Retention Coordinator

Assist students in the Office of Academic and Retention Support at The University of Akron. Provide retention initiatives and help students achieve their educational goals by offering academic, personal, and career support throughout their collegiate journey.

About the role

Act as a liaison to campus departments while providing tailored support to diverse student populations, including traditional, non-traditional, post-baccalaureate, transfer, new and returning students, in their pursuit of professional degrees. Deliver academic, personal, and career support through programmatic initiatives, along with case management and advising support. Establish and build rapport through collaboration with internal and external partners. Implement new strategies and initiatives for student retention and success. Supervise and train professional and student staff.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive support to students through academic, personal, and career coaching and mentoring.
• Interpret and disseminate University academic and administrative procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and case documentation.
• Monitor and track student engagement, persistence, and academic progress.
• Analyze and utilize student data to inform individualized interventions and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Cultivate collaborative relationships to support student success.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources.
• Implement and manage first-year initiatives designed to support new students, including coordinating onboarding experiences, delivering student success programming, and developing initiatives that promote academic achievement, retention, and persistence.
• Develop and implement initiatives designed to enhance support services and resources for first-generation college students, promoting their academic success and overall college experience.
• Plan, coordinate, and participate in recruitment and outreach initiatives that increase awareness of the Office of Academic and Retention Support's programs and services and support student enrollment.
• Support the planning, coordination, implementation, and assessment of workforce development initiatives by tracking student participation and outcomes, coordinating workforce programming, and cultivating partnerships with employers, educational institutions, and community organizations.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Relevant Master’s Degree.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Minimum of 2 years of work experience in academic advising/coaching and/or counseling within an education setting and/or social service setting or related fields.
• Strong organizational skills and basic computer skills including word processing and database capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to provide case management and student support services in a higher education setting.
• Ability to travel as needed for business purposes and maintain a flexible schedule, including occasional evening and weekend commitments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with non-traditional and/or first-generation populations in an educational setting.
• Experience developing curriculum, designing and implementing student programming, and planning and coordinating events.
• Familiarity with campus resources and University policies and procedures.