Student Retention Specialist

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 sec-year students and those completing at least 75% of their program of study, including assisting students with transfer process to f 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 prepares 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 facilitates 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.

Application Procedures/Additional Information

Applicants may apply at www.lawsonstate.edu. For questions please contact the Office of Human Resources at 205-929-3408 . All application materials will become the property of the college. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure his or her application packet is completed. Only applications received during the period of this announcement will be considered. No previous application files will be transferred for consideration for this position.A complete application packet consists of:

A cover letterAn Online applicationA current resumeA copy of relevant post-secondary transcripts identifying the applicant, institution, and date of degree conferred.If employed, all official transcripts must be received in the Office of Human Resources prior to the employment start date.

Applicants who fail to submit a complete application packet will not be considered. Before an offer is made, the top applicants must provide the following: Employment verification letter(s) from a current or previous employer detailing all relevant experience. Employment verification letters must include employment dates and job title and be on official letterhead with an authorized personnel signature. Work experience verification from a current employer may be delayed until an official offer of employment has been made. Applicants must submit a written request to delay submission or work experience verification from a current employer. More than one position in the same job classification may be filled from the applicants for this position should another vacancy occur during the search process.

EEOC, E-VERIFY, AND BACKGROUND CHECK STATEMENTS:

Lawson State Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, 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.

In accordance with Alabama Community College System Policy and Guidelines, 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). E-verify electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated on this vacancy notice and must submit a completed application packet in order to be considered for this position. Complete application files must be received no later than the application deadline. Applicants who fail to submit all required information will be disqualified. Only applications received during the period of this announcement will be considered. Applicants must adhere to the College's prescribed interview schedule and must travel at their own expense. The College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to awarding.