What are the responsibilities and job description for the Retention Specialist position at Peru State College?
Job Description
Special Instructions to Applicant: Please complete the work history section of the application.
Job Summary:
This position is a high student contact position responsible for retention programs and services focused on the first-year experience and at-risk student populations. The position provides programmatic leadership in student-facing initiatives such as career fairs, working with students on career readiness, resume writing, workforce readiness skill development, and may teach one section of College Success. The position supports inclusion programming and provides success coaching to students on academic probation. The Retention Specialist will work collaboratively with faculty and staff to identify and address amendable obstacles to student success. As needed, supervises proficiency/evaluation testing, supervising peer mentors/peer tutors for students needing support in with language barriers or remedial education in math or English. Advises and assists students in determining proficiency in college level courses. Due to the importance of the RS being a high visibility, high student contact position, the RS will have occasional evening and weekend work.
EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED
Provide success-coaching services for academic probation students in collaboration with other professional staff on campus.
Work directly with retention software for retention purposes: academic updates, referrals, communication with appropriate stakeholders for students' success, and communication to campus on software initiatives and changes.
Work with key stakeholders for the development and implementation of comprehensive and student-facing initiatives to assist students with resume writing and other workforce readiness initiatives.
Coordinate and oversee career fairs and other career events including those with external constituents as well as internal departments.
May teach one section of College Success each fall with a focus on career development and retention
Conduct pertinent retention assessments, e.g., qualitative focus groups, and assemble retention statistics for dissemination to key stakeholders.
Assist students through college withdrawal process and provide support as needed.
Support campus efforts to assist the persistence and retention of students.
Compile pertinent retention data and assessments, e.g. assemble retention statistics/data for dissemination to key stakeholders.
Other duties as assigned.
Additional Info
About Us:
PSC's "Campus of a Thousand Oaks," an arboretum campus, is nestled in historic southeast Nebraska. The state's first college, Peru State provides students of all backgrounds access to engaging educational experiences to strengthen and enrich communities, Nebraska and the world. PSC is a member institution of the Nebraska State College System. For more information, visit or call
Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree and related work experience.
Less than 1 year
Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree
Master's degree in a field related to higher education, human development, learning theory, guidance and counseling, psychology, or related field is strongly preferred.
2 years
- A minimum of two years of experience working within retention programming, retention software, academic support, or student affairs is preferred.
The Retention Specialist must have functional knowledge of the role of support programming in retention efforts. A familiarity with best practices in higher education student services is strongly preferred. A genuine interest in learning dynamics and effective transition programming is also preferred. Additionally, this individual must possess a strong affinity toward detail-oriented projects, effective interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Must have the ability to work with a wide variety of individuals including faculty, department heads, members of the campus community, students, and external constituencies.
Compliance Requirements:
Background Check
Driving Record Check
Other Compliance:
Additional Information:
Information at a Glance
Req Id: 2033
Org Unit: Assessment and Student Support Svc PSC
Open Until Filled: Yes
Union: Nebraska State College Professional Association (NSCPA)
Job Location: Peru, NE 68421
Advertised Salary: Salary mid to high 40's DOQ
Job Type: Full-Time
Benefits Eligible: Yes
FLSA Status: Exempt