama Code 16‑24C‑4(3)(b).

Salary Schedule: Local Salary Schedule up to $27/hour for a maximum of 19 hours per week (Part Time). This is a grant‑funded part‑time position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide academic success coaching based on best practices to address emerging student transition issues and contemporary challenges, including educational planning, academic obstacles and personal barriers to success.
2. Assist TRIO students in learning material necessary to succeed in their academic courses. Coaches will work with students on an individual basis or in a small group of three to four students.
3. Develop and initiate proactive interventions for program participants to successfully complete their educational goals, including time management and organizational skills, study skills and schedules, and assistance with task analysis.
4. Provide holistic educational planning with a focus on all second‑year students and those completing at least 75% of their program of study, including assisting students with transfer process to colleges and universities.
5. Maintain accurate and consistent contact data for program participants, including student attendance at sessions, accurately and on time.
6. Conduct assessment relevant to the success and progress of TRiO students and prepare corresponding reports.
7. Assist in the recruitment, selection and enrollment of program participants.
8. Assist with Student Support Services program reports and program events.
9. Develop and facilitate training of TRIO Student Workers (Peer Tutors and Peer Mentors) regarding Academic Coaching.
10. Maintain confidentiality of students' personal and academic issues.
11. Attend required training activities and scheduled events.

Qualifications

1. Associate’s degree required / Bachelor’s degree preferred.
2. Minimum of two years of relevant academic advising/coaching experience, or any combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities.

EEO and Background Checks

Lawson State Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of the Alabama Community College System is that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, 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, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, or employment. Lawson State Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants upon request. 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. Lawson State Community College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E‑verify).