What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Success Advisor First Term position at Post University?
JOB SUMMARY:
The Student Success Advisor (SSA) First Term is a critical member of Post University's student academic success and retention efforts for both online and regional site students. The SSA provides a consistent point of contact to a student from when the student begins classes at the university to graduation. This person proactively builds a trusting and supportive relationship with new students at the beginning of a student's studies and carries that relationship through to graduation. Through counseling and positive coaching, the SSA works with a student to overcome barriers impeding adult students from reaching their academic and career goals. The SSA is a champion for student success and the university brand.
- This position offers the option to work remotely. Candidates must connect equipment directly to their home router (Post provides a 50-foot ethernet cable; no wireless connections). Minimum internet requirements include 25 Mb download speed, 15 Mb upload speed, and latency below 40 for reliable audio quality. Test your speed at www.speedtest.net (select Boston, MA–Comcast).
- Candidates are responsible for ensuring their internet meets these standards before the start date. A dedicated, quiet home workspace free from distractions is also required.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Proactively develop and maintain a positive and supportive relationship with students that welcomes them to our learning community, creates bonds with the university, and ensures that students have a consistent student service resource.
- Communicate directly, effectively, and often with all assigned students to keep them connected with us, informed, and engaged in an open conversation through their first term;
- Leverage University technology systems to enhance relationships with students;
- Communicate positively and effectively with students by phone;
- Respond promptly to student questions and requests (typically on the same day) by telephone and email.
- Advocate for student needs across all departments of the University; Actively and independently own and manage your student caseload.
- Use University systems to track and assess how your assigned students are progressing toward completing their first term, and regularly report these metrics to management.
- Analyze student data from internal systems and external sources to create information that your team and management can use to improve the student experience and the services we provide
- Proactively and creatively work independently and as a Student Success Advisor team member to identify barriers to students' Academic success and develop solutions that improve retention.
- Introduce and train students on university systems (e.g., Web Registration and Blackboard)
- Accurately communicate and support university academic and university policies;
- Provide students with guidance on academic progress, course selection, degree selection, and work/life/study issues.
- Coaches and offers counsel to students on strategies for success, overcoming hurdles/objections, and productive interactions with the university.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and ability required. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
- Engaging and dynamic phone presence;
- Excellent email communication skills; clear and concise writing ability required
- Self-starter - shows initiative and demonstrates the ability to work both independently and as a team member to achieve organizational goals,
- Energetic and goal-oriented;
- Strong interest in working in a fast-paced environment that requires multi-tasking;
- Dedicated to student success;
- Urgent driven; responsive to students and colleagues.
- Ability to use and quickly learn existing and new technologies, including but not limited to Blackboard, social media, CRM/CNS, Microsoft Office Products, etc.
- Excellent organization skills and ability to keep consistent contact with student caseload;
- Ability to connect and develop relationships with adult students;
- Holds themselves and colleagues to high ethical standards
- Creates a positive culture and environment through attitude and behavior
- Ability to work evenings/weekends preferred.
