Student Success & Retention Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Student Success & Retention Coordinator, College of Optometric Medicine -

This is a hybrid (4 days on-site, 1 day remote), full-time position (40 hours per week), and includes eligibility for all RMU benefits, including health, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401(k), and more. In addition, this position receives 17 paid holidays annually, 3 paid floating holidays annually, and accrual of paid vacation and paid sick time.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS

Position Reports to :

• Sr. Director of Student Affairs
• Dean for Assigned Academic College

POSITION PURPOSE

The Student Success and Retention Coordinator reports to the Sr. director of Student Affairs within the Department of Student Affairs with a dotted-line reporting structure to the Dean of the assigned college. The Student Success and Retention Coordinator provides individualized support, coordination, and guidance for students within their designated academic college, ensuring a high-quality, student-centered experience aligned with institutional goals and the mission of RMU.

This position plays a key role in promoting student persistence, progression, and success by connecting students with university resources, academic support, and non-academic services that address barriers to retention. The Student Success and Retention Coordinator fosters an equitable and inclusive environment that supports student well-being, engagement, and achievement throughout the academic lifecycle—from enrollment through graduation.

The Student Success and Retention Coordinator serves as the primary liaison between the Department of Student Affairs and their assigned college, collaborating closely with faculty, program directors, and academic leadership to ensure coordinated communication, timely interventions, and meaningful student outcomes.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Student Support and Resources

Serve as the primary student success liaison within the assigned college, addressing non-academic student needs and referrals.

Collaborate with faculty, advisors, and program directors to ensure timely communication and intervention for at-risk students.

Connect students to campus resources related to wellness, tutoring, accommodations, and financial literacy.

Maintain accurate documentation of outreach, advising sessions, and follow-up actions.

Partner with Institutional Equity on ADA and Civil Rights referrals when applicable.

Contribute to ongoing updates of student success and support content for departmental and college communications.

Matriculation

Support onboarding and transition programming for new students within the assigned college.

Collaborate with Enrollment Management and EduTech to ensure student success content in orientation information and materials is accurate and up to date.

Collaborate with Engagement & Leadership on early engagement initiatives that promote student belonging and readiness for academic success.

Student Success (Retention & Attrition)

Conduct proactive outreach to students identified through early alert systems, probation lists, or faculty referrals.

Provide individualized non-academic advising for students experiencing barriers to success.

Coordinate semesterly student check-ins and follow-ups for those requiring continued support.

Facilitate withdrawal and re-entry processes in collaboration with Registrar, Financial Aid, and Finance offices.

Track persistence, withdrawal, and re-entry metrics in coordination with the Success & Retention unit.

Analyze survey and feedback data to inform student retention strategies.

Develop re-engagement initiatives to support students returning from a leave of absence.

Coordinate and track students’ compliance with their mandatory academic probation protection meetings with Student Success and Faculty Advisors.

Budget Line Management

Assist in developing and monitoring student success budget allocations for outreach, programming, and retention initiatives.

Reconcile monthly expenditures and ensure appropriate use of funds for student success activities.

Provide budget data to the Department of Student Affairs for annual reporting.

Assessment and Accreditation

Provide data and qualitative input for departmental KPIs and institutional retention dashboards.

Contribute to Planning & Self-Study reports for Department of Student Affairs and assigned college.

Support accreditation efforts by documenting student success and support-related outcomes.

Other Responsibilities

Attend university and departmental meetings to represent student success and retention interests.

Maintain accurate records of student success and retention initiatives and communications.

Maintain confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and institutional policies.

Participate in assigned professional development and training.

Support university-wide events, including orientation, commencement, and student success workshops.

Represent RMU positively in all professional and public interactions.

Perform other related duties as assigned by the Sr. Director of Student Affairs and College Leadership.

Participate in university-wide committees to support cross-departmental collaboration and advance institutional goals.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS

Six-Month Performance Evaluation

Annual Performance Evaluation

POSITION COMPETENCIES

Professional Communication

Development of Self

Job Knowledge / Skill Application

Champions Innovation

Drives for Results

Collaboration

Integrity

Critical Thinking

Initiative

Student / Customer-Centeredness

Develops & Inspires Others

Strategic Perspective

Financial Accountability

STUDENT AFFAIRS CORE COMPETENCIES

Advising and Supporting

Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Law, Policy, and Governance

Leadership

Organizational and Human Resources

Personal and Ethical Foundations

Social Justice and Inclusion

Student Learning and Development

Technology

Values, Philosophy, and History

WORKING REQUIREMENTS / CONDITIONS

Education / Certification :

Required :

Bachelor’s Degree

Preferred :

Master’s degree is preferred in a related field (such as student development, higher education, administration, or leadership)

Experience with Optometry academic programs within higher education setting strongly preferred

Required Knowledge :

Office 365

Excellent grammar and editing skills

Must have knowledge of regional accreditation requirements, federal, and reporting requirements, including FERPA, Student Right-to-Know.

