Job Description

Department:

Academic Support and Success

Annual Salary:

$45,000.00

Work Hours:

8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Anticipated Start Date:

January 4, 2027

Job Summary:

The Success Specialist is responsible for supporting the retention, persistence, academic achievement, and degree completion of first-generation college students through proactive outreach, intervention, success coaching, and academic skill development. This position provides individualized support that helps first-generation students successfully navigate the college academic experience, develop effective learning strategies, and connect with campus resources.

Working collaboratively with Academic Support and Success staff, academic advisors, faculty, career services, student affairs professionals, and campus partners, the Success Specialist serves as a central point of contact for first-generation students, helping to remove barriers to success and promote a strong pathway to academic success. The position directly supports CHEER Act goals related to first-generation student success and retention.

This position is funded in whole or in part through the Alabama CHEER Act and directly supports institutional goals related to student success, retention, persistence, degree completion, workforce readiness, and post-graduation outcomes. The position specifically advances first-generation student success through success coaching, coordinated academic support services, learning development, and data-informed interventions designed to improve educational attainment and career readiness.

This position is contingent upon funding.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide individualized success coaching and learning interventions for designated first-generation student cohorts.
• Collaborate with academic advisors and other Student Success Center staff to ensure holistic support of first-generation college freshmen.
• Maintain regular outreach and follow-up with selected first-generation students identified as at-risk through institutional data, alerts, referrals, and predictive analytics.
• Assist first-generation students in establishing academic, personal, and career goals and developing action plans for achievement.
• Support student transition, persistence, and progression from freshman to sophomore year.
• Deliver coaching related to time management, study strategies, note-taking, test preparation, self-regulated learning, and academic resilience.
• Conduct courses, workshops and group learning sessions focused on student success competencies.
• Promote utilization of tutoring, supplemental instruction, academic support services, and learning technologies.
• Monitor the cohort for progress and maintain records in EAB Navigate.
• Teach academic success courses such as SSC104 and/or SSC105.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Education, Higher Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with high risk populations

Required Documents:

1. Cover Letter
2. Resume
3. Unofficial Transcripts (official required upon hire)

Employee Benefits:

JSU strives to provide great quality of life to our employees through an attractive, competitive benefits package for our full-time faculty and staff. These benefits enhance your salary as a JSU employee and are part of your total compensation package. Benefits include:

• Retirement Plans
• Alabama Teacher’s Retirement System (TRS)
• RSA-1 Deferred Compensation
• 403-B Retirement Annuity (TIAA)
• Health Insurance
• Medical (PEEHIP)
• Optional plans: vision, dental, flexible spending plan, dependent care, cancer, and hospital indemnity
• Long-term disability and life insurance
• Tuition assistance
• Paid and unpaid leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Prescription assistance

For additional information regarding benefits, please visit our website.

Clery Notice: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, https://www.clerycenter.org/the-clery-act the Jacksonville State University Police provide information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three calendar years. The JSU Annual Campus Security and Fire Report is available online at: https://www.jsu.edu/police/docs/cleryannualreport.pdf

Equal Employment Opportunity: Jax State is an Equal Employment and Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, genetic information, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.