Job Title: Student Success Coach for First Year and Sophomore Students
Department: Student Affairs
SUMMARY:
The position is a full-time, in-person, 12-month, salaried position responsible for promoting student retention, success, and belonging to an assigned caseload of targeted undergraduate students in accordance with a new five-year Title III grant. The position also serves as a resource to students, especially historically underserved students, by being a supportive role model, sharing resources, and developing success plans for their major. The individual will assist students in achieving their academic goals with an emphasis on supporting the student's holistic Millikin experience. The position requires occasional evening and weekend hours to support operations and signature events and will perform additional responsibilities related to operational and mission-critical needs.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Promoting Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and a Sense of belonging by fostering welcoming environment; participating in and ensuring staff participation in appropriate training and professional development; ensuring accessibility to services; promoting inclusive excellence in programming and service delivery; reporting policy, legal, and regulatory violations; etc.).
- Providing holistic academic, resource referral, and social-emotional support to caseload of freshman and sophomore students in line with the goals of the Title III grant and as assigned by the Dean of Student Success.
- Providing intrusive coaching and advising focusing on freshman and sophomore students who are at risk for early attrition as described in the Project Narrative.
- Offering and promoting and workshops, resources, high impact educational experiences, and success strategies provided by the Title III grant or by the university, to coaching students to promote retention and academic progress.
- Working with assigned students to create success plans and to track student progress against goals developed in conjunction with each student.
- Serving alongside the SSC Team, participating in office-wide initiatives, training, and institutional responsibilities as allowable per Title III and ED regulations.
- Participating in Title III grant evaluation activities.
- Assisting with planning and programming related to signature campus events such as Orientation, Fall Family Weekend, Homecoming, Welcome Week, Commencement, etc.
- Utilizing student information systems/platforms to provide effective and efficient information to students, faculty, and other constituents while maintaining student confidentiality in accordance with the Family Education Rights to Privacy Act.
- Participating in program and service-delivery evaluation and assessment activities. Collaborating and partnering with campus offices to achieve student success metrics such as retention, engagement, graduation, and placement.
- Participating in program and service-delivery evaluation and assessment activities.
- Assisting with planning and programming related to signature campus events such as Orientation, Fall Family Weekend, Homecoming, Big Event, Welcome Week, Cookie Event Tradition, etc.
- Serving on appropriate university or community committees, councils, and boards as recommended by the supervisor or University President.
- Participating in student recruitment and providing positive student experiences leading to retention and other student success outcomes.
- Implementing emergency communication plans and protocols which includes providing direction, oversight, guidance, and support as needed in emergency or crisis situations.
- Seeking and proposing opportunities for ongoing appropriate professional development for self and, if applicable, reporting staff.
- Communicating effectively university and department goals, achievements, challenges, solutions, practices, changes, and consistently enforcing all policies and regulations.
- Maintaining high ethical standards and integrity by conducting all operations professionally, including acting in accordance with all Millikin University policies and procedures.
- Performing other mission-critical and job-related duties as assigned based on operational needs.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES Does not have supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to succeed in a result-driven professional organization. Ability to manage results through a staff of direct and indirect employees. Ability to drive a team in a focused direction. Working knowledge of higher education processes and practices. Maintaining professional performance, demeanor, and results while working under pressure in a dynamic environment. Customer, budget, quality, and delivery conscious mindset. Ability to establish priorities, work independently with minimal supervision, and facilitate teamwork. Highly organized, with the ability to plan, execute and multitask to meet deadlines and keep projects under budget. Additional qualifications specific to this position are below:
EDUCATION and EXPERIENCE:
Minimum
- Bachelor’s degree required in business, counseling, education or related field.
Preferred
Master’s degree, especially in counseling, college student personnel, interpersonal relations, education, or related field strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in working with underrepresented and under-resourced / disadvantaged students, particularly college students, preferred.
- Demonstrated experience in proving academic or asset-based counseling or coaching preferred.
- Personal experience overcoming barriers similar to those evidenced in the population to be served by this Project (strongly preferred)
- Evidence of strong communication skills required.
CRITICAL SKILLS, ABILITIES AND KNOWLEDGE:
Skills
- Communication skills: Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Self-management skills: ability to manage time effectively, learn and contribute to overall departmental tasks and goals.
- Project coordination skills: ability to lead or contribute to planning or organizing projects, programs, services, etc.
