Intermediate Specialist, Student Retention

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This posting is for a pilot project on student retention from September 2025 to April 30 2027. We have 2 contractual positions or interim appointments to fill. One will be at the Library and one will be at the Faculty of Sciences.

Positionpurpose:
To create an outstanding student experience by providing guidance and advice to students on probation or experiencing academic difficulties to ensure academic retention and student satisfaction. Plan and execute student interventions as well as give advice to students experiencing difficulties to increase student success and retention rates. Build and implement evidence-based strategies and programs to increase retention rates and persistence of students at the University of Ottawa.

In this role your responsibilities will include:

Student Retention

1. Assess student needs: Review student files to ensure that identification interpretation analysis and assessment of student needs support the students goals and respect the Facultys processes. May consult with colleagues and/or meet with students to further explore their needs.

2. Establish study plans: In consultation with students experiencing academic difficulties develop a study plan which enables the student to improve his/her academic performance reach their academic goals and promotes student retention.

3. Plan interventions: Ascertain the accuracy of the diagnostic outcomes and considerations to ensure the quality of the intervention and review and revise the intervention plan to make sure that it will address the students needs.

4. Execute interventions: Meet with students experiencing academic difficulties to provide guidance by informing them and giving them advice on programs of study program and course prerequisites graduation requirements departments agencies institutions and other on- and off-campus services. When necessary will refer students to the appropriate services (ex. tutoring services) departments or support tools.

5. Give advice to domestic and international students student mobility and experiential learning: Counsel domestic and international students to ensure full integration to their program of study as well as student life on campus.

6. Follow-ups: Meet with students when necessary to monitor their progress and take appropriate corrective measures as necessary to address student concerns and student retention risks.

7. Direct students to the appropriate authority: Audit to ascertain that students are in fact referred to the appropriate service or resource person (ex. program supervisors services tutoring services etc.) based on their needs either self-identified or through University assessment processes.

Operations Management

1. Retention: Review the student list to identify students experiencing academic difficulties and/or other issues and meet with these students to determine the cause of their difficulties. Provide guidance and advice to these students based on the nature of their identified needs and difficulties and track progress with them to ensure that they persevere and achieve their educational cooperation with colleagues proactively develop and participate in the ongoing development of guideline initiatives for student retention. Identify factors and recommend initiatives to improve student retention rate.

2. Modification to the program of study: Review requests relating to modifications to the program of study of students experiencing academic difficulties in order to explore with them possible options as well as to provide guidance and advice on the selection of their academic options. Ensure that student files are analyzed according to the Facultys processes and that eligibility to the program of study is validated and when eligible finalized.

3. Course selection and registration application process: Give advice to students on course selection based on their identified needs and academic difficulties so students can make informed decisions. Support the students course selection when reasonable by proceeding with the registration process and making sure it is completed.

4. Evaluation and assessment: Work with colleagues to identify key indicators of student retention. Use research and best practices to inform and recommend strategy development and evaluation of initiatives.

Communication and liaison

1. Relationship building: Contribute to the development of innovative ways of working with colleagues mentors stakeholders and peers from partner Faculties Library Student Affairs Case support managers Health and Wellness Mentoring centres and other relevant campus services.

2. Communication with university community: Act as an expert-advisor to the university community and external partners by providing information on student retention.

3. Communication with student population: Participate to mass communication initiatives aimed at students experiencing academic difficulties and/or other issues to ensure the quality and accuracy of the information provided.

4. Public relations: Represent the faculty and the University of Ottawa during events and receptions.

What you will bring:

• Bachelors degree in education or a related field

• 3-5 years of experience in the education field or academic advising or a combination of both

• Knowledge of academic programs (ex. regulations degree requirements prerequisites and course descriptions) at the high school college undergraduate and postgraduate levels

• Strong knowledge of and experience revising interpreting communicating and applying processes policies and methods to individual cases varying in complexity

• Experience in mentoring and/or coaching an asset

• Experience providing client service

• Experience elaborating strategies and activity plans for students

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook Access) word processing Windows and Internet

• Strong communication skills

• Ability to solve problems make fast decisions and negotiate with students

• Organizational and analytical skills attention to detail and ability to work within tight deadlines

• Listening skills and strong work ethics

• Judgment independence diplomacy and discretion

• Bilingual French and English (spoken and written)