Student Success Associate

University of Minnesota; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive wages

Paid holidays and time off

Tuition benefit program

Health and retirement plans

Job summary

The University of Minnesota seeks a Student Success Associate to manage administrative and program functions for the Office of Undergraduate Education. You will coordinate events, oversee front desk operations in Bruininks Hall, and support HR and purchasing tasks while supervising student staff.

Ideal candidates have strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced educational setting.

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree or equivalent education and work experience.
• Experience in administrative, program, or event coordination.
• Strong organizational skills to manage multiple timelines.
• Proficient with Google Workspace and electronic calendaring.
• Exceptional customer service supporting undergraduates and staff.
• Ability to work independently and in a team.

Responsibilities

• Event and Program Management: lead planning, budgeting, and evaluation for trainings and conferences.
• Coordinate logistics: venue, catering, tech, RSVPs, setup, materials.
• Maintain records to ensure policy compliance.
• Develop budget proposals and project future costs.
• Manage vendor contracts and negotiate terms.
• Oversee front desk operations and supervise student staff.
• HR & Financial Operations: process purchases and HR requests; manage hiring workflow.
• Additional admin tasks: maintain resources, calendars, and responses; support committees.

Skills

Administrative coordination

Event planning

Budgeting

Customer service

Teamwork

Education

BA/BS degree or equivalent

Job description

About the Job

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Cardsponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT trainingprogram.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Student Success Associate manages comprehensive administrativeand programmatic functions for the Student Success Unit within theOffice of Undergraduate Education (OUE). The OUE Student SuccessUnit includes student services reporting to the Associate ViceProvost for Student Success, including the Center for AcademicPlanning & Exploration (CAPE), Central Advising Initiatives,Tutoring & Academic Success Center (TASC), President’s EmergingScholars (PES), the First-Gen Student Success Center, TransferInitiatives, and Orientation & Transition Experiences (OTE).This position supports staff across the Student Success Units,predominantly supporting staff in Advising Initiatives and CAPE.This position reports to the Operations Manager of OUE StudentSuccess.

This position is responsible for coordinating and managing generaloperations, including event planning and overall coordination ofactivities and services. The Student Success Associate specificallysupports shared services housed in 511 Bruininks Hall and overallunit activities. Key responsibilities include coordinatinglogistics for campus-wide training and programs, providingcommittee and project management, overseeing daily HR andpurchasing tasks, managing front desk operations and workflow, andsupervising student employees.

The ideal candidate is an energetic and adaptable professional whothrives in a fast-paced and complex educational environment. Strongcommunication skills, initiative, flexibility, attention to detail,follow-through, and effective problem-solving abilities areessential for success in this role.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Event and Program Management (40%)

• Lead overall event management including leading operationalplanning, implementation, budget management, and event evaluationfor the OUE Student Success Units. Events typically consist oftrainings, forums, retreats, conferences, committees, andprofessional development activities for student services andadvising groups as well as occasional student events.
• Coordinate logistics for events, including venue reservations(on and off campus), catering, technology support, RSVPs, setup,and materials preparation.
• Maintain accurate records and reports of event details toensure compliance with University policies.
• Develop OUE event budget proposals and manage expenses. Projectfuture event costs for next fiscal year budget planning.
• Manage vendor contracts for OUE Student Success events (e.g.space rentals, caterers, equipment rentals, printing). Negotiatewith vendors and follow up if services provided do not fulfillcontract terms.
• Coordinate for the John Tate Advising Award for Excellence inUndergraduate Advising, including maintaining the website,organizing the selection committee, and managing logistics for theawards ceremony.
• Evaluate and measure event success.

Office Operations & Supervision (25%)

• Oversee front desk operations in 511 Bruininks Hall, ensuring awelcoming, student-centered, and service-oriented experienceforall visitors.
• Hire, train and supervise student office assistants as theyprovide front desk services.
• Coordinate front desk and floor-wide procedures and operationsthat promote high-quality customer service and efficientsupport.
• Lead student staff meetings, provide developmental coaching andfeedback, and conduct performance reviews for studentemployees.
• Provide front desk coverage as needed, modeling excellentservice and professionalism.
• Manage and recommend improvements for suite and buildingoperations, including office space, security management, andemergency procedures

HR & Financial Operations (20%)

• Execute finance processes for select Student Successunits.
• Make and reconcile departmental purchases in compliance withUniversity Policy.
• Maintain office supplies and procure needed equipment for OUESSstaff (e.g. technology, software, furniture, etc.).
• Process HR requests and manage the hiring workflow of studentemployees in select Student Success units.

Additional Administrative Support (15%)

• Execute administrative tasks and resolve logistical conflictsquickly to maintain a smooth, well-coordinated workenvironment.
• Create and maintain central advising and student resourcesincluding websites, training tools, and the advising eventscalendar and webpage
• Calendaring and meeting support for Associate Vice Provost andkey unit activities
• Respond to inquiries and requests via phone, in-person, andemail to internal and external stakeholders. Coordinate responsesand consult with other staff on various concerns.
• Participate in professional development events and activitiesin the unit, University, and/or broader community
• Serve on unit and University-wide committees as requested
• Assist all OUE Student Success programs, as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Work Environment: This position is expected to work on-campus in511 Bruininks Hall on the East Bank. Remote work days may beavailable as the position continues.

Qualifications

Required Position Requirements

• BA/BS degree OR a combination of related education and workexperience to equal four years.
• Experience in administrative, program, or event coordination,including event logistics and basic budget/purchasingreconciliation.
• Demonstrated organizational skills with a proven ability toprioritize overlapping administrative tasks, manage multipletimelines, and shift priorities to meet deadlines.
• Proven capacity to work independently and manage complexlogistical requests (both verbal and written) with minimalsupervision.
• Proficiency in standard office software, including GoogleWorkspace and electronic calendaring.
• Exceptional customer service skills focused on supportingundergraduate students, student staff, and professionalcolleagues.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within ateam.

Preferred Position Requirements

• One year of related administrative experience in a highereducation setting.
• Experience coordinating staff-facing events, workshops, andprofessional development programs in an academic environment.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and ability to workeffectively with diverse student and staff populations.
• Familiarity with U of M administrative systems and processes(e.g., purchasing, student records, hiring systems, or web contenttools).
• Ability to exercise initiative, adapt quickly in a fast-pacedenvironment, and resolve operational challenges creatively.
• Previous experience supervising students or part-time staff,with a developmental focus

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $52,000 to $55,000 annually; depending oneducation/qualifications/experience

Time Appoi ntment: 100% Appointment

Position Type : Civil-Service & Non-Faculty LaborRepresented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for moreinformation regarding benefit eligibility.

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional trainingand degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition BenefitProgram
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counselingat no cost
• Employee TransitPass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metroarea

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important tonote that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. Thisapproach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions ofeach candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of ourcommitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered toincoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversityand inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University iscommitted to attracting and retaining employees with varyingidentities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to andopportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment withoutregard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender,age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteranstatus, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successfulcompletion of a background check. Our presumption is thatprospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminalconvictions do not automatically disqualify finalists fromemployment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among thelargest public research universities in the country, offeringundergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude ofopportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of oneof the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities,students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit fromextensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers,international corporations, government agencies, and arts,nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized byForbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employerfor Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State(2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence &Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-lifeflexibility.