Academic Advisors/Success Coaches

Purpose:

The Academic Advisor and Success Coach at Southern University is responsible for providing personalized academic advising and success coaching to undergraduate students. This dual role focuses on helping students make informed decisions about their academic path, overcome challenges, and develop strategies for academic and personal success. Through a combination of advising, coaching, and mentorship, the Academic Advisor and Success Coach plays a critical role in promoting student retention and supporting timely graduation.

The ideal candidate will be passionate about student success, have strong advising skills, and demonstrate an ability to work with diverse student populations.

Job Description:

• Provide academic advising to undergraduate students, assisting with course selection, degree planning, and understanding university policies.
• Helps students explore and declare majors, minors, and career goals that align with their interests and academic strengths.
• Ensure students are on track to meet graduation requirements by monitoring academic progress and providing appropriate interventions.
• Guide students through registration, course add/drop processes, and other academic milestones.
• Facilitate a college success skills course to engage first year students in the process of scholarly inquiry and provide them with the necessary foundation knowledge and skills required to transition from high school to a university.
• Meet with students to develop academic success plans, focusing on key areas such as time management, study skills, goal setting, and motivation.
• Help students identify and overcome personal and academic challenges that may impede their success.
• Utilize coaching techniques such as active listening, goal setting, and motivational interviewing to empower students to take ownership of their academic journey.
• Provide support for students facing academic probation or other challenges, helping them develop action plans to improve performance.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and other campus resources to identify and support at-risk students, using early alert systems and data analytics.
• Connect students to campus resources, such as tutoring, counseling, and career services, to promote their academic and personal well-being.
• Participate in the development and delivery of workshops and programming focused on student success, including topics such as academic skills, resilience, and personal development.
• Track and document student progress and advising/coaching sessions in student information systems.
• Use date to identify trends in student retention and success, and to inform advising and coaching practices.
• Provide reports on student outcomes and program effectiveness to university leadership and the Senior Academic Advisor and Success Coach.
• Maintain regular communication with students to ensure they are aware of key academic dates, opportunities, and resources.
• Assist in creating outreach materials (emails campaigns, newsletters, etc.) to engage students in advising services and success coaching initiatives.
• Participate in new student orientation and other campus events to build relationships with incoming students and promote advising and coaching services.
• Partner with faculty, academic departments, and campus services to ensure a holistic approach to student advising and success.
• Serve as a liaison between students and academic departments, advocating for students when necessary and helping to resolve academic concerns.
• Contribute to university-wide initiatives focused on student retention and academic success
• Assist with special projects, events, and other student success initiatives as needed.
• Participate in professional development opportunities to stay current on advising and coaching best practices.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to provide personalized academic guidance and success strategies to support students in achieving their goals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to connect with students, faculty, and staff.
• Skill in identifying student challenges and collaborating with campus resources to resolve them.
• Commitment to fostering a supportive environment that promotes student growth and academic success.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience using student information systems (e.g., Banner, PeopleSoft) and early alert systems
• Certification in academic coaching or a related area
• Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, or at-risk student populations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of experience in academic advising, student success coaching, or a related field in higher education.
• Strong understanding of student development theory and best practices in academic advising and success coaching.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a student-centered approach.
• Ability to work with a diverse student population and adapt support strategies to meet individual needs.

 How to Apply:

Interested applicants must complete a Southern University employment Application. External applicants can apply here.

Current Southern University employees should apply here.