Student Success Advocate

About the role

DACC, a responsive, accessible, comprehensive, learning-centered community college that provides education opportunities to a diverse community of learners, is inviting candidates to apply for the following vacant position.

Location and schedule

Doña Ana Community College; travel between multiple campuses may be required on occasion. Standard work schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Salary

$43,908.80–$54,885.74 per year; commensurate with qualifications.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive academic, personal, and student-success support to DACC students throughout their educational journey, with a primary focus on increasing student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with assigned students through proactive outreach, regular check-ins, individualized coaching, and ongoing academic support.
• Serve as a consistent point of contact and advocate for students, helping them navigate college processes, identify barriers to success, and connect with appropriate campus and community resources.
• Monitor student progress, academic standing, attendance, enrollment, and other indicators of student engagement to identify students who may be at risk of stopping out or not completing their educational goals.
• Provide individualized success plans and interventions based on students’ academic needs, personal circumstances, career goals, and educational aspirations.
• Assist students with academic planning, course selection, degree progression, registration, transfer planning, financial aid navigation, and understanding college policies and procedures.
• Conduct proactive outreach to students who are experiencing academic difficulties, have stopped attending classes, are at risk of withdrawal, or demonstrate other indicators of disengagement.
• Collaborate with faculty, advisors, counselors, financial aid staff, student services, and other campus departments to coordinate wraparound support and address student needs.
• Connect students with tutoring, advising, counseling, financial assistance, basic needs resources, career services, disability services, and other available college and community resources.
• Support students in developing effective academic and life skills, including time management, organization, goal setting, study strategies, self-advocacy, and problem-solving.
• Maintain regular communication with students through in-person meetings, phone calls, email, text messaging, virtual appointments, workshops, and other appropriate communication methods.
• Track and document student contacts, interventions, referrals, progress, and outcomes in accordance with institutional policies and applicable privacy requirements.
• Utilize student data and early alert systems to identify trends, evaluate student needs, and implement timely interventions designed to improve retention and completion.
• Participate in student orientation, recruitment, welcome events, workshops, academic success programs, and other activities that promote student engagement and belonging.
• Help students understand the connection between their academic coursework, career interests, transfer opportunities, and long-term educational and professional goals.
• Encourage student engagement and a sense of belonging by helping students connect with campus organizations, leadership opportunities, peer support, and other student involvement activities.
• Identify systemic or recurring barriers that may negatively affect student persistence and communicate observations and recommendations to appropriate college personnel.
• Collaborate with campus and community partners to strengthen student support services and create a coordinated network of resources for DACC students.
• Maintain accurate and timely records, prepare reports, and assist with the collection and analysis of data related to student participation, retention, persistence, completion, and graduation outcomes.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to remain current on student success strategies, retention initiatives, higher education trends, and best practices in academic coaching.
• Maintain confidentiality and adhere to FERPA, college policies, procedures, and professional standards when working with student information.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of DACC’s student success, retention, persistence, and graduation goals.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree plus two years of relevant experience, or a bachelor’s degree.

Preferred qualifications

• Bilingual competency.

Working conditions and physical effort

• Environment: Typical interior office environment.
• Physical effort: No or very limited physical effort required; lifting up to 10 pounds, some standing or walking.
• Risk: No or very limited exposure to physical risk.