Student Belonging and Success Specialist - SUNY Oneonta

The Student Belonging and Success Specialist is a student-facing professional within the Office of Equity and Inclusion who partners closely with the Office of Academic Success & Achievement to advance student success through the Academic Momentum (AcMo) Campus Plan. The position focuses on students whose persistence may be influenced by barriers related to belonging, inclusion, campus connection, identity, and other non-academic experiences that affect their ability to thrive at SUNY Oneonta.

Working collaboratively with the Academic Success & Retention Program Coordinator and the Academic Success & Retention Program Associate, the Specialist provides belonging-centered outreach to students referred through institutional student success processes and assists in developing strategies to support student populations identified through the AcMo Campus Plan.

The Specialist collaborates with Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and other campus partners to strengthen students' connection to the university and support institutional efforts focused on retention, persistence, and student success. The position serves as the Office of Equity and Inclusion's primary liaison with Academic Affairs regarding belonging-centered student success initiatives.

To learn more about the University and the department, please visit https://suny.oneonta.edu/ or https://suny.oneonta.edu/office-equity-and-inclusion.

Duties May Include:

Belonging-Centered Student Outreach (30%)

Providing individualized outreach to students whose persistence may be influenced by barriers related to belonging, inclusion, campus connection, or other non-academic experiences.

• Conducting outreach to students referred through the University's student success processes.
• Meeting individually with students to better understand experiences affecting their sense of belonging and connection to the university.
• Engaging students in conversations that identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities for strengthening their connection to the institution.
• Collaborating with students to develop individualized strategies that foster belonging and support persistence.
• Maintaining appropriate follow-up with students and coordinating, when appropriate, with campus partners supporting the student's success.

Inclusive Student Success Strategies (30%)

Partnering with the Office of Academic Success & Achievement to ensure outreach efforts intentionally support students whose experiences may require additional attention from a belonging and inclusion perspective.

• Collaborating with the Academic Success & Retention Program Coordinator on outreach strategies for students referred through Navigate and other institutional processes when belonging-related concerns are identified.
• Partnering with the Academic Success & Retention Program Associate to develop outreach initiatives for student populations identified through the Academic Momentum Campus Plan.
• Contributing to planning outreach strategies that strengthen students' connection to the university.
• Assisting in evaluating the effectiveness of outreach efforts and recommending improvements.
• Supervising Office of Equity and Inclusion interns.
• Coordinating the Dragons of Excellence Program.

Campus Collaboration (25%)

Serving as the Office of Equity and Inclusion's primary liaison with Academic Affairs regarding belonging-centered student success initiatives.

• Collaborating with Academic Affairs and other campus partners to support coordinated student success efforts.
• Providing consultation regarding belonging and inclusion considerations during the development of student success initiatives.
• Assisting in coordinating collaborative outreach activities involving multiple campus partners.
• Participating in committees and working groups supporting student success and inclusive excellence.
• Coordinating the Red Dragon Games.
• Serving on the Bias Acts Response Team.

Assessment and Continuous Improvement (15%)

Supporting institutional efforts to better understand how belonging influences student persistence.

• Documenting outreach activities and student engagement outcomes.
• Identifying recurring themes and barriers affecting students' experiences.
• Sharing observations that may inform future AcMo initiatives.
• Contributing to assessment and continuous improvement efforts related to student belonging and persistence.

Salary: $60,245. SUNY Oneonta is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualifying employer. Information on SUNY's comprehensive benefits offerings can be found at https://www.suny.edu/benefits. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.
• At least two years of professional experience in higher education, student support services, diversity and inclusion, student affairs, academic affairs, or a related field.
• Demonstrated ability to build supportive relationships with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to inclusive excellence and student success.

Preferred:

• Master's degree.
• Experience supporting student persistence, belonging, or student success initiatives.
• Experience conducting individualized outreach or student support.
• Familiarity with factors influencing student persistence in higher education.
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple institutional units.

SUNY Oneonta enrolls about 5,500 students who pursue bachelor's or master's degrees or certificates in one of 70-plus academic programs. Known as an exemplary residential campus that values inclusion, service and sustainability, SUNY Oneonta is a nurturing community where students grow intellectually, thrive socially, and live purposefully.

The university is located in the City of Oneonta, nestled in the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains about a four-hour drive from New York City, Boston, and Philadelphia. With a population just shy of 14,000, Oneonta is one of the 20 Most Picturesque Small Towns in America, according to Microsoft News. The natural beauty of the region is breathtaking year-round. Each season offers outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating, swimming, and skiing. Employees give SUNY Oneonta high marks for work/life balance, management, and culture. The university's indeed.com rating is 4.4, with one recent review noting that the people are what make SUNY Oneonta so special.

SUNY Oneonta values a diverse university community. Please visit our website on diversity at: https://suny.oneonta.edu/diversity. Moreover, the University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Women, persons of color, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. "At SUNY Oneonta, we believe that diversity is an asset and a source of strength that energizes our collective growth and innovation." - President Alberto Cardelle.