What are the responsibilities and job description for the Retention Advisor position at Coastal Alabama Community College?
Position Summary
The Retention Advisor provides proactive, intrusive advising and case management to support student persistence, academic success, and completion. The Retention Advisor identifies students who may be at risk of attrition, develops individualized success plans, connects students with campus resources, and monitors student progress throughout the academic year. This position collaborates extensively with faculty, advisors, financial aid, admissions, and student support services to improve retention and graduation outcomes.
Appropriate placement on the Alabama Community College System salary schedule C3-3.
For more information about salary schedules, refer tohttps://www.coastalalabama.edu/human-resources/.
For any questions or additional information, please contact the Human Resources Department at hr@coastalalabama.edu.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
At a minimum, the essential functions of this position shall include:
Student Success and Retention
- Provide proactive outreach to students identified as academically, financially, or personally at risk.
- Conduct regular follow-up meetings, phone calls, text messages, emails, and virtual appointments.
- Utilize intrusive advising techniques to encourage continued enrollment and completion.
- Document all student interactions within the institution's CRM (Target X).
Academic Monitoring
1. Monitor early alert reports, attendance concerns, and faculty referrals using Dropout Detective.
2. Review midterm grades and academic progress.
3. Assist students with academic recovery strategies.
4. Support students placed on Academic Warning, Probation, or SAP Warning.
5. Encourage utilization of tutoring, learning labs, and academic support services.
Enrollment Persistence
- Contact students who:
- Stop attending classes
- Withdraw
- Fail to register
- Miss financial aid requirements
- Have registration holds
- Have unpaid balances
- Assist students with re-enrollment processes.
- Work closely with Admissions and Advising to facilitate seamless registration.
Data Management and Reporting
- Utilize student success software (e.g., Dropout Detective, EAB Navigate, TargetX, CRM systems) to identify at-risk students.
- Maintain accurate records of outreach and interventions.
- Prepare reports on retention activities and student outcomes.
- Analyze trends and recommend strategies to improve persistence.
All positions at Coastal Alabama have the job responsibilities below:
- Handles sensitive information in a confidential manner.
- Maintains a highly professional attitude and demeanor at all times.
- Provides responsible, appropriate, and satisfactory leadership on campus and within the College.
- Communicates positively and professionally in all aspects of the position.
- Attends all employee meetings, College meetings, and professional development activities.
- Becomes thoroughly familiar with all pertinent state and national policies and comply with said policies.
- Serves on and provide information to college committees as needed.
- Complies with ACCS and College policies, as well as state and federal laws.
- Ensures the positive promotion of the College and integration of all campuses within the College.
- Is prompt and punctual in reporting for work, meetings, and office hours.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
- One (1) to three (3) years of experience in advising, counseling, student services, admissions, retention, or related higher education field.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to manage multiple student cases simultaneously.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and student information systems.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of student development theory and retention strategies.
- Strong advising and coaching skills.
- Excellent customer service orientation.
- Ability to build rapport with diverse student populations.
- Ability to interpret academic records and institutional policies.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality under FERPA.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and time management skills.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating across departments.
Application Procedures/Additional Information
APPLICATION PROCEDURES:
A complete application packet consists of the following:
- A completed online application form.
- Current resume’ showing education degrees earned and complete employment history.
- Copies of transcripts from all colleges attended where required degrees were conferred. Degree(s) must be posted on transcripts. Official copies will be required if employed with the institution.
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications as indicated in this vacancy announcement and must submit a completed application packet in order to be considered for an open position.Applications that do not have the required attachments are considered incomplete and will be immediately rejected. In addition, only completed applications received during the period of this vacancy announcement will be considered.
All applicants are required to apply on-line for job opportunities. To apply on-line, go to http://www.coastalalabama.edu/employment/ and click on the job title you are interested in and then click on the "Apply" link. If this is the first time you are applying using our on- line job application, you will need to create an account and select a Username and Password.
Please Note:
- It is recommended that you have digital (PDF) copies of your resume and unofficial and/or official transcripts. You will be required to upload this during the application process.
- We do not accept paper, faxed or emailed applications and application materials.
- You may not put “see resume” on any section of the application form.
- Please ensure that uploads are not behind a paywall or a password-protected area. The screening committee may disqualify your application packet if required uploads are inaccessible.
- When you finish the steps to apply to a job, you will receive an on-screen notice that you’ve successfully applied. However, this notice does not mean your application materials are complete.
- Correspondence regarding positions (i.e., scheduled interview appointment, position filled announcement) will be sent to applicants through the e-mail address used on the applicants’ NEOGOV accounts. Applicants are required tomonitor their e-mail accounts for updates regarding positions.
- Incomplete application packets will eliminate the possibility of an interview. It is the sole responsibility of the applicant to ensure his or her application packet is complete.
- The college may require that applicants for faculty positions submit supplementary information from the attending college registrar to explain undergraduate courses that received graduate credit on the academic transcript prior to being considered for an interview.
