Program Manager for Student Engagement and Second Year Experience

University of St. Thomas (MN)•Saint Paul, MN

30d

About The Position

The Student Engagement & Second-Year Program Manager advances student belonging, connection, and success by fostering meaningful participation in campus life and leading strategic initiatives for second-year students. Grounded in the Catholic mission of the University of St. Thomas, this position emphasizes accompaniment-walking with students as they discern their sense of purpose, community, and vocation. The Program Manager provides guidance, mentorship, and program coordination that help students find their place in campus life and connect their involvement to personal growth, academic persistence, and the common good. This position also leads Campus Life's Second-Year Experience (SYE) initiatives to ensure continued engagement and belonging beyond the first year. Collaborating with campus partners, the Program Manager also supports university traditions, recognition programs, and large- scale events, ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and part of the Tommie community.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Three years of program management or office management experience, preferably in a higher education environment
An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a relevant field
Previous experience with university programming, activities, first-year experiences, and/or co-curricular retention programs

Responsibilities

Coordinate intentional engagement initiatives that connect students to meaningful experiences, organizations, and campus traditions.
Create and implement Engagement Plans that help students link co-curricular participation to academic, social, and vocational goals.
Proactively identify and reach out to students who show signs of disengagement, providing connection to mentors, communities, and support networks.
Recruit, hire, train, and supervise Tommie Engagement Consultants (TEC) student leaders who build community and foster belonging among undergraduates.
Lead the TEC Program as a peer engagement initiative that connects with students across all class years, ensuring every Tommie feels seen, supported, and part of the campus community.
Guide TECs in conducting personalized outreach, developing individualized engagement plans for students, and celebrating milestones in their involvement journeys.
Use Salesforce and Tommie Link to identify disengaged students, monitor engagement trends, and track retention outcomes.
Implement data-informed strategies to strengthen inclusion and belonging, with a particular focus on first-generation, commuter, and low-income students.
Collaborate with Retention & Student Success, Residence Life, Off-Campus Student Life, and Student Diversity & Inclusion Services to coordinate early-alert interventions, outreach campaigns, and re-engagement efforts.
Partner across Campus Life and university departments to align engagement efforts and co-create initiatives that advance connection, inclusion, and community flourishing.
Develop, coordinate, and assess a comprehensive First-Year Tommies (FYT) program and a Second-Year Engagement (SYE) program that supports student connection, belonging, and success.
Plan and implement Welcome Back Days (fall) and First Week Back (spring) to engage returning students and encourage re-involvement.
Collaborate with Director of Campus Life in planning of Welcome Days to welcome and connect new students to St Thomas campus and resources in the fall.
Collaborate with STAR, Academic Affairs, Residence Life, and other campus partners to design programs that address the unique developmental needs of first-year, second-year, and priority student populations.
Manage the FYT and SYE student cohorts in Tommie Link, including marketing, event postings, and engagement tracking.
Coordinate the First-Year Tommies Pathway and Second-Year Engagement Pathway within Tommie Link by recruiting qualifying events, promoting participation, and supporting data collection and assessment.
Evaluate the impact of first-year and second-year initiatives on retention and belonging and provide reports and recommendations for improvement.
Coordinate signature university programs and student recognition initiatives, including the Tommie Awards, Leadership Scholarships, and Commencement Speaker student selection.
Support Campus Life's involvement in large-scale university traditions such as Homecoming, Holidays at St. Thomas, and Tommie Fest.
Serve on department or division committees that advance engagement, retention, and belonging.
Develop and manage communications related to student engagement, including Tommie Link pages, social media content, and weekly weekend emails.
Maintain accurate records of student participation, engagement data, and program assessment results.
Provide data reports and updates for departmental and division-wide assessment and strategic planning.
Support Campus Life office operations by providing customer service, responding to inquiries, and assisting with office coverage as needed.