Demonstrated understanding of Student Affairs best practices and student development theories related to post-secondary education.

Knowledge and understanding of laws, regulations and policies governing student conduct, student privacy, and student health

Knowledge of student services program development, management, evaluation, research and assessment.

Demonstrated knowledge of Student Affairs. Mastery of acceptable graduate student services program standards and operations.

Experience Required :

Required : No less than one year of experience working in a higher education setting within student services, student affairs, academic or non-academic advising or a related field.

Preferred : Two or more years of experience working in a higher education setting within student services, student affairs, academic or non-academic advising or a related field.

NASPA / ACPA Student Affairs Core Competencies & CAS Standards for higher education

Skills / Abilities :

The successful candidate will be reliable, conscientious, a problem-solver, technology-savvy, and possess a professional disposition.

Able to maintain confidentiality, demonstrate work integrity, and is student-centered in all approaches.

Advanced oral, written, and interpersonal communications with all levels of the internal organization and external constituencies and public groups

Mastery of the highest level of professionalism and ethical standards in all areas of responsibility

Advanced implementation of technology applications – including, but not limited to : Office productivity software (Microsoft Office, Qualtrics, Smartsheet); student information system portals; learning management systems; student information and enterprise resource planning systems; incident reporting systems

Ability to interpret and apply complex student guidelines, rules and regulations

Ability to collaborate with a wide variety of internal and external constituencies in support of student success

Able to work cooperatively and sensitively with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Demonstrated commitment to enhancing diversity

Able to use technology easily and effectively to enhance productivity and to assess progress toward departmental goals

Ability to perform basic data analysis and identify statistical trends

Strong problem solving, leadership, administrative, team-building, and decision-making skills

Ability to maintain positive, effective working relationships with students, employees, and other constituents

Demonstrated willingness to go beyond a job description to complete a task.

Demonstrated organizational skills in handling and directing complex projects

Ability and willingness to work weekend and evening hours as needed

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION

Finger dexterity :

Using primarily just the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together

Talking :

Especially where one must convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly

Average Hearing :

Able to hear average or normal conversations and receive ordinary information

Average Visual Abilities :

Average, ordinary visual acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents or products, or operate machinery

Physical Strength :

Sedentary work. Sitting most of the time. Exerts up to 10 lbs. of force occasionally (Almost all office jobs)

WORKING CONDITIONS

None :

No hazardous or significantly unpleasant conditions (Such as in a typical office)

Schedule

This position follows a hybrid work schedule, requiring four days on campus and one remote workday per week

The standard work hours are Monday through Friday, 8 : 00 a.m. to 5 : 00 p.m

Occasional evening or weekend hours may be required to support university events or student engagement activities

MENTAL ACTIVITIES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THIS POSITION

Reasoning Ability :

Ability to deal with a variety of variables under only limited standardization

Able to interpret various instructions

Mathematics Ability :

Ability to perform basic math skills, use decimals to compute ratios and percentages, and draw and interpret graphs

Language Ability :

Ability to read a variety of books, magazines, instruction manuals, atlases, and encyclopedias; Ability to prepare memos, reports, and essays using proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar

Ability to communicate distinctly with appropriate pauses and emphasis; correct pronunciation (or sign equivalent); and variation in word order using present, perfect, and future tenses

INTENT AND FUNCTION OF JOB DESCRIPTIONS

Job descriptions assist organizations in ensuring that the hiring process is fairly administered and that qualified employees are selected. They are also essential to an effective appraisal system and related promotion, transfer, layoff, and termination decisions. Well-constructed job descriptions are an integral part of any effective compensation system.

All descriptions have been reviewed to ensure that only essential functions and basic duties have been included. Peripheral tasks, only incidentally related to each position, have been excluded. Requirements, skills, and abilities included have been determined to be the minimal standards required to successfully perform the positions. In no instance, however, should the duties, responsibilities, and requirements delineated be interpreted as all-inclusive. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the organization.

Job descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. RMUoHP maintains its status as an at-will employer. Employees can be terminated for any reason not prohibited by law.

Rocky Mountain University is an Equal Opportunity Employer.