If you need technical assistance after reviewing the instructions, please contact:
NEOED Customer Service:
Monday-Friday
8:00 am – 5:00 pm PST
(855) 524-5627
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Coastal Alabama Community College is an equal opportunity employer.?It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System, including all postsecondary community and technical colleges under the control of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees, that no employee or applicant for employment or promotion, shall be discriminated against on the basis of any impermissible criterion or characteristic including, without limitation, race, color, national origin, religion, marital status, disability, sex, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law.
Coastal Alabama Community College is also an equal opportunity educator. It is the policy of the College that no student or other person because of age or race/color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, or the like shall be excluded or limited from participation in or be denied the benefits of any college program or activity.
It is College policy to provide equal opportunity for employment and advancement to all applicants and employees as required by appropriate federal and state law.
Coastal Alabama Community College will make reasonable accommodations for qualified disabled applicants or employees. Applicants in need of an accommodation(s), should contact the Human Resources Office prior to the interview.
Coastal Alabama Community College reserves the right to withdraw this job announcement at any time prior to the awarding.The College reserves the right to fill the position within one year of the stated anticipated starting date or not to fill the position due to budgetary or operational considerations.?Further, the College reserves the right to fill more than one position in the same job classification should another vacancy occur during the search process.
Coastal Alabama Community College is a multi-campus organization and employees of the College may be assigned to work at any of the College worksites, may be required to travel among various work sites for both day, evening, and weekend responsibilities, and must provide their own mode of transportation.
Coastal Alabama Community College is an active participant in the Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-verify). E-verify electronically confirms an employee's eligibility to work in the United States as required by the Department of Homeland Security.
In accordance with Alabama Community College System policy and procedures, the applicant chosen for employment will be required to sign a consent form for a criminal background check. Employment will be contingent upon the receipt of a clearance notification from the criminal background check.
Applicants must adhere to the College's prescribed interview schedule and must travel at their own expense.
Employer
ACCS
Website
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Sick Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns one day of sick leave which is the equivalent of 8 hours of sick leave per month. Unused sick leave is rolled over to the following year. Upon retirement, employees are allowed to convert unused sick time into service time for the purpose of retirement. Further retirement benefits may be found on this page under Alabama Teacher's Retirement.
8 hours per month
(may accumulate an unlimited number)
(may accumulate an unlimited number)
Annual Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earn annual leave per month. A complete description of leave benefits can be found with the Human Resources office.
0-4 years 8 hours per month
5-9 years 10 hours per month
10-14 years 12 hours per month
15-19 years 14 hours per month
20 16 hours per month
(may accumulate up to 480 hours)
Personal Leave
All regular full-time non-instructional staff earns up to two (2) regularly scheduled workdays of personal leave per leave year.
Unused Personal Leave converts to sick leave if not used.
(converts to sick leave at the end of August each year if not used)
Professional Leave
Up to 10 days a year of professional development leave with pay may be granted by the President.
Holidays
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King/Robert E. Lee Birthday
National Memorial Day
Juneteenth
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
16 (5 locally assigned)
Contracted Work Days
260
Retirement
The TRS was established in 1939 to provide benefits to qualified persons employed by state-supported educational institutions. Responsibility for the management and administration of the TRS is vested in its Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA. The TRS is a defined benefit plan qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. All regular full-time and part-time employees (non-temporary and non- student) who work at least 20 hours per week are required to participate in The Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama.
Tier I - Pays 7.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)
Tier II – Pays 6.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)
Law Enforcement Officers:
Tier I-Pays 8.50% monthly. State matches 14.57% (effective 10/01/25)
Tier II- Pays 7.20% monthly. State matches 13.61% (effective 10/01/25)
Health Insurance
PEEHIP, established in 1983, provides health insurance benefits for active and retired education employees and is governed by the PEEHIP Board of Control. The Boards of Control elect the Secretary-Treasurer who serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the RSA and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the RSA.
Premium amounts:
- Single $ 30
- Family (without Spouse but with dependents) $ 207
- Employee Spouse (no dependents) $ 282
- Family (with Spouse and dependents*) $ 307
- Includes $100 per month spousal surcharge Note: The spousal surcharge does not apply to spouses who are independently eligible for PEEHIP.
Tobacco Usage Premium
- Member $ 50
- Spouse $ 50
Wellness Premium
- Member $ 50
- Spouse $ 50
If desired, the employee may elect four options rather than health insurance options to include hospital indemnity, cancer, dental, and vision.
Optional Coverage Plan Premiums
- Cancer, Indemnity, and Vision Single or Family (cost per plan) $ 38
- Dental Single $ 38 Dental Family $ 50
Duty Hours
(hours vary by campus and needs of the student)
Tuition Assistance
This tuition waiver program is designed for all full-time instructional and non-instructional employees of The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education and their dependents as defined under by policy. The program will be coordinated by each institution for employees within The Alabama College System and the Alabama Department of Postsecondary Education. An application form for the tuition assistance program is available in the Human Resources office and should be completed prior to registration for classes.
Employees/Dependents at two-year colleges:
- 1/3 waived after 1st year
- 2/3 waived after 2nd year
- 3/3 waived after 3rd year
Salary : $100 - $800