Student Success Specialist - Appendix D/ Temporary Assignment (4-months)

Algonquin College • Ottawa, ON

5d • Remote

About The Position

The Student Success Specialist supports a diverse audience of both part-time and full-time learners who choose to study fully online through AC Online at Algonquin College. Working within an integrated team of Online Student Pathway Advisors, Online Facilitators, Academic Managers, Online Facilitator Community Specialist and other Support Specialists, the incumbent contributes to the strategic enrollment management process by successfully implementing core retention strategies, identifying process improvements and recommending new initiatives that support learner achievement. The incumbent provides learners with impartial guidance to support academic success, offers resources, referrals and responds to questions or concerns they may have about how to succeed in their online studies. The Student Success Specialist proactively reaches out to learners in AC Online who are deemed “at risk” through various engagement initiatives such as scheduling virtual one-on-one meetings or case conferences to develop individualized success plans, and implements a variety of student outreach activities such as early alert (e.g., cyber truant) campaigns, onboarding learners new to online studies, semester planning, and academic probation support. The incumbent supports learner advocacy when accessing services to overcome academic, personal or financial challenges. When referring online learners to the appropriate College support services and resources, the Student Success Specialist collaborates and liaises with other internal stakeholders such as the Centre for Accessible Learning and the Student Learning Centre. Using available College technologies, the Student Success Specialist tracks participation in engagement initiatives in order to evaluate their impact and provides recommendations for improvement. This includes reviewing "at risk" reports, Learning Management System analytics and other data to determine action plans for online learners requiring guidance. The incumbent provides ongoing updates about student success and retention initiatives to the Dean’s Management Committee, through written and verbal reports and presentations.

Requirements

• Minimum three (3) year diploma/degree in Social Sciences, Counselling, Adult Learning or Education or related field(s).
• Minimum 3 Years Experience working with adult learners with demonstrated ability to improve academic success.
• Experience in strategic development of student success initiatives.
• Experience in advising an online and diverse clientele preferably in an educational setting.
• Proficient in use of online collaboration tools and/or educational technologies.
• Proficient in the use of creating and composing informational materials using MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Experience using databases to prepare and report on a variety of informational data.
• Ability to deal with sensitive and/or confidential matters while demonstrating compassion and good judgement.
• Highly effective organizational, communication, presentation and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to problem-solve and work independently and within a team.
• Proven experience responding to high-needs and/or at-risk learners.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated experience in the areas of coaching, advising, counseling, or career planning is considered an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Learning Management Systems (i.e., Brightspace) is considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Implements core retention strategies.
• Identifies process improvements and recommends new initiatives that support learner achievement.
• Provides learners with impartial guidance to support academic success.
• Offers resources and referrals.
• Responds to questions or concerns about succeeding in online studies.
• Proactively reaches out to "at risk" learners through engagement initiatives.
• Schedules virtual one-on-one meetings or case conferences to develop individualized success plans.
• Implements student outreach activities such as early alert campaigns, onboarding new online learners, semester planning, and academic probation support.
• Supports learner advocacy when accessing services to overcome academic, personal or financial challenges.
• Collaborates and liaises with internal stakeholders such as the Centre for Accessible Learning and the Student Learning Centre when referring online learners to support services.
• Tracks participation in engagement initiatives to evaluate impact and provides recommendations for improvement.
• Reviews "at risk" reports, Learning Management System analytics and other data to determine action plans for online learners requiring guidance.
• Provides ongoing updates about student success and retention initiatives to the Dean’s Management Committee through reports and presentations.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary
• Comprehensive benefits, including health, dental, and retirement plans designed to support your well-being.
• Access to training, tuition assistance programs (Algonquin College Courses and Degree Completion), certifications, workshops, and professional courses.
• Supportive and collaborative environment.
• Lifetime retirement pension (for full-time employees).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree