Director of Student Retention

Title: Director of Student Retention

Salary Range: $4,646 - $6,509 per month

Contract Term Length: 12 Months

Standard Hours: 37.5 per week

Work Location: On-Site

FLSA Status: Exempt

College: Bluegrass Community & Technical College

Campus Location: Bluegrass C&TC - Newtown Pike

Department: Provost

Benefits

Bluegrass Community & Technical College offers a competitive benefits package and an attractive work environment that supports excellence, innovation, and creativity including:

• Exceptional health care, vision, dental coverage for you and your family
• Tuition reimbursement/waiver for you, your spouse, and dependents
• 403(b) retirement plan: a 5% employee contribution receives a 10% employer match
• Vacation/Sick Time
• Work-Life Balance
• 9.5 Paid Holidays
• 2 Weeks Institutional Closing Pay (Last 2 weeks of December) for qualifying positions
• Employee Assistance Program

Job Summary

Working collaboratively with college leadership, faculty and staff, the Director of Student Retention will provide comprehensive and culturally competent support services designed to ensure the academic success of students as measured by meaningful academic engagement, college and career readiness, and retention/graduation rates. The position will engage students in a variety of student services activities to ensure successful progression. The Director provides support in the planning, management, and the development of initiatives and activities supporting student progression and completion. Position reports to the Assistant Dean of Student Success Initiatives.

*Posting will remain open until filled.

Job Duties:

• Monitors academic reporting systems for early alert to students’ performance and academic progress risk, thus identifying and providing timely interventions for those who are in need.
• Participates in data reviews and processes to determine student services and support needs for engagement and retainment, including working with students to reengage, maintain learning and ultimately graduating on time.
• Assists faculty and staff in identifying trends and researching best practices in student persistence and completion.
• Provides Starfish training and resources for faculty, staff, and students.
• Manages a caseload of students by maintaining records of each student and co-creating a roadmap and plan of success.
• Handles confidential student information with tact, discretion and in compliance with FERPA regulations.
• Discusses grades with students and assists them with strategies and plans to improve grades. Assists students by coaching them through barriers.
• Acts as liaison to at-risk students by determining and coordinating referrals and supports to other departments and/or outside agencies, such as tutoring, counseling, library services, distance learning support, financial aid, and career services.
• Identifies gaps in services based on best practices in retention and creates programs to improve student success.
• Identifies specific cohort groups with targeted interventions.
• Conducts outreach and recruitment of program participants.
• Coordinates with Institutional, Planning, Research, and Effectiveness to create, disseminate, and collect student surveys aimed at providing feedback on program and/or students’ needs.
• Participates in systematic review and evaluation of Student Retention functional area per the model adopted by the College, including the development and monitoring of outcomes and plans of action for improvement based on the assessment of those outcomes and plans.
• Completes duties and responsibilities in compliance with college standards, policies, and guidelines.
• Provides systematic reports to president, provost, and other personnel.
• Supports grant development that aligns with the mission and goals of the College.
• Promotes positive morale and teamwork within the department and provides exceptional customer service to students, faculty, and community.
• Supports the mission, vision, and values of the College and attends College events and meetings.
• Assumes other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree (related field) and three years related experience, or equivalent. 

Additional Skills Requested:

• Bilingual in English and Spanish
• Successful experience interacting with culturally diverse population
• Commitment to the mission of the comprehensive community and technical college
• Personal and professional integrity
• Commitment and ability to work effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; and effectively present information to top management, public groups, and other groups
• Proficient in the use of e-mail, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software and use of the Internet to access data, maintain records, generate reports, and communicate with others
• Ability to work independently according to established schedules and to complete assignments and projects, as per defined timelines