- Conflict resolution skills: ability to use interpersonal skills to develop and maintain positive professional relationships and resolve conflict in a team environment and with individuals from various diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Analytical skills: ability to analyze information and offer sound recommendations.
- Computational skills: ability to perform basic mathematical computations to assist with financial operations and/or data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Computer skills: proficiency with word processing and spreadsheet software, preferably Microsoft Office, Microsoft Teams, Outlook Calendaring, Office 365.
Abilities
- Ability to adhere to work attendance requirements.
- Ability to model self-care and well-being for colleagues and, most importantly, students.
- Ability to manage emotions, function effectively, and make sound decisions in stressful and crisis situations.
- Ability to handle multiple projects, services, activities, etc. in a timely and professional manner in a fast-paced and results-oriented environment.
- Ability to promote and achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion of multi-racial/ethnic, low-income, LGBTQ+, veteran, non-traditional, online, disability, first-generation, and others.
- Ability to be flexible, diplomatic, patient, service-driven, and a self-starter.
- Ability to work independently under limited supervision and in teams.
- Ability to make reasoned administrative and procedural decisions and judgments on sensitive and confidential issues.
- Ability to work evening and weekend hours based on operational need.
- Ability to comply with university vehicle-use requirements (some driving may be necessary, including transporting students and staff to approved events).
Knowledge
- Preparatory knowledge: coursework, military, or work-based knowledge of, for example, student development theories, learning theories, organizational theories, risk management.
- Software/database systems: Ability to use software/databases related to student success initiatives.
- Student knowledge: knowledge of generational college students and the ability to design generation- and audience-specific programs, events, and services.
- Accountability: experience with applying formative, summative, qualitative, and/or quantitative methodologies to assessing student learning outcomes and/or evaluating programs and services.
- Multimedia experience: ability to collaborate on or design brochures, event flyers, and/or newsletters and develop and manage social media accounts.
- Reporting experience: experience with program databases or software programs used to track, monitor, and report services to students.
- Ability to plan and execute programs and services based on social justice, cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and civility.
- Regulatory knowledge: FERPA.
Examples of Measures of Success:
- Participation Outcomes
- Satisfaction Outcomes
- Retention Outcomes
- Graduation Outcomes
- Attainment of Student Learning Outcomes
- Professional development experiences
WORK ENVIRONMENT The Division of Student Affairs at Millikin University is devoted to student success from enrollment to commencement. We are dynamic, agile, and culturally responsive. We guide, support, and, on occasion, challenge students as they develop, refine, and pursue their academic, career, and personal endeavors. All staff are responsible for creating a safe, welcoming, diverse, inclusive, respectful, and caring environment for students, colleagues, and visitors. We seek skilled and diverse colleagues who are student-focused, flexible, self-motivated, and will embrace and respect who we are and what we do. We also seek colleagues committed to moving the Division forward towards prominence and influence on campus, nationally, and within the Student Affairs profession.
Before applying, we encourage interested individuals to spend time learning more about who we are, our values, and what we do: https://www.millikin.edu/about/administration/student-affairs.
Manual Dexterity: Dexterity to operate a keyboard.
Physical Effort: Occasionally sitting at a desk or table; occasional lifting 25 lbs. or less; intermittently sitting/standing; hearing and visual acuity within normal range; ability to stoop, kneel, and crouch occasionally; high degree of mobility required.
Working Conditions: Typical working conditions found in most administrative work areas.
Hazards: None
INTERPERSONAL SKILLS Communicates effectively and appropriately. Gets along and cooperates with co-workers and appropriately interacts with others. Participates and functions as an effective member of the team.
CONFIDENTIALITY Exchanges university information with others only on a "need to know" basis.
ATTENDANCE Promptly arrives for the designated shift. Follows all applicable policies regarding schedules, attendance, and organizational requirements. Typically considered an exempt/salaried position, so will involve normal 9+ hour days, weekends, and off shifts as required to successfully perform job duties. Excessive absenteeism will hinder successful job performance.
SAFETY Understands and always uses safe practices. Reports all unsafe conditions to the Risk Manager immediately. Assures all equipment functions properly before use. Knows and adheres to all safety and fire prevention rules and regulations. Knows location and use of personal protective equipment, fire plan, SDS and Disaster Plan.
UNIVERSAL ACCOUNTABILITY Provides excellent service to all customers striving to exceed their expectations. Demonstrates courtesy, compassion, and respect. Is thoroughly committed to the mission and vision of Millikin University.