Academic Support and Navigate Specialist

The Academic Support and Navigate Specialist (ASNS) will work directly with students, as assigned, and collaborate with the broader support team to help students persist and thrive at Centre College.  The ASNS will develop particular expertise in the analytics functionality in EAB’s Navigate, which Centre will launch in summer 2022, and work with the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to use this evidence to inform campus-wide programming and interventions to ensure strong retention and student thriving.

The ASNS will also encourage broad adoption of the Navigate system and work closely with the Director of the Centre Learning Commons (who is leading the Navigate implementation), the Academic Affairs’ team and other newly hired student success coaches to build a more coordinated and data-informed student support network.

The ideal applicants have a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Social Work, or related field.

The successful candidates will contribute to the Centre College community with their lived experiences, ideas, perspectives, and expertise. Centre College welcomes and supports diversity, equity, and inclusion. As noted in the Statement of Community, Centre strives to create an environment where individuals of diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to exchange ideas and share in the richness of mutual experiences. Therefore, we encourage applications from candidates who further diversify our staff, who celebrate the rich diversity of our student body, and who utilize inclusive and engaging practices. 

Centre College is a highly selective liberal arts college of about 1,400 students, has one of the nation’s premier study-abroad programs and is among the top National Liberal Arts Colleges by U.S. News & World Report. Classes are small and academic standards are high. Centre graduates enjoy extraordinary success, with entrance to top graduate and professional schools, prestigious fellowships for further study abroad, and rewarding jobs. The College is located in Danville, Kentucky, a town of 18,000 recognized for its high quality of life. It is within easy driving distance of Lexington, Louisville, and Cincinnati. For information about the College, visit our web site at www.centre.edu. 

Centre College is a proud member of the Greater Kentucky Higher Education Recruitment Consortium: www.greaterkyherc.org. The Greater Kentucky HERC is a non-profit organization composed of a diverse group of colleges, universities, hospitals, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and members of private industry committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse, talented workforce. Member representatives include faculty, staff, human resources professionals, institutional leaders, and faculty relations experts. Centre College is an equal opportunity employer.

The Academic Support and Navigate Specialist (ASNS) will work directly with students, as assigned, and collaborate with the broader support team to help students persist and thrive at Centre College.  The ASNS will report to the Director of Centre Learning Commons/Assistant Dean and develop particular expertise in the analytics functionality in EAB’s Navigate, which Centre will launch in summer 2022. The ASNS will work with the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to use this evidence to inform campus-wide programming and interventions to ensure strong retention and student thriving.

The ASNS will also encourage broad adoption of the Navigate system and work closely with the Director of the Centre Learning Commons (who is leading the Navigate implementation), the Academic Affairs’ team and other newly hired student success coaches to build a more coordinated and data-informed student support network.

Essential Job Functions

• Serves as the campus expert in the data analytics of Navigate and work closely with the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness to prepare quarterly reports on overall student progress to identify opportunities for interventions with struggling or disengaged students;
• Advises, supports, and manages an assigned caseload of students;
• Appreciation of and commitment to further an inclusive culture for those of diverse backgrounds such as ability, age, class, ethnicity, faith, gender, neurodiversity, race and sexual orientation.
• Directs students to support services, celebrates achievement, and promotes academic recovery via proactive outreach to those experiencing academic difficulties (academic probation, returning from suspension, flagged as “of concern” via Student of Concern Reports, e.g.);
• Provides assigned students with accurate and timely information regarding academic policies, procedures, general education requirements, and graduation requirements;
• Helps students understand and use the technology resources essential to their success at Centre, including EAB’s Navigate, CentreNet, Moodle, and Degree Audit;
• Develops a comprehensive understanding of campus resources, and build strong relationships with campus partners to facilitate referrals for students;
• Becomes familiar with each assigned students’ “first-term teams,” including the faculty advisor, FYC instructor, librarian, career counselor, athletics coach, scholarship mentor, residence advisor, etc., and encourages record-keeping among team members in Navigate;
• Reviews and responds to “Student of Concern” reports; assesses student needs and develops a response plan to support holistic well-being and retention;
• Communicates relevant information about student needs to appropriate members of a student’s team in a timely and effective manner. Coordinates outreach and follow-up to support student well-being and success;
• Facilitates connections/referrals, resource utilization, and relationship-building between students and members of their team;
• Monitors and communicates with students’ instructors regarding class absences and performance; 
• Utilizes a developmental and holistic approach to student support and stay current with literature and expertise of best practices in the field;
• Collaborates closely with other student support specialists to continuously evaluate and improve collective work of serving students’ needs;
• Maintains accurate records of each student interaction in EAB Navigate;
• Designs and/or offers programming to support student academic success in areas of current and future expertise;
• Protects confidential information consistent with FERPA and in accordance with College policy and;
• Commits to fostering a positive, diverse, equitable, and inclusive working environment.

Marginal Job Functions

• Contributes to the overall success of the department by performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned and/or on own initiative as time allows.
• Serves on College Council Committees, working groups, and other ad hoc groups in support of institutional mission and goals.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Counseling, Social Work, or related field strongly preferred.
• Minimum of five years of experience working in student support, preferably with experience in academic advising and/or student academic support in a postsecondary environment.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of student development theory.
• Knowledge of or ability to develop proficiency in the technology associated with Navigate.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, organization skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Experience with Microsoft computer programs and other applications to create publicity/promotional materials.
• Mature judgment, good humor, patience, kindness, and ability to remain calm and productive in stressful situations or when dealing with people who are stressed.

Physical Requirements

• Limited pushing, pulling, lifting.  Lifting would not exceed 20 lbs.
• Mobility on campus necessary.              

TO APPLY

Interested applicants must apply through the Centre College Human Resources site at https://www.centre.edu/offices/human-resources/career-opportunities (with a cover letter, resume, and list of references).  Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until filled.  For full consideration, application materials must be submitted online by July 18, 2022.