John Hopkins University

To facilitate student success, retention, and graduation, we are seeking a Success Coach, Retention and Graduation (KSAS) to serve as the primary point of contact for a special caseload of students who have been or are at risk of being separated from the University. Through success coaching and academic advising, the Success Coach will connect with students during their time away, assist with transitioning back to the University, develop holistic success plans, and coach students to reach their graduation goals. The Success Coach will assist at-risk students throughout their continuous enrollment by providing academic skills, creating individualized graduation plans, and assisting with navigating university resources.

Specific Duties & Responsibilities

Success Coaching & Academic Advising (50%)

• Serve as the primary academic advisor & success coach for identified at-risk students to include, students on and returning from academic suspension, students on and returning from extended personal leaves, high-risk probation students, students returning from a medical leave of absence, and students who fail to graduate with their intended cohort.
• Develop and implement student success plans for returning students.
• Help students to persist by assisting with proactive academic planning, creative problem solving, and connection to academic and non-academic resources.
• Through frequent meetings, coach students through personal, academic, and social challenges that may arise.
• Provide early interventions to identify and communicate with “at-risk” students identified by faculty in each academic term.

Tracking & Communication (30%)

• Track student progress by running reports, analyzing student data, and communicating with students regarding reinstatement, registration, grades, and graduation.
• Create and maintain records of students separated from the institution for the purpose of reinstatement.
• Create and maintain a communication schedule to keep in contact with separated students.
• Coach students through the reinstatement process.

General Advising Tasks (15%)

• Assist with course planning and registration.
• Troubleshoot problems with registration and refer students to support services to facilitate success.
• Advise undergraduates on academic opportunities and requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Communicate to students the process and deadlines for graduation processing.
• Create and maintain accurate academic records through degree audit software and SIS, and document student meetings and notes in the student information database.
• Certify students’ official degree completion.

Collaboration & Programming (5%)

• Work closely with the Office of Student Outreach & Support and the Associate Director for Student Engagement to share information and manage student cases.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students to develop programs, services or opportunities to support the success of returning students.
• Work closely with key campus partners (Life Design Lab, Financial Aid, Student Life, Academic & Student Services, Residential Life) to ensure that this role functions effectively in connecting advisees to campus resources.

Special Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Understanding of student development theory and current academic advising practices.
• Ability to interact productively with faculty, administrators, students, and other academic and administrative departments.
• Excellent communication and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to thrive in a high-accountability environment.
• Demonstrated success in providing friendly, high-quality customer services and effective outreach abilities.
• Knowledge of best practices for student retention initiatives.
• Knowledge of at-risk student populations and interventions.
• Excellent organization skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to use common technology platforms.
• Demonstrates cultural competence.
• Ability to provide academic coaching or success coaching to at-risk student populations.
• Knowledge of high-achieving student populations.
• Knowledge of co-curricular academic experiences is necessary for a comprehensive undergraduate experience.

Technical Qualifications or Specialized Certifications

• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office, social media, website management, and other relevant technology.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Higher Education, or related area required.
• At least three years of experience with higher education advising and retention.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated success in improving student retention rates, graduation rates and student satisfaction is preferred. 
• Experience in leveraging passion and dedication for student success into measurable outcomes that improve the student experience.

Classified Title: Student Success Advisor 

Job Posting Title (Working Title): Success Coach, Retention and Graduation (KSAS) 

Role/Level/Range: ACRP/04/MD 

Starting Salary Range: $55,200 - $96,600 Annually ($65,000 targeted; Commensurate with experience) 

Employee group: Full Time 

Schedule: Mon - Fri / 8:30am - 5:00pm 

Exempt Status: Exempt 

Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus 

Department name: Student Affairs 

Personnel area: University Student Services