Student Success Officer

WHO WE ARE

Founded in 2018 in the heart of downtown St. Louis, Ponce Health Sciences University is answering a need for more healthcare professionals by preparing more students for jobs with a world-class, culturally competent education. Whether you’re an aspiring doctor or psychologist, PHSU St. Louis is focused on helping our students reach their professional goals.

Ponce Health Sciences University’s history dates back to its founding in 1977 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. We’ve been expanding our prestigious health sciences offerings since, with a focus on graduate medical programs. With campuses now in Ponce, San Juan, and St. Louis, we’re expanding our global network while staying committed to preparing students for real-world healthcare careers and clinical situations. 

OUR MISSION

The mission of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) is to provide a world-class, culturally competent, health sciences education to the population we serve, through innovative adaptive learning environments focused on the success of its students to become ethical practitioners and scientists.

OUR VISION

The PHSU vision is to build on its reputation as a prestigious academic and research leader educating underrepresented diverse populations while focusing research efforts on solving global health disparities

PHSU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE 

PHSU St. Louis opened the new School of Medicine in 2022 as part of a multi-million educational investment in north St. Louis. 

With the expansion of our medical program in St. Louis, we will put action behind our vision of providing real education and research opportunities in a community dedicated to addressing and impacting health disparities on local and national levels. PHSU is thrilled to continue our mission to give more students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds access to high-quality medical education and careers.

PHSU St. Louis currently also offers graduate level PsyD and MSMS programs and an undergraduate BSN program.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Student Success Officer coordinates college-wide efforts to promote student integration, success, persistence, and graduation. The SSO works with on-campus and online students.  Under the supervision of the Director of Student Affairs and through collaboration with college leadership, student services, and academic departments this position will create and promote retention strategies through the analysis of student data and maintenance of a college-wide student retention plan and early alert system. This position has no direct reports. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Implement services, activities, and opportunities that complete the student experience and enhance their adjustment to and participation in college life with the specific purpose of increasing student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
• Serves as a strong proponent for student learning and success by implementing University programs and conducting assessments to support learning outcomes.
• Work effectively with a wide variety of constituent groups including students, university staff, faculty and the public
• Maintains a visible profile both on campus and with external stakeholders (as necessary) and engages with the faculty, student, alumni and other functional groups within the University and/or community to develop extracurricular, co-curricular, and future placement opportunities for students.
• Supports and develops the system of internal controls for the Division of Student Affairs.  Upholds all applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Lead and serve on various division and university committees when necessary.
• Develop, implement, maintain, and assess a comprehensive plan for student retention.
• Collaborate with college leadership, faculty, and staff to review and analyze predictive data related to student retention and completion; prepare summary reports and dashboards to inform effective program development, outreach, and intervention.
• Assist with identifying campus-wide and department policies and processes that create barriers and impede student’s timely degree/program completion. Advocate and champion progressive positive change by identifying the challenges and communicating them to the Director of Student Affairs for due intervention.
• Develops and maintains reports needed to provide predictive, real-time, and historical information about student success, persistence, retention, and graduation. Present such reports and other related findings and information to the Director of Student Affairs on a regular basis.
• Participates in the campus-wide committee on retention efforts to improve student's performance and retention.
• Conduct research on retention-related issues, develop areas of focus, and convert findings into initiatives for action.
• Assist the Director of Student Affairs with short and long-range planning, implementation, and evaluation of student retention initiatives.
• Under the supervision of Director of Student Affairs coordinates initiatives and provides follow up of student groups, student organizations and interest groups. 
• Serves as a liaison between the online students and all departments, including student services offices (registrar’s, financial aid, bursar’s) and academic departments. 
• Ensures efficient communication of all available support services to the student population.
• Updates and manages the Support services content on the Student Services Canvas Shell to ensure easy access to the most up to date information and resources available for students.
• Provides support in the coordination of student events.
• Coordinates job fairs, orientations for other graduate programs opportunities, and any additional strategy supporting the placement of graduation candidates.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

Competency Statement(s)

• Values - Demonstrate behaviors and actions that support the University’s values - Student Focus, Everyone Has Worth, Passion and Inspiration, Collaboration, Emotional Intelligence, Results and Accountability, Valuing Talent, Well Being, and Ethics.
• Student Success – Demonstrate behaviors and actions that support student recruitment, retention, and student success initiatives.
• Diversity Oriented - Ability to work effectively with people regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or job type.
• Accountability - Ability to accept responsibility and account for his/her actions.
• Active Listening - Ability to actively attend to, convey, and understand the comments and questions of others.
• Communication, Oral - Ability to communicate effectively with others using the spoken word in Spanish and English.
• Detail Oriented - Ability to pay attention to the minute details of a project or task.
• Organized - Possessing the trait of being organized or following a systematic method of performing a task.
• Time Management - Ability to utilize the available time to organize and complete work within given deadlines.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Education: Master’s or Doctorate Degree in Business, Education Leadership, Social Services, Counseling, Psychology or related field
• Experience: Three years related experience in areas of events coordination, data and analysis, retention, supervision

**An equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.

Computer Skills - Microsoft Office Suite; database management software, SIS (Jenzabar) and LMS (Canvas) system knowledge preferred.