Student Success & Retention Advisor

Title: Student Success & Retention Advisor

Department: Student Ach & Success Prog

Campus Location: Arnold/Main Campus

Salary Range: $55,782-$69,727

Work Mode: This position requires some regular in-person presence on campus or at alternative locations, depending on business needs of the office.

Hours Per Week: 40

Work Schedule: 

Position Type: Full-Time Staff,  Exempt

Position Summary

The SASP student success and retention advisor provides direct academic career, personal guidance, and advocacy to support the
academic success, transfer, and graduation of program participants. The student success and retention advisor facilitates the development of an education, career, and transfer plan from various sources, course selection, and interpretation of academic rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. Regularly monitors and documents academic progress and completes follow-up contacts
face-to-face, in groups, through social media and online community activities. Provides advocacy and makes interventions and referrals for other student support, campus services, and community resources. Utilizing a caseload model, the goal of this position is to collaborate with other engagement and high-impact practices on campus, such as early alert, student success courses, academic advising, tutoring, and other SASP programs to increase a sense of belonging and retention, and pathways to completion of the target population. The student success and retention advisor will participate in success strategies designed to eradicate achievement gaps, with an emphasis on equity, and sustain academic achievement. In addition, this position will lead responsibilities for the Presidential Opportunity Scholarship (POSCH), which includes providing support that is safe, timely, equitable, and student-centered. This position will also provide intentional support to alternative AACC campus locations in a hybrid schedule. The student success and retention advisor will assist the assistant director in recruiting and selecting participants through program presentations, high school, community outreach, social media, and online community activities. It is required that the applicant be skilled in establishing rapport, a problem solver, and can provide a broad range of services designed to ensure the success of underrepresented, first-generation, low-income, minority male, minority, and military-connected students.

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is committed to enriching the educational experience it offers through the diversity of its faculty, administrators, and staff members. The college seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse team who will contribute to the college’s excellence, diversity of viewpoints and experiences, embrace concepts of equity and inclusiveness, and support the equal rights of all people by advancing the understanding and appreciation of differences including age, race, gender, ability, religious convictions, socio-economic status, ethnic heritage, or sexual orientation.

While we appreciate your interest in employment with Anne Arundel Community College, applicants must be currently authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis. Employment-based visa sponsorship (including H-1B sponsorship) is not available for any position.

In the best interest of the College, only individuals who are residents of Maryland or one of the following states will be eligible for employment at the college: Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia or the District of Columbia. The college will annually review this restriction and, if appropriate, expand the list of states of employment eligibility.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

Conduct initial interviews for new program participants and status review interviews for continuing program participants to assess academic support, academic, career, and personal advising needs.
Facilitate the development of an educational plan/action plan for program participants, which leads to increased retention and completion.

Monitor and document academic progress, withdrawals, faculty referrals, and interim grade reports to determine appropriate intervention needs.

Provide intrusive follow-up academic monitoring and advising for an assigned caseload. Regularly communicate with caseload and serve as a liaison to AACC departments and campus support.

Monitor and document students’ academic progress toward academic success, transfer, and graduation. Complete follow-up contacts in response to students’ needs and midterms and identify the difficulties of the student. Make recommendations for services to be provided to students.

Serve as lead to implement and facilitate POSCH activities.

Coordinate faculty and staff participation in AACPS high school awards to present incoming scholars with POSCH awards.

Develop activities around an annual theme for each cohort to support and encourage mentorship and success strategies at Monthly Meet Up Sessions.

Coordinate with Admissions and Financial Aid to ensure scholars complete the required components of the process.

Track and monitor scholars academic process each semester and completion of scholarship requirements (GPA, participation, program attendance)

Plan and facilitate Annual Welcome Event for each new cohort, Spring President’s Forum, Fall Breakfast with High School Principals and Guidance Counselors (working with the President’s office, Dean of Student Development: Dean and Assistant, Admissions, VP of LSS and VP for Learning)

Assist in collaborating with college and community resources that provide student services to enhance outreach and increase student connections to services.

Assist with facilitating workshops, tabling events, focus groups, forums, and briefings.

Assist with implementing projects and initiatives not limited to high school collaborations and open houses.

Assist in maintaining appropriate documentation of student contact provided in person, by phone, e-mail, online community, or social media.

Collaborate with Disability Support Services (DSS), Office of Student Engagement, Academic Advising, Personal and Career Counseling, Financial Aid, Tutoring services, Help Link, and other support services to provide comprehensive services for participants.

Stay current with advising strategies, transfer issues, and retention strategies to assist students in accomplishing their goals.

Utilize best practices and student development theories to develop and implement success and completion strategies for underrepresented student populations.

Assist in the recruitment and outreach of prospective SASP, Bridge to Success, Black Male Institute, Hispanic Outreach and military-connected students.

Contribute to the content area of the SASP website, Canvas, social media, and online communities.

Assist the director, assistant director, and program manager in the development, implementation, and coordination of various SASP and MVRC initiatives, activities, and projects to improve the academic success and persistence of students.

Participate in strategic plan activities, Engagement Matters II: Excellence through Innovation initiatives

Required Qualifications:

Master’s degree or higher

Minimum of two years of relevant experience

Experience working with low-income, first-generation, underrepresented students.
Demonstrated value of equity, diversity, and inclusion
Experience with military/veteran community and culture, including working knowledge of VA benefits and certification processes

A high degree of comfort and experience in the social media and online learning environment

Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to make group presentations

Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule to accommodate the needs of the program, including evenings, weekends, in-person, virtual, hybrid, and other AACC sites

Strong organizational skills and the ability to work independently

Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite, ability to master student information systems

Preferred Qualifications:

Bilingual preferred