Retention Specialist

Agency

Department

The Retentional Specialist plays a key role in advancing student success and persistence at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Reporting to the Executive Director of Student Success the Retention Specialist is responsible for managing a caseload of undergraduate students identified as in need of additional support. The position engages students through proactive outreach academic guidance and success planning to promote persistence towards graduation and degree attainment.

This role supports retention-focused initiatives through direct student engagement development of academic support programming and coordination with faculty and campus stakeholders. The Retention Specialist also tracks student progress monitors academic alerts and contributes to the design and implementation of interventions and communications aimed at improving student outcomes.

Responsibilities:

• Provides academic guidance program consultation referral and follow-up on a regular basis for undergraduate students and target student populations.

• Meets one-on-one to build rapport assists with/review degree plans and registration questions and collaborates with students to develop individualized academic success plans with measurable goals.

• Coordinates group academic success and skills building workshops.

• Monitors and responds to early alerts submitted by faculty/staff conducts timely follow-up and supports students in establishing goals and intervention strategies that promote academic success.

• Serves as a liaison with faculty academic advisors and student services staff to coordinate wraparound case management for students experiencing academic or personal barriers to graduation.

• Supports students acclimation to college by facilitating access to academic personal and transitional support resources.

• Educates undergraduate students about university wide and community-based services and helps them to navigate available resources.

• Monitors midterm grades and other academic progress indicators and conducts outreach to students identified as needing academic support.

• Gathers tracks and analyzes caseload and outreach data related to academic alerts and retention efforts and prepares summaries and key findings with campus stakeholders to support continuous improvement.

• Engages in regular outreach via phone text email and in-person meetings to encourage registration academic engagement and use of support services.

• Implement communication strategies rooted in behavioral nudges to prompt students toward timely academic actions such as class attendance assignment completion and registration.

• Participates in institution-wide retention campaigns and contributes to the development of targeted communication strategies and student messaging.

• Track and maintain detailed records of student interactions goals and outcomes using CRM and student success platforms.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelors degree or higher in a related field.

Preferred Education and Experience:

• Masters degree in Student Personnel Services Education or Guidance and Counseling.

• One (1) year of experience in academic services in higher education primarily working with at-risk student populations.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Ability to use the student information systems such as BANNER.

• Ability to use early alerts systems scheduling systems and CRM systems.

• Ability to use good judgment and work effectively under pressure.

• Ability to work as a member of the team.

• Ability to work individually or in groups to complete projects.

• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality.

• Demonstrate experience in and commitment to working with multicultural populations.

• Ability to develop and deliver presentations to students and faculty.

• Ability to work cooperatively with others and provide excellent customer service to students employees and the community.

• Ability to multitask.

• Ability to gather track and analyze data.

• Demonstrated experience using Excel or other MS Office software.

• Excellent verbal and communication skills

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation and employment is contingent upon the institutions verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institutions procedures including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.