Student Retention and Engagement Specialist

BASIC FUNCTION

Under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Student Retention and Engagement Specialist is a salaried position responsible for supporting Helms College students—both on-campus and online—by developing, coordinating, and implementing programs, events, and activities that promote student engagement, academic success, retention, course completion, and graduation. The specialist serves as a key liaison between academic departments, faculty, and students to ensure consistent communication and proactive support throughout the student lifecycle. This position also contributes to the creation of a positive and inclusive college culture by providing individualized guidance, coordinating support services, and promoting initiatives that foster personal and academic growth.

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Demonstrate the core values of Goodwill Industries by modeling service, ownership, accountability, and respect in all interactions.
• Serve as a mentor and act as one of the primary points of contact and mentors for Helms College students, partnering with faculty, admissions, and student services to provide coordinated, responsive support
• Lead the college’s retention efforts by organizing and facilitating regular retention meetings and partnering with academic and student-service teams to address emerging student needs. Collect, analyze, and report data on student retention, progression, and areas of concern, using insights to guide interventions, advising practices, and program improvements aimed at meeting or exceeding ACCET’s 67% retention benchmark for each program.
• Monitors student attendance by generating, reviewing, and analyzing reports from the college’s attendance-tracking software to identify patterns of absenteeism, ensure accurate records, and support timely interventions for at-risk students in collaboration with faculty and Student Affairs
• Conducts proactive outreach to students with attendance concerns, documents communication and outcomes, and coordinates with instructors or support staff to develop individualized plans that promote consistent engagement, class participation, and successful course completion.
• Initiate proactive communication with students—via phone, email, video conferencing, or learning platforms (LMS)—to build advising relationships and offer personalized support.
• Conduct regular check-ins with assigned advisees (online and in-person) to:
• Provide encouragement and guidance throughout their academic journey.
• Communicate academic policies, procedures, and deadlines clearly.
• Evaluate student performance and academic progress.
• Develop and implement improvement plans for students needing academic support or intervention.
• Support online learners by:
• Identifying unique challenges faced by remote learners and connecting them with appropriate support services.
• Collaborate with instructional design and faculty teams to improve online student success strategies
• Encouraging virtual engagement through digital communication tools and online communities.
• Monitor engagement analytics in the Learning Management System (e.g., login frequency, discussion participation, and assignment submission patterns) and provide learner support.
• Provide individualized success coaching as needed to online learners, helping them develop time-management strategies, study plans, and accountability routines
• Student wellness and referral responsibilities:
• Recognize early warning signs of distress or disengagement and coordinate with the Student Support Advisor or campus leadership to ensure timely referrals to appropriate campus or community resources.
• Provide structured follow-up after referrals to ensure students receive support, understand next steps, and feel connected to the college community.
• Maintain accurate and confidential student records in compliance with FERPA, including grades, registration, academic status, and graduation eligibility.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to retention, advising, and educational technologies, and actively serve on institutional committees to advance student success initiatives
• Collaboration with registrar, faculty, Career Services, Admissions, to align retention and engagement strategies with institutional goals
• Serve as the Chair of the Graduation Committee, providing leadership and oversight for all commencement planning, coordination, and implementation with campus partners
• Assist in organizing virtual and in-person events aimed at promoting academic and career readiness.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs or as required by evolving student needs.

JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES

• Advising: makes effective use of advising and documentation tools to track student performance and other necessary metrics. Effectively applied FERPA guidelines and confidentiality protocol and exhibits appropriate boundaries with students.
• Interpersonal skills: exhibiting multicultural competence and an ability to establish rapport with students, instructors, and administrators.
• Demonstrates strong initiative, genuine empathy, a collaborative spirit, and a high level of accountability in all aspects of their work.
• Business acumen: makes good judgments, interprets data daily, stays abreast of technology and makes effective business decisions promoting mission and financial goals.
• Communication skills: clearly articulates Goodwill’s mission, vision, and values. Must be able to communicate effectively with and relate to a variety of audiences including leadership, faculty and staff, students, external advisors, governmental agencies, and other community organizations.
• Networking: identify internal and external partners and develop relationships. Collaborate, influence, and negotiate with others to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• This exempt position requires a flexible schedule to effectively support student success. The Student Retention and Engagement Specialist is expected to adjust availability as needed to engage with morning and evening cohorts, participate in events, and respond to time-sensitive student issues. Exempt employees do not receive compensatory time for occasional extended or irregular hours
• Integrity: acts intentionally to uphold Goodwill and Helms College’s values.

QUALIFICATION

• SBachelor’s degree required (Graduate degree is preferred) in education, counseling, human resources, or related field
• .Minimum of 1 year experience in coaching, advising, or counseling. Experience working with non-traditional students preferred
• .General administrative skills including developing, implementing, and monitoring company-wide policies and procedures
• .Computer literate and proficient in MS Office Suite
• .Excellent verbal and written communications and collaboration skills
• .Strong people skills with abilities to partner with a dynamic leadership team, other department leadership, and interact with all levels of employees
• .Must be aligned with and energized by Rev. Edgar Helm's faith based social enterprise model to eliminate poverty one career at a time