Student Retention Specialist

Title: Student Retention Specialist

Employee Classification: Professional F/T 52 Wks Unit

Department: Campus President

Salary Range: $43,930.00

Who we are:

We are not-for-profit: St. Louis Community college (STLCC) is a non-profit institution dedicated to empowering students, expanding minds, and changing lives. Employees are committed to strengthening the St. Louis community with inclusive and transformative education.

We are a respected employer: For 60 years, STLCC has served the St. Louis community, expanding to 4 main campuses, 2 education centers, 2 workforce training centers, and 5 centers of excellence. More than one-half of the households in St. Louis have at least one member who has taken classes at STLCC.

We make an impact in the community: Through credit courses, continuing education, and workforce development programs, STLCC annually serves nearly 69,000 students. More than 80% of career and technical graduates employed in their fields or continue their education at four-year institutions within six months of graduation. STLCC sends more transfer students to Missouri’s four-year colleges/universities than anyone else.

We value Diversity, equity & inclusion: STLCC is committed to fostering an atmosphere of appreciation for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or class.

What you get:

Benefits package [for full-time employees]: STLCC offers one of the best benefit packages in the St. Louis area. As a STLCC employee you will have access to a 100% match on your contribution to retirement, two health insurance plans options that are no cost to the employee - including an HSA option, low-cost life insurance with a 3x salary benefit, and other low-cost benefits including dental, vision, AD&D, ST LT disability insurance.

Opportunity to grow: Over half of our employees have served the college for more than 12 years, exploring different career paths and advancing to higher level positions.

Education & training opportunities: STLCC offers tuition waivers for employees [full-time and part-time] + their dependents. Full-time employees can take advantage of tuition reimbursement for other institutions after just 6 months of service, and an annual professional development allotment.

Work/life balance: Full-time STLCC employees have access to a generous time off package, including holidays, vacation, personal days, medical leave, and other leave options. Our holiday schedule even includes a paid winter holiday at the end of the calendar year.

Commitment to wellness: STLCC HR boasts a dedicated health and wellness specialist who is enthusiastic about creating a culture of wellness throughout the College. With access to college wellness vendors, employees are educated, motivated, and rewarded for healthy behaviors. STLCC employees and anyone living in their household also have access to an employee assistance program (EAP) that can help them with virtually any life need.

The basics of this position:

Performs all duties necessary to plan, coordinate, and integrate activities associated with retention and completion of students on caseload. Monitors and assists in the development and implementation of retention and completion activities as detailed in grant. Provides comprehensive and proactive advising, educational guidance, career planning services and assistance for students from entry to completion. Such activities include, but are not limited to, engaging students in academic and career planning, retention programming, monitoring of completion milestones, clarifying their career goals, and providing them with referrals to resources to serve them holistically. This is a grant funded position.

What you'll do:

• Provides intrusive, intentional, and proactive case management to assigned students.
• Adopts STLCC's Student Success Advising Framework, from entry to completion, in carrying
out appropriate services, resources and intervention strategies to students.
• Identifies and delivers strategies for assigned students to enhance their experience and
contribute to improved retention, persistence, and graduation rates for students.
• Educates students on the enrollment process, interpretation of assessment test scores,standards
of academic progress, and utilization of technology tools.
• Assists in the new student orientation process.
• Educates students on their academic standing and provides advice on building a plan towards
good academic standing.
• Interprets career assessments to assist students with career exploration and education planning.
• Reviews degree evaluations, transfer credits, college placement test results and other available
information to assist students in creating an education plan that fulfills their selected program's
requirements.
• Understands and stays abreast of changing institutional policies and college operating
procedures including admissions requirements, course changes, deadlines, important
dates, costs, and state and federal mandates.
• Adopts the appreciative advising approach to optimize interactions and work with students. • Plans and conducts successful advising interactions. Accurately disseminates information in a
clear and concise manner, maintains detailed and accurate records, and provides appropriate
referrals based on the individual needs of the student.
• Provides students with strategies related to academic progress and work/life/study balance.
• Provides comprehensive academic, and career planning services for students from entry to
completion.
• Serve as a resource and refers students to community and social support services that can address
assistance they may need to support their success and completion of degree and/or certificate.
• Provides students with career exploration services including career assessment, results
interpretation, and assistance in career choice and program selection.
• Assists students with the development of short- and long-term career goals and job search
strategies including informational interviews, resume and interview skills development.
• Facilitates employer recruiting activities such as career/job fairs, recruiting activities, workshops
and educational programs.
• Assists students in the development of career competencies as defined by national organizations
and/or supplied by advisory boards/employers for discipline.
• Provides assistance in securing a career in the field related to their degree and/or certificate.
• Participates in recruitment of students for the programs as defined by the grant and/or STLCC.
• Draws upon the services of Student and Academic Affairs units to assist students in resolving
problems.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Education, experience, and other requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree
• 3+ years of relevant full-time experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

Bilingual skills preferred.