Assistant Registrar for Retention & Completion

Ferris State University•Big Rapids, MI

3d•$54,000 - $56,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Registrar for Retention & Completion supports student retention and timely completion by monitoring academic progress, coordinating outreach, and assisting students through key transitions such as withdrawal and awarding processes. This position maintains accurate academic records, administers various software products, and analyzes data to identify trends and continuous improvement efforts. This position collaborates with campus partners, develops surveys to collect student feedback, and contributes to initiatives that reduce barriers to degree attainment and enhance overall student success. Under the general direction of the Registrar or their designee.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. Equivalency for education is two years of full-time related work experience equals one year of education.
Two years of work experience in an office setting where data organization, accuracy and attention to detail are important.
Office Environment
Moving
Reaching
Sitting
Twisting
Climbing
Repetitive movement
Write basic computer code.
Competent in Excel, Word, and databases, preferably SQL.
Learn new software related to higher education, retention, and degree completion.
Works independently and thinks critically in a team environment.
Develop and maintain a positive working relationship with a varied and diverse group of constituents.
Quickly adapt to varying work/task assignments within the workplace.
Demonstrate a high level of comfort working with technical systems and software applications to investigate, troubleshoot, and resolve technical discrepancies.
Demonstrated commitment, experience, and understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Excellent written and oral communication skills.
Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
Strong interpersonal, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Nice To Haves

Professional work experience in higher education, preferably within enrollment services or academic affairs.
Professional experience with student retention & completion initiatives.
Understanding and experience with student system software such as Banner.

Responsibilities

Maintain in-depth knowledge, evaluate, and interpret University and federal requirements to ensure compliance.
Monitor student academic progress and proactively identify barriers to timely completion using degree audit tools, advisement systems, and institutional analytics.
Assist with initiatives that support student retention and persistence, including outreach to at-risk populations and coordination of completion campaigns.
Administer and support the various software to ensure accurate awarding, timely updates, and alignment with institutional policies related to academic records and degree progress.
Coordinate communication and follow-up for students initiating withdrawal requests, ensuring students understand academic and financial implications, connecting them with appropriate support services, and documenting outcomes.
Track and report student withdrawal trends, retention metrics, and completion data to inform strategic planning and continuous improvement within the Registrar’s Office.
Develop, administer, and analyze surveys to gather feedback on student experiences, barriers to completion, and satisfaction with registrar-related processes. Use student feedback to iterate and improve onboarding and retention strategies.
Produce and interpret data reports related to graduation eligibility, degree progress benchmarks, stop-out patterns, and completion targets; present insights to leadership and stakeholders.
Collaborate with campus partners to support completion initiatives such as reverse transfer, near-completion outreach, and credit evaluation improvements. Run cross-divisional collaborative teams focused on student progress and retention initiatives.
Maintain confidentiality of student records in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Maintain functional knowledge of Ferris curriculum/graduation requirements including general education requirements.
Assist in evaluating and implementing workflow improvements and technology enhancements within advising and degree audit systems to support student success.
Provide guidance and resources to students regarding academic policies, degree requirements, and pathways to completion, escalating complex cases as needed.
Develops and maintains training materials, and provides customer support to the university community.
Partner with student support services (e.g., counseling, tutoring, disability services) to ensure coordinated care for student needs. Facilitate retention campaigns aligned with critical milestones (e.g., registration, financial aid deadlines, course completion).
Support student re-engagement initiatives.
Assist with software implementation to support university initiatives.
Demonstrates an understanding of diversity, equity, belonging, and inclusion, especially in working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
Serve as liaison to faculty, staff, students, and other offices and off-campus constituents.
Serve as Registrar's Office representative on various committees.
Deal with highly sensitive information in a tactful and courteous manner.
Communicate effectively with a diverse group of students, parents, outside agencies.
Responsibilities may involve occasional evening and weekend work.
Develop and deliver professional development sessions for advisors, coaches, and campus partners regarding current processes.
Coordinate workload priorities related to enrollment cycles, initiatives, and deadlines.
Review and interpret University policies through a lens of fairness and academic integrity, identifying potential impacts on student equity and success.
Contribute to strategic planning and assessment efforts that align with university retention, compliance, and accreditation priorities.
Cultivates an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty and staff to thrive authentically.
Support, promote, and develop university student enrollment and retention initiatives.
Any other duties assigned within the position classification area.