Student Success Specialist

hamline; Saint Paul (MN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Hamline University in Saint Paul seeks an entry-level Student Success Specialist to advise undergraduate students with culturally competent holistic support, fostering engagement and connection to campus resources.

You will contribute to retention and belonging by individualized advising, teaching transitional courses, and coordinating outreach for program completion and student success.

Qualifications

• Must be self-motivated, highly organized, and able to manage work interruptions.
• Willing to take on challenges, work under pressure, and meet deadlines.
• Understanding of educational development theory in higher education.
• Knowledgeable about appreciative advising and student success best practices.

Responsibilities

• Advise students regarding academic requirements using appreciative advising to identify long-term goals and resolve progress questions.
• Assist with Summer Orientation and Registration planning and implementation, including outreach and new student support.
• Present advising information to campus constituencies during events and orientation sessions.
• Maintain highly detailed electronic notes for all student interactions and outcomes.
• Coordinate student outreach campaigns for program completion reminders and major declaration reminders.
• Develop and teach transitional courses for incoming first-year students as assigned.
• Oversee content and advising for up to 75 students in the PAC program and related initiatives.

Job description

Founded in 1854, Hamline was the first university in Minnesota and among the first coeducational institutions in the nation. Hamline University provides a world-class education for undergraduate and graduate students. Our faculty, staff, and students cultivate an ethic of civic responsibility, social justice, and inclusive leadership and service.

Hamline University is an Equal Opportunity employer. Hamline University does not discriminate on the basis of race; color; religion; creed; sex; national origin; marital status; familial status; status with regard to public assistance; membership or activity in a local human rights commission; disability; age; protected veteran status; or any other status protected by applicable law in its education or employment programs or activities. The University will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities.

JOB SUMMARY

This entry-level position works with Hamline's diverse undergraduate students to provide culturally competent holistic advising with the goal of student success. The Student Success Specialist works with students in one‑on‑one interactions to assist students with advising related tasks or to implement strategic interventions for success. This position works with students to foster engagement and connection to campus resources. Student Success Specialists at Hamline serve the larger institutional goals of retention, persistence, and academic and institutional belonging.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Academic Advising

• Advise students regarding academic and curricular requirements using a model of appreciative advising to assist students in identifying long term goals, resolve questions regarding degree progress/completion, major/minor/certificate programs, and act as a resource in resolving obstacles to student registration and graduation.
• Understand and communicate requirements and curricular policies and procedures surrounding academic progress and completion.
• Assist with Summer Orientation and Registration planning and implementation (materials development, student outreach, presentation of information, meeting with new transfer students, assisting new students in the registration process, post registration review for new first years).
• Present advising and curriculum related information to various campus constituencies (Hamline Plan presentations, orientation, Admissions events).
• Maintain highly detailed electronic notes pertaining to all student interactions.
• Coordinate various student outreach campaigns, such as program completion reminder, major declaration reminder, repeat First Year Seminar and First Year Writing reminders.

Instruction in transitional courses

• Develop and teach courses in the curriculum for incoming first-year students, as assigned by the Assistant Provost/Director of First Year Seminar. Teaching courses may include: Institute for Academic Success (summer bridge) and First‑Year Seminar (including an Understanding the Liberal Arts Learning section).
• Assist with the assessment and enhancement/revision of curriculum across these (and other) courses.

Outreach and general support for students

• Serve as supplemental academic skills advisor to students in various cohorts- including students on academic probation, or in consultation with the Director of Student Success & Career Integration and relevant staff/faculty.
• Develop and maintain engagement with best practices in the field for working with historically underrepresented student populations.
• Oversee program content and student communication for the Piper Academic Community (PAC) academic support program and other initiatives for special populations. This includes maintaining the website content as well as general advising for up to 75 students.

Committee Attendance

Serve on or in support of various campus committees, as needed and relevant, including Early Alert Committee, Student Progress Committee, etc. as part of the shared work of the CASA staff and in service to the institutional goals relative to enrollment.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in occasional presentations and trainings to various campus and external constituencies.
• Be familiar and comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and exercise best practices with regard to the maintenance of confidential student information.
• All other duties as requested.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

This position reports to the Director of Student Success & Career Integration.

BUDGET MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

None.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KEY COMPETENCIES

• Must be self‑motivated, highly organized, and able to manage work interruptions.
• Must be willing to take on challenges, perform well under pressure, and perform within specific and limited time and resource constraints.
• Understanding of educational development theory in higher education.
• Knowledgeable regarding best practices surrounding appreciative advising and student success, and