Academic Advisor & Success Coach

Merrimack College is a selective, private college in a beautiful, residential setting — just minutes from Boston, Massachusetts.

Position Overview
The Academic Advisor & Success Coach is responsible for developing and promoting a supportive and educational environment that is conducive to the academic success and personal development of all undergraduate students, regardless of major or GPA, through academic advising, training, counseling, campus collaboration, outreach and other, related programs. In addition to direct work with students, the advisor/coach is responsible for establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with a variety of constituencies integral to student success, ranging from families, to faculty to on campus services and personnel outside of the Academic Success Center.

Responsibilities:

• Advise, counsel and mentor a caseload of students on Academic Probation.
  
  
• Provide undergraduate students with the academic advising, tutoring, counseling, and programming conducive to their academic success.
  
  
• Develop curriculum and instruct at least one section of one-credit Academic Development course required of students on Academic Probation. Also instruct one section of FYE to incoming Freshmen.
  
  
• Contribute to Academic Success initiatives, including the monitoring of academic progress and the establishment and maintenance of a resource library in the Center and on Center website with information for services and and outs for student success. Contribute to relevant campus-wide communication.
  
  
• Promote and maintain an effective working relationship with faculty.
  
  
• Contribute to college-wide committees relevant to student success. Track interactions with students as a contribution to retention decisions and efforts.
  
  
• Collaborate with the services and personnel relevant to the academic and community life success of undergraduate students, make and accept referrals as necessary, including, but not limited to, Residence Life, Counseling & Health, Accessibility Services and Police Services.
  
  
• Develop, participate in, and contribute to programs and events that serve as outreach to students and families.
  
  
• Serve as supervisor and mentor to Graduate Fellow. Participate in Fellowship Interview Day and provide training in Academic Counseling & Coaching to fellows.
  
  
• Represent the Office and participate in various campus events including admitted student events, orientation, workshops as needed.
  
  
• Perform additional miscellaneous or occasional related duties as necessary or assigned.
  
  

Qualifications:

• A Masters degree in a field relevant to post-secondary academic support services and two years relevant experience required.
  
  
• Knowledge of the several areas of expertise represented in Academic Success Center services, Counseling & Health, and Residence Life programs sufficient to make referrals to and receive referrals from the area’s specialists.
  
  
• The successful candidate needs to be aware of, to be able to recognize the signs of, and to be able to communicate with respect to: learning disabilities, intercultural and inter-Linguistic differences that may cause academic problems, study strategies skill issues, life-style issues and general retention issues.
  
  
• Sufficient knowledge of the general college curriculum, both in general and in the details of the different degree programs, to give general academic advice and to make referrals as appropriate.
  
  
• Excellent Human Relations and verbal & written communication skills.
  
  

Statement on Our Mission
Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Augustinian mission, our Catholic faith and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

Application Materials Should Include:

• CV or Resume
  
  
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.
  
  

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Required Vaccinations & Remote Work:
Unless otherwise stated above, this is an on-campus position. This opportunity is not a remote or hybrid position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community. Merrimack College currently has a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Students, faculty, and staff are required to be vaccinated for COVID-19.

About Merrimack College
The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 5,000 undergraduates and graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries, and comprises schools of liberal arts, science and engineering, health sciences, education and social policy, and business. The college’s 260- acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges & Universities/Medium Programs institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 46th out of 170 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2020. Merrimack is also listed as one of the top 10 most innovative schools and placed 35th for best undergraduate teaching programs among schools in the U.S. News category.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Internal Applicants - Apply Now

External Applicants - Apply Now