Job Abstract

Student Success Coach – Center for Student Success in the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business

Salary: Commensurate with experience
Benefits: Generousbenefits include paid time off including holidays and vacation, retirementmatch, and tuition remission for employee and dependents. Details at www.duq.edu/benefits
Location: School of Business
Position Status: Full-time
Hours: Varied
Position Number: 242341/10-961
FLSA Status: Exempt

POSITIONSUMMARY:

Highly skilled StudentServices professional working within the Center for Student Success (CSS) inthe Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. The Student Success Coach (SSC)supports the overall mission of the School of Business and of DuquesneUniversity, which entails a commitment to the educational development, growth,and future success of our students. Assuch, the SSC is responsible for executing activities related to studentservices such as academic advising, engagement and retention, programmanagement, career support as well as the recruitment of future students in amanner that supports academic success and long-term engagement with the School.A mindset of superior customer service and willingness to deliver timely andexcellent service is required.

Thisposition requires an individual with exceptional administrative and ‘people’skills capable of working with administrators, faculty and students in order toprovide value added experiences. The successful candidate will be evaluated based on theirability to meet established goals andthrough feedback fromappropriate constituencies. Work willbe reviewed through regularly scheduled meetings, reports, analysis, and observation of results. The SSC reports to the Assistant Dean and Senior Director for AcademicPrograms and Student Affairs.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

AcademicAdvising:

Acts asthe primary point of contact and first-line customer service representative forstudents and faculty (includes troubleshooting needs and resolving issues)

Addressesstudent issues with speed, urgency (within 24 hours) and creativity whilebalancing policies and program requirements; seeks same-day resolution for anyescalated issue

Providesacademic advisement to undergraduate and graduate business students

Assistsnewly-admitted students in onboarding, course registration and other transitionissues

Reviewsplans of study and progression toward degree, conducts degree audits, preparesstudents’ schedules, explains graduate programs to undergraduate students,assists in registration, maintains files, and compiles records

Overseesacademic petitions and communicates with students on other advising issues

Interactswith students through multiple modes of communication including, but notlimited to, letters, e-mail, telephone calls, and individual and groupin-person and virtual meetings

Engagesappropriately with parents and families throughout recruitment, onboarding, andstudent experience.

Coordinatesstudent transfer credit requests and ensures appropriate course equivalencies

Collaborateswith other University offices to improve students’ academic experience andsupport their overall well-being

Student Retention:

Collaborateswith relevant academic leaders to develop and maintain student services thathelp improve overall experience and retention of students

Benchmarksbest practices in student services and brings forward ideas for improvement

Regularlymonitors student academic progress through Starfish and other indicators

Respondsquickly with potential solutions and support services/recourse referrals forstudents who are struggling academically or in need of well-being support

Coordinatesand delivers presentations and seminars (e.g., at student orientation)

Reachesout to and works with students who have not registered for classes during thestandard registration period

Maintainsregular ‘touchpoints’ with students to check in and offer support

Assistswith the planning and implementation of student engagement activities,programs, and communication pieces aimed at relationship- andcommunity-building

New Student Recruiting:

Meetswith prospective students to discuss Duquesne entrance requirements, course andcredit transfer, academic requirements, and registration, among other items

Answersad hoc questions from prospective students (e.g., academic, student experienceissues)

Attendsand participates in University and School recruiting and internal events,including occasional evening and weekend events

Makespublic presentations to students, prospective students and parents, as needed

Assistsin evaluation of credits

Speaksto undergraduate students about special programs and graduate education in theSchool

CareerPlanning Support:

Collaborates with career counsellors,career coaches, and corporate relations staff at Duquesne to inform students ofvarious business careers

Assists students in choosingcareer-relevant programs of study

Refers students to career resources(e.g., career counsellors, coaches, business professionals)

Participates in and supportscareer-related activities, including various networking events, company visits,and career fairs

Coordinates and delivers classes orseminars pertaining to career/professional development

Identifies and fosters connectionsbetween undergraduate and graduate advisees to support professional developmentand career goals

ProgramManagement:

Monitors the graduate and undergraduatewebsites to ensure they are current, accurate and achieving desired results aswell as make suggestions for improvement

Compiles statistics forschool reports; prepares reports on Business students

Completes other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in business, education, counseling or related field from anaccredited institution and 1-3 years of successful academic advisingexperience.

Understand the techniques/procedures involved in academic advising,both individual and group

Exceptional interpersonal skills; able to interact effectively withstudents of diverse ages and backgrounds

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Excellent customer service and problem-solving skills

Self-motivated, energetic and able to work independently as well aspart of a team; accepts responsibility with limited supervision; managesmultiple tasks to completion

Ability to work with students in a mentoring and service-orientedmanner

Ability to think strategically and creatively with respect to theoperations and programs of academic advising and student recruiting

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships withstudents (current and prospective), parents, faculty, administrators, andothers in the University community

Proficient in information technologies, and should display awillingness to learn new technologies relevant to the position (i.e., Word,Excel & PowerPoint, as well as querying and reporting of specializeddatabases)

Impeccable integrity, commitment to School success and the values ofDuquesne

Ability to work evenings/weekends

Possesses a valid driver’s license and passport

Preferred qualifications:

Master’s degree in a business-related field, education, counseling or a relatedfield from an accredited institution.

3+ years ofexperience in student support within higher education

Experiencewith the Banner student information system

Strongleadership and decision-making skills

Duquesnealumnus/alumna

Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination ofexperience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilitiesrequired to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is notlimited to, the following:

Commitment to the University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, andrecognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity andrespect consistent with the University’s Mission. Demonstrated experience with, andunderstanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students,faculty, staff and others).

Ability toestablish and maintain effective working relationships with the UniversityCommunity.

Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the Universityand to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. Themission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit ofservice, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and anecumenical campus community.

APPLICATIONINSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact informationfor three professional references.

Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University valuesequality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. Weaspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflectscontemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campuscommunity. We particularly encourage applications from members ofunderrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our chartermembership in this region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).

We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university andits Spiritan heritage byvisiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement.Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which theysee their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community andfurthering its mission.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community,the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic inmission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity,Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution andas an employer.