Student Success Advisor

North Dakota University System • Dickinson, TX

29d • $40,000 - $45,000

About The Position

DICKINSON STATE UNIVERSITY (DSU) is a regional comprehensive institution within the North Dakota University System, whose primary role is to contribute to intellectual, social, economic, and cultural development, especially to Southwestern North Dakota. The University's mission is to provide high quality, accessible programs; to promote excellence in teaching and learning; to support scholarly and creative activities; and to provide service relevant to the economy, health, and quality of life for the citizens of the State of North Dakota. DSU is seeking to hire a Student Success Advisor. This position assists with advising, early alert, retention, at-risk student meetings, and serves as a liaison between SOAR Center personnel, faculty, staff, and students. This position places a particular emphasis on identifying, supporting, and developing programs for at-risk students including but not limited to, first generation and low-income students. The areas and programs that comprise the Student Opportunity and Resource (SOAR) Center provide resources and services to assist students in pursuing their academic goals at Dickinson State University, in and out of the classroom. SOAR Center offices work collaboratively to enhance the mission of DSU through servant-centered leadership and providing high-quality and accessible programs promoting excellence in learning and supporting scholarly activities. SOAR Center includes academic and advising resources, career development, disability services and tutoring services.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Proficiencies using Microsoft Office Suite
• Attention to detail
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to communicate and facilitate conversation with diverse populations.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidential files and documentation.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree
• Education background
• Experience in Higher Education
• Prior experience using PeopleSoft
• Prior experience with Starfish or other retention software

Responsibilities

• Provide academic support and intervention for incoming and returning students.
• Provide high-impact engagement and continuous monitoring, tracking, and support from enrollment to completion. Student Success Advisors are the consistent point of contact, responsible for helping students navigate their higher education journey.
• Consult and coordinate with Admissions to ensure a smooth transition for students.
• Assist students through first time enrollment.
• Identify individual needs through individualized academic plans each semester. Provide guidance and advise students of available academic advising, financial, and personal services based on semester need(s).
• Schedule and conduct face-to-face advising sessions re: academics, finances, career planning, personal issues as needed with individual students.
• Provide individual academic skills workshops as needed.
• Conduct financial planning advising to assist participants in budgeting as well as applying for scholarships and other financial or grant aid. Help students understand their account with the institution (excess aid, payment of fees, business office holds, etc.)
• Initiate internal referral system for students needing services including but not limited to, Accessibility Services, Financial Aid, Student Counseling & Health Services, Tutoring, Campus Life, Testing, and other campus and community offices.
• Plan and organize interventions strategies to be utilized with students on academic probation and suspension.
• Monitor and assess the success of interventions strategies.
• Assist with various student outreach, retention, and communication initiatives.
• Maintain a case roster of students; track student engagements; assist with development and presentation of reports and data.
• Provide advising support for incoming and returning students as part of the Advising Center.
• Academic areas include but are not limited to: Agriculture and Technical Studies; Arts & Letters; School of Kinesiology; Mathematics & Computer Science; Natural Sciences; Nursing; School of Entrepreneurship & Business; Social Sciences; School of Education; and University Studies.
• Assist students in understanding evaluation of transfer credits.
• Create, implement and update (each semester) advising folders for students.
• Folders should identify challenges and barriers, determined solutions, and intervention activities and processes that could impede retention, persistence, and graduation initiatives.
• Remain point-of-contact for students once transitioned to discipline-specific academic advisor.
• Empower students to develop plans for success that include understanding degree requirements and advocates for themselves.
• Meet established unit benchmarks, customer service standards, key performance indicators, and daily productivity metrics.
• Develop programming initiatives in conjunction with Campus Activities that celebrate student scholars.
• Develop positive relationships with university students, faculty, and staff to demonstrate good will.
• Attend academic department meetings.
• Assist in coordination and promotion of university sponsored events.
• Serve on university committees, as requested/assigned.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to develop knowledge and strengthen skills in professional field.
• Propose and implement new procedures for identifying at-risk students upon acceptance to the University.
• Suggest long-term strategies for data collection and reporting. Coordinate with the Office of Institutional Research when applicable.
• Develop print materials regarding services available to students. Consult the University Relations office when applicable.
• Other duties as assigned
• Lead the development, implementation, and manage the ongoing operations of the Starfish Early Alert Retention Platform (or similar platform).
• Utilize Starfish (or similar platform) to drive student success with direction from DSU leadership.
• Take a lead role in promoting and educating faculty and staff about Starfish Early Alert Retention Platform (or similar platform).
• Provide leadership and guidance to maximize use of Starfish (or similar platform).
• Maintain and analyze data from Starfish.
• Create and manage Starfish accounts for all faculty, staff, and students (or similar platform).
• Review and assist with tracking items such as flags and kudos.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to expand utilization of Starfish (or similar platform).
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance (family or single coverage)
• TIAA retirement
• Tuition waiver benefits, for employee and spouse/dependents
• Possible eligibility to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program with the US Department of Education.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Educational Services
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees