Ucam Academic Coach

Priority application deadline: August 25, 2026. Anticipated start date: September 8, 2026.

About the Role

The UCAM (University Coaching and Academic Mentoring) program is a fee-for-service support program for SOU students with or without documented learning differences, executive functioning challenges, or mental health diagnoses. The Academic Coach works in an intensive, one-on-one professional coaching and mentoring capacity to assist students in identifying and achieving personal, academic, and professional goals. The coach introduces holistic success strategies, tracks educational milestones, and serves as a vital campus connection point to foster autonomy and institutional persistence.

This position is supported by non-recurring funds designated for specific studies, projects, or programmatic initiatives. Annual reappointment is contingent upon the continuation of funding. In the event of a loss or reduction of funding, the appointment may be terminated without advance notice.

Responsibilities

• (75%) Professional and Individualized Academic Coaching
  • Maintain an active individual coaching caseload of 20 student coaching hours per term, delivering intensive weekly 1-on-1 coaching sessions.
  • Conduct holistic intake assessments to evaluate student needs regarding executive functioning, time management, prioritization, and self-advocacy.
  • Collaborate with students to build structured academic and personal action plans, identifying realistic short- and long-term milestones.
  • Train students on utilizing crucial institutional toolkits, including SOU-issued platforms (Workday, Navigate, and Moodle), to independent proficiency.
  • Provide close monitoring of course enrollment tracking, assignment progression, and major milestones; submit proactive updates and detailed term-by-term notes.
  • Document detailed interactions and utilize the institutional CAREs and AIM platform to log notes, ensuring appropriate tracking and early alert interventions.
• (15%) Program Operations and Core Instruction
  • Contribute directly to the curriculum and delivery of specialized UCAM courses or structured group workshops for program cohorts.
  • Facilitate focused study blocks, accountability labs, and skill-building sessions centered around study skills and adaptive academic technologies.
  • Participate actively in the preparation, organization, and execution of the UCAM Fall Orientation program for arriving cohorts and their families.
• (10%) Institutional Collaboration and Event Support
  • Establish seamless collaborative relationships with Disability Resources, Student Health and Wellness, and academic departments to streamline student accommodations and wrap-around support.
  • Engage in regular departmental staff meetings, student affairs professional development, and policy compliance review sessions.
  • Provide visible on-the-ground support for university-wide programming and enrollment milestones, including Preview Days, Preview Weekends, and Week of Welcome.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Psychology, Education, Special Education, Social Work, or a closely related human service discipline.
• At least one (1) year of professional experience working directly with neurodivergent individuals (e.g., Learning Disabilities, ADHD, Autism Spectrum) or individuals with documented mental health diagnoses within an educational or clinical framework.
• Demonstrated knowledge of executive functioning deficits and practical intervention methodologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in a related field or formal post-secondary academic coaching certification.
• Familiarity with post-secondary ADA compliance, academic accommodations architecture, and student development theories in higher education.

Skills

• Excellent communication skills; demonstrated ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner, both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism to effectively handle a broad range of sensitive interpersonal situations.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and consistently apply a wide variety of complex policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not always exist.
• Expressed ability to work with frequent changes in policies and procedures, under pressure of deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively assess work operations and anticipate potential problems; ability to develop and implement strategies for preventing/resolving problems.
• Ability to effectively perform work of a highly sensitive and confidential nature that requires access to information. Must be able to exercise sound judgment and discretion, tact, and diplomacy.
• Takes initiative in independently planning, organizing, and performing work assignments within broadly defined parameters.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the demonstrated ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in and outside the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Willingness to work effectively in a heavily bureaucratic environment which requires regular interaction with a number of levels within the organization and multiple outside agencies.
• Working knowledge or ability to quickly learn university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.
• Demonstrated experience teaching, tutoring, or coaching students in an academic environment.
• Familiarity with a wide range of learning strategies to promote academic success.
• Knowledge of executive function challenges and their impact on college students.
• Knowledge of student development theories and growth mindset.
• Ability to assess student needs quickly, apply evidence-based strategies, and meet students where they are without judgment.
• Skilled at establishing rapport in one-on-one settings and fostering a supportive, inclusive, and culturally responsive environment.
• Ability to react calmly and act professionally in the face of student distress.
• A demonstrable commitment to promoting and enhancing diversity.
• General proficiency with common computer software, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, websites, and social media.
• Ability to effectively use information technology to support academic coaching and communication.

Physical Demands

• Normal office activities such as sitting/standing at a desk, using a computer, answering phones, and communicating in person both in writing and via phone with others.

Special Conditions

• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work additional hours and adjust working hours to meet special jobs. May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.
• Must be able to successfully pass a pre-employment background check.
• This position classification has been defined as exempt and is not subject to the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• The person holding this position is considered a mandatory reporter under the Oregon Revised Statutes and is required to comply with the requirements set forth by the Oregon Department of Human Services.

Pay

$44,805-$46,260 annually at 1.0 FTE.

Schedule

• Full-time, 12-month position.
• Work hours: Monday-Friday (8:00 AM - 5:00 PM), with occasional weekend and weeknight hours. Hours are subject to change with notice.

Benefits

Southern Oregon University offers a generous benefits and pension package. For details, visit the Benefit Overview and use the Total Compensation Calculator.