Student Success Specialist

Utah-Valley-University; Orem (UT); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Utah Valley University is seeking a Student Success Specialist to serve as a trusted resource helping students navigate challenges and connect with campus support services. You will provide proactive outreach, personalized guidance, and ongoing encouragement to help students persist toward degree completion.

In this role you will manage a caseload, advocate for student needs, collect and document progress, and collaborate with faculty and campus partners to improve student success initiatives.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or two years of related experience required.
• Any combination totaling at least two years accepted.
• Experience in higher education or support services preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of students and provide outreach and support throughout their academic journey.
• Advocate for students to resolve issues and encourage persistence through meetings and follow-up.
• Collect, analyze, and document student information and progress; maintain confidential records.
• Participate in committees to improve student success processes and plan events that support students.
• Support the Student Success Open Lab with individualized, drop-in assistance to students.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Organization

Documentation

Active listening

Written communication

Education

Associate degree

Two years related experience

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Job description

Join Utah Valley University and make a meaningful difference in the lives of students every day. As a Student Success Specialist, you'll serve as a trusted resource and advocate, helping students navigate challenges, connect with support services, and stay on track toward their educational goals. Through proactive outreach, personalized guidance, and ongoing encouragement, you'll play an important role in helping students persist, succeed, and achieve degree completion.

This position offers the opportunity to build impactful relationships while collaborating with faculty, staff, and campus partners across the university. You'll work in a student-centered environment where your communication, problem-solving, and support skills can have a direct influence on student outcomes. If you're passionate about helping others, enjoy working with people from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, and want to contribute to a university that prioritizes student success, this role provides a rewarding opportunity to create lasting impact while advancing your career in higher education.

• Manages a caseload of students, providing personalized outreach, guidance, and consistent support throughout their academic journey; connects students with appropriate campus resources and follows up to ensure their needs are met.
• Advocates for students to resolve issues associated with their possible departure and encourage persistence. These efforts include one-on-one and face-to-face meetings with students to build a student success plan, connect them to appropriate resources, and provide ongoing communication and support.
• Collects, analyzes, and documents student academic information and progress. Maintains confidential records and/or other documents related to students.
• Participates in committees with colleagues to improve student success processes, develop professionally, and plan events that support students. Contributes to refining outreach strategies, enhancing support initiatives, and fostering collaboration across our department to better serve students.
• Supports the daily operation of the Student Success Open Lab by providing individualized, drop-in assistance to students with academic skill development, technology navigation, and access to campus resources.
• Other duties as assigned

Graduation from an accredited institution with an associate's degree and/or two years of related experience or any combination of education and experience totaling two years.

For Example:

• Associate degree and no additional experience
• OR one year of college coursework and one year of related experience
• OR two years of college coursework in a related field
• OR two years of related professional work experience
• OR bachelor's degree in a related field
• OR any combination of education and experience that totals at least two years

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish and multilingual proficiency.
• Experience in higher education or support services.
• Experience providing support, guidance, or services to students or clients in an educational or customer service setting.
• Understanding of campus resources and student support services.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of campus departments, academic advising, tutoring, financial aid, and other student support programs.
• Knowledge of best practices in student engagement, retention, and success.
• Knowledge of effective methods for engaging students through email, phone, text, and in-person interactions.

Skills

• Skills in organization and coordination for efficient workload productivity.
• Skills in maintaining accurate student records and documenting outreach efforts.
• Skills in actively listening to students and providing thoughtful solutions.

Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to all students.
• Ability to instruct and motivate students to continue their education.
• Ability to build rapport with students and provide compassionate and proactive support.
• Ability to handle difficult conversations with professionalism and empathy.
• Ability to identify challenges and determine appropriate resources or solutions.
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues, faculty, and campus partners to support student success initiatives.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
• Ability and experience with Microsoft Office programs, including Excel and Word.