Learning Skills Specialist

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools.

About the Department

The Academic Development of Student-Athletes (ADSA), housed within the Office of the Provost, is dedicated to promoting the academic achievement, personal growth, and overall success of all SMU Division I student-athletes. ADSA provides a comprehensive system of academic support designed to help student-athletes successfully balance the demands of collegiate athletics with their academic responsibilities. Through its intervention program, ADSA offers a range of individualized support services, including literacy specialists, peer tutoring, executive functioning coaching, and academic skill development. These services are designed to address the diverse learning needs of student-athletes by strengthening skills in reading, writing, organization, time management, study strategies, and self-advocacy. The mission is to empower student-athletes to achieve their highest potential both in the classroom and in competition by providing the resources, guidance, and support necessary for long-term academic and professional success.

About the Role

This is an on-campus, in-person position. The Learning Skills Specialist supports the academic success of SMU student-athletes by providing individualized academic coaching, teaching evidence-based learning strategies, and implementing targeted interventions that promote academic achievement and personal development. Working collaboratively with Academic Counselors and the Learning Support Team, this position assesses student learning needs, delivers individualized and small-group instruction, and helps students strengthen executive functioning, study skills, and self-advocacy.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individualized and small-group academic coaching sessions with assigned student-athletes, providing instruction in reading comprehension, note-taking, test-taking strategies, time management, executive functioning, organization, and other evidence-based learning strategies.
• Monitor student progress and promote accountability through consistent follow-up and documentation.
• Assist in administering and interpreting academic readiness and learning assessments for incoming and current student-athletes.
• Collaborate with the Learning Support Team to develop and implement individualized, data-informed interventions that address identified learning needs.
• Implement individualized learning plans developed by the Learning Support Team by providing targeted instruction in study strategies, executive functioning, memory, concentration, motivation, classroom engagement, and self-advocacy while maintaining appropriate confidentiality.
• Meet regularly with student-athletes to reinforce academic expectations, review progress toward learning goals, and communicate recommendations and updates to members of each student's learning team (academic counselors, etc.).
• Guide student-athletes through the Disability Accommodations & Success Strategies (DASS) process by assisting with accommodation requests and promoting the effective use of approved academic accommodations.
• Maintain regular communication with Academic Counselors, Literacy Specialists, tutors, and other members of the Learning Support Team regarding student engagement, attendance, academic progress, and recommended interventions to ensure coordinated support.
• Maintain accurate and timely documentation of student interactions, assessment results, instructional strategies, accommodations, and academic progress. Ensure student records remain current and facilitate communication among members of each student's learning team.
• Participate in ongoing professional development related to learning support, executive functioning, higher education best practices, culturally responsive teaching, and NCAA academic support initiatives. Apply emerging research and instructional practices to enhance student learning outcomes.
• Assist in day-to-day functions of the tutor program, including conducting tutor observations, providing feedback, and training tutorial techniques to enhance student-athlete learning opportunities.
• Work occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays to provide academic support.
• Occasional travel for professional development may be expected.

Requirements

• Master’s degree required. A degree in Counseling, Education, Psychology, Social Work, Sport Administration, or a closely related field is preferred.
• A minimum of 1 year of experience around underlying attention, memory, language, social skill, and executive functioning challenges and how they impact learning and academic success is required.
• Experience providing differentiated instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners, including interpreting and understanding elementary and high school learning plans (IEPs, 504s, accommodations) is preferred.
• Experience working with students who have language-based learning disorders, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, ADHD, as well as students who experience challenges with executive functioning, attention, memory, and pace-of-learning is preferred.
• Experience working specifically with college student-athletes and/or students with learning differences is a plus.

Skills

• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies.
• Strong written communication skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions.
• Strong organizational, planning, time management, and multitasking skills.
• Ability to work with diverse learners, accomplish lesson objectives in a set amount of time, and use research-based assessments.
• Ability to create individualized, custom instructional intervention plans without a prepackaged program.
• Ability to customize intervention plans to meet individual student needs using a variety of resources and create flexible group support programming.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Sit for long periods of time.
• Bend and reach above shoulders.
• Handle objects (dexterity).

Benefits

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU provides a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain employees. SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect employees and their families throughout their working years and, if retirement eligibility criteria are met, during retirement. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.