Lead Academic Success Advisor and Retention Specialist

We are the Division of Undergraduate Education

●       We are student-centered departments dedicated to fostering and enhancing the ever-evolving undergraduate academic experience.

●       We implement and support innovative teaching, advising, and student interventions that strategically promote student success, retention and graduation.

●       We strive to create meaningful relationships with students and value collaboration with colleagues across academic and administrative areas to ensure students experience an inclusive and engaging environment.

●       We are constantly evolving. We are a division of creative, forward thinking and solutions-focused staff, who are committed to professional growth, training, research initiatives and collaboration within our area and with campus partners.

We invite you to apply to work in our division.

Click here for more information about the Division of Undergraduate Education

Required Qualifications (as evidenced by an attached resume):
Master’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) and one (1) year of full-time professional experience in academic advising, counseling, or student services at the college or university level working with undergraduates. In lieu of a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree (foreign equivalent or higher) and three (3) years of full-time professional experience in an academic advising, counseling, or student services at the college or university level working with undergraduates may be considered. Experience coordinating projects, programs, and/or events

Preferred Qualifications:
Master’s degree (foreign equivalent or higher) in higher education, social sciences, social work, counseling, or related discipline. Additional professional experience in academic advising, counseling, or student services at the college or university level working with undergraduates. Experience at the college or university level working with undergraduates. Experience working in undergraduate student retention, or directly with student success programs. Experience using and/or analyzing data. Experience interacting with a diverse student population in an academic environment.

Brief Description of Duties:
The Lead Academic Success Advisor and Retention Specialist plays an active role in efforts to support student retention, graduation, and other University-defined student success goals. As a key member of the Undergraduate Retention Initiatives and Success Engagement (U-RISE) unit, this position is responsible for retention-related tracking, outreach, and intervention design to support students toward retention and graduation. The specialist supports the implementation of data-driven interventions and outreach strategies to address retention and graduation gaps; provides high-quality academic advising and coaching for complex student situations; and refers students to other relevant advising departments and campus resources. The specialist provides coordination support for one of the following university success initiatives, projects, or processes\: academic standing; at-promise student persistence; or general retention/graduation program support. The specialist also participates in the Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) Lab, an action-oriented applied research group that leverages scholarly inquiry to examine best practices in retention efforts; develops original research; and designs innovative strategies to promote undergraduate student success. The specialist collaborates with all University areas that impact student success and retention, and helps align specific activities related to student success and retention goals.

• Academic Success Interventions:  

  • Plan and coordinate evidence-based interventions to address retention and graduation gaps. Provide coordination support for one of the following university success initiatives, projects, or processes\: academic standing; at-promise student persistence; or general retention/graduation program support. Develop events and activities to build class-year community and academic success skills. In collaboration with University assessment specialists, analyze the success of intervention efforts. Hire, train, and supervise graduate student assistants who support programming and outreach efforts.

• Success Advising and Retention Support: 

  • Provide high quality success advising and retention support to undergraduates in an assigned cohort. Assist with student record/degree audit each semester. Actively follow up with students who need high support based upon academic standing, degree progress, and/or students who do not achieve data-informed benchmarks. Assist students in developing meaningful and realistic academic plans that are compatible with career and life goals.

• Retention Research and Strategy\: 

  • Use data and analytics to inform approaches to interventions. Collaborate on retention-focused advising strategies and research-driven outreach plans to support institutional goals. Use research to drive best practices and support other units in their efforts around student success. Actively participate in the Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) lab. 

• Divisional Support\: 

  • Assist with Division of Undergraduate Education priorities, including supporting division-wide and university-wide success initiatives. Liaison with student service areas.

• Other duties or projects as assigned as appropriate to rank and departmental mission.

Special Notes:
This is a full-time appointment. FLSA Exempt position, not eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA. Minimum salary threshold must be met to maintain FLSA exemption.

In addition to the employee's base salary, this position is eligible for $4,000 UUP annual location pay, paid biweekly.

For this position, we are unable to sponsor candidates for work visas.

Resume/CV and cover letter should be included with the online application.

Stony Brook University is committed to excellence in diversity and the creation of an inclusive learning, and working environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status and all other protected classes under federal or state laws.

If you need a disability-related accommodation, please call the university Office of Equity and Access (OEA) at (631) 632-6280 or visit OEA.

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