Student Success Specialist (STEM)

The Pennsylvania State University • Harrisburg, PA

5h • Hybrid

About The Position

Penn State Harrisburg seeks a student-centered professional to serve as the Student Success Specialist , STEM courses supporting students in or intending to be in math-intensive majors. This position will play a key role in supporting student success in math, science, and related courses by coordinating proactive academic recovery efforts, collaborating with faculty and peer tutors, and advising students who are at risk academically. With the initial focus on mathematics, the Student Success Specialist (specialist) will work closely with the mathematics faculty, the Lambert Undergraduate Advising Center, Russell E. Horn Sr. Learning Center, and the Associate Research Professor of STEM Education. The specialist will provide direct academic advising, individualized recovery coaching, and structured programming for at-risk students enrolled in math-heavy courses. This person will also have the opportunity to teach a one-credit first-year seminar (FYS) course each year, integrating math success strategies for both traditional and adult/transfer learners, and/or a one-credit learning assistant training course.

Requirements

• Master’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3+ years in student success or academic support roles
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to create and maintain an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and colleagues
• Ability to balance empathy and accountability in supporting students.
• Experience with Office365 is required.

Nice To Haves

• education in STEM/math education, higher education, or related field
• experience with students in academic difficulty or STEM contexts preferred.
• Experience with PeopleSoft, Starfish, and other student success management tools are desired as are awareness and knowledge of emerging technologies related to math learning

Responsibilities

• Advise students in majors with intensive math requirements and those experiencing academic difficulty in math, including students on academic warning or suspension.
• Providing guidance to assigned advisees on academic planning to ensure timely degree completion, instructing on the use of advising tools, assessing academic needs and making appropriate referrals, maintaining confidentiality of student records, monitoring academic progress, sending periodic messaging for key academic actions and deadlines, and interpreting university policies and procedures to support in decision making.
• Coach students through individualized academic recovery plans, incorporating skill-building and time management strategies.
• Interpret and communicate curricular requirements for math-intensive majors, with particular emphasis on flexible options for completing math requirements.
• Ensure that specific populations of students (e.g., student-athletes, transfer students, adult learners, first generation students) have adequate support to be successful in math.
• Work directly with math faculty and advising and tutoring staff to identify high-risk students and implement early interventions. These partnerships would include reviewing placement test scores.
• Coordinate with the Russell E. Horn Sr. Learning Center to align tutoring, supplemental instruction, and study skills programming with advising efforts.
• Collaborate with the learning assistant program to assist with training and ensure adequate student support is offered in math-intensive courses.
• Integrate academic success and recovery strategies into the first-year experience, with a specific emphasis on success in math-intensive courses.
• Develop and deliver workshops or small-group sessions on quantitative reasoning, study skills for STEM courses, and recovery planning in collaboration with the Russell E. Horn Sr. Learning Center and the Associate Research Professor of STEM Education.
• Develop initiatives to promote persistence and belonging among students in math-intensive majors.
• Assist with college-wide events such as New Student Orientation, Open House, Accepted Student Days, and Welcome Week.
• Collaborate with the Associate Research Professor of STEM Education to understand and track D/F/W trends in math and other STEM courses (as needed) and subsequent courses in math-intensive majors.
• Contribute to reports and recommendations for improving academic success metrics.
• Other duties as assigned

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees