Academic Success Coach and Retention Specialist

University of St Thomas•St. Paul, MN

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for an Academic Success Coach and Retention Specialist position within the Center for Student Achievement. The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment. The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO). All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic. This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good. A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission. The Student Success Coach partners with identified incoming students and students experiencing academic difficulty, such as academic warning, suspension and dismissal, to support their academic success, personal growth, and persistence. Through individualized coaching, proactive outreach, and connections to faculty, staff, and campus resources, the coach helps students develop academic skills, navigate challenges, build resilience and belonging, and connect their education to meaningful goals and future aspirations. Working collaboratively across Academic and Student Affairs, the coach supports retention efforts and develops programming and workshops that strengthen academic skill development, student engagement, and overall student success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Three years of experience in an academic setting, preferably in academic advising and/or student affairs/student services
Certification as an academic success coach or interest in gaining certification.
Experience working with students from various backgrounds

Nice To Haves

An earned master’s degree
An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.

Responsibilities

Meet regularly with students experiencing academic difficulty to assess strengths, challenges, goals, and barriers to success.
Develop and implement individualized academic success plans with clear, measurable goals.
Provide coaching on academic skill development, including study strategies, time management, note-taking, goal setting, test preparation, and use of campus resources.
Facilitate workshops or seminars on learning strategies, academic resilience, stress management, and related student success topics.
Collaborate with campus partners to coordinate programming and avoid duplication of services.
Track student progress toward academic goals and document interventions, outcomes, and follow-up actions.
Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records of coaching sessions and student progress using our CRM Salesforce.
Use student success data and institutional systems to identify trends, evaluate interventions, and inform outreach strategies.
Provide constructive feedback to help students make informed academic and career-related decisions.
Serve as a liaison among students, faculty, academic advisors, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and other campus partners.
Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify students in need of support and develop coordinated intervention strategies.
Participate in case management, student success meetings, or care-team processes as appropriate.
Communicate with professionalism, discretion, and sensitivity to student privacy.
Refer students to appropriate campus resources, including tutoring, counseling, financial aid, accessibility services, career services, and other support offices.
Help students understand and navigate university policies, academic procedures, and student support systems.
Support students through academic standing processes, including suspension and dismissal appeals, when appropriate.
Advocate for students’ academic needs while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries and institutional policy compliance.
Support retention initiatives, outreach campaigns, and student success projects.
Participate in marketing, information tables, orientation, recruitment, and campus events to promote academic success services.
Assist with assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement of academic success initiatives.
Perform other duties as assigned.