Academic/College Success Specialist

Job Summary

Do you enjoy working with student’s and helping them achieve their educational goals? If so, Hawkeye Community has an opportunity for you!

Student Services is looking for a full-time Academic/College Success Specialist to join their team.  This position is part of the advising team whose goal is to help students from orientation through graduation.  As the full time Academic/College Success Specialist you will primarily focus on the advising and retention of students by coordinating semester registration procedures, providing advising for students, as well as providing referrals to on-campus and off-campus resources. This position also develops educational plans consistent with students’ career/life goals and objectives and advises students on appropriate courses. 

Additionally, this position coordinates and delivers educational and career activities/workshops individually and to groups, collaborates with Student Services staff, faculty, student educational resources, and other College staff relative to retention planning issues and related activities. Furthermore, as the College/Academic Success Specialist, you work with students by assisting them regarding program advising and referral to academic, non-academic and community services as well as coordinating and providing transfer information for colleges and universities.

If you are looking to make a difference in the success of our students and help people through their college career, you may be a good fit.  Their team takes great pride in our student success. 

Hawkeye Community College is a comprehensive community college focused on meeting the needs of the community by providing quality, affordable learning experiences for a diverse student body through our Adult Learning Center, Business and Community Education Department as well as through more than 50 career and technical programs and liberal arts transfer programs.  Hawkeye Community College’s mission is about empowering students, strengthening businesses and enriching communities with a vision to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. 

Essential Job Functions

Important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Organizes and prepares student files and degree audits for registration, verifying graduation status, and appropriate advising.
• Review high school transcripts as well as standardized test scores to determine appropriate placement in courses. Advise students of results.
• Prepare student schedules.
• Provides appropriate referrals to Hawkeye's academic support services, financial assistance, advising, mental health counseling, and student health clinic services to enhance each individual student’s program completion.
• Facilitates a collaborative process with faculty and staff to retain and increase persistence rates for program students.
• Integrates intervention practices and support services for students who lack performance and/or attendance which may cause barriers to successful completion of course work.
• Addresses and mediates student conflict.
• Reviews academic evaluations to determine a student's remaining coursework.
• Responsible for inputting work alerts in CRM Advise and addresses concerns to promote student success.
• Conveys and interprets college requirements, policies, and procedures, and provides appropriate referrals to college and community resources.
• Presents and coordinates workshops for students, faculty, and staff.
• Assists with tour days such as Experience Hawkeye and other events as assigned.
• Creates and presents new student orientation presentations for new incoming students.

• Advises students on appropriate course placement consistent with student goals.
• Advises students regarding assessment results and developmental course placement.
• Manages student progress through individual appointments and in group settings.

• Utilizes Datatel/Colleague and WebAdvisor software to manage student progress via student record reports.
• Uses student development and case management models to aid in the personal growth and development of students.
• Records and maintains accurate records of student interactions in CRM Advise.
• Uses CRM Advise as a metric to gauge student success and retention.
• Develops and maintains student program planning worksheets and/or transfer plans and tip sheets for transfer institutions and majors.
• Assist current students with tasks such as registering, making changes to courses and/or course schedules as well as withdrawing from classes.
• Educate students regarding financial aid awards. Assist students with the financial aid suspension appeals process which includes obtaining supporting documentation, completing the required academic planning worksheets, and reviewing forms to maintain financial aid eligibility.
• Resolves issues using defined policies, practices, and professional knowledge as reference.
• Interprets standardized tests including Accuplacer, COMPASS, CLEP, ACT and SAT, used for advising and course placement.
• Participates in campus committees as assigned.
• Unless otherwise approved under Hawkeye’s remote work policy, regular on campus and/or onsite attendance is considered an essential function of the position.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

**If selected hire possesses a Master level degree, the assignment of job and paygrade will increase to an Academic/College Success Advisor level position. Teaching responsibilities will then be an additional essential job function.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Education or Student Affairs, Higher Education Administration, Social Work, Conflict Resolution or related field.
• Demonstrated ability to execute organization and department policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of degree/course requirements, transfer policies and recommendations for 4-year transfer institutions.
• Knowledge of basic Financial Aid policies.
• Skills in Google Suite/Document, Microsoft Office including, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, Colleague, FileDirector, CRM, Zoom, Canva, and Canvas, Calendly and other related software.
• Demonstrate ability to perform public speaking engagements such as presenting to various audiences.
• Ability to demonstrate strong interpersonal communication.
• Demonstrated ability to work with a culturally diverse student population, faculty, staff, and the general public.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, organize, and complete advising goals and objectives.
• Ability to demonstrate effective organizational skills to manage multiple and shifting tasks/demands to meet timely deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to perform critical thinking and troubleshooting tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential/sensitive information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in student affairs, higher education administration, social work, conflict resolution, or related field.
• Experience in teaching or advising in higher education.

**If selected hire possesses a Master level degree, the assignment of job and paygrade will increase to an Academic/College Success Advisor level position. Teaching responsibilities will then be an additional essential job function.

Working Conditions

Anticipated schedule is:  Monday – Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm with occasional evenings and Saturday hours. 

Requires skills for succeeding in an office environment, using technology.  Requires good hand-eye coordination including visual acuity to use a keyboard and read technical information; arm, hand and finger dexterity, including ability to grasp.  Work is performed in an office setting.  Sit, stand, bend, lift and move intermittently during working hours.  During course of day, interact with students, faculty and staff in person, by telephone and computer.

Employment Status

Full time, exempt position with a comprehensive benefits program including health, dental, vision, life, and LTD insurance, a Section 125 plan for medical and dependent care expenses; holiday, personal, sick, and vacation leave; tuition reimbursement; and a choice of retirement programs—IPERS (defined benefit) or TIAA (defined contribution). Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s education and experience.

Application Procedure

• Complete online application at www.hawkeyecollege.edu/employment
  • Submit/upload a cover letter that briefly addresses the following:
    • Describe any experience you have had related to advising and assisting college students in an educational setting. Give examples of any experience you have with transfer students or knowledge you have of community college transfer students.
    • Provide examples of retention strategies you have used. Include examples of how you have worked one-on-one with students and in group settings.
    • Provide examples of workshop and/or activities that you have developed or presented.
    • Describe your knowledge of guidance/counseling skills.
    • Describe any experience you have had in resolving conflicts.
  • Submit/upload a resume.
  • Submit/upload 3 professional references with a minimum of 1 being from a past/current supervisor.
• All required documents must be submitted in order for your application to move forward.
• Submit an online application and all required materials by the deadline of Thursday, June 29, 2023.

**If selected hire possesses a Master level degree, the assignment of job and paygrade will increase to an Academic/College Success Advisor level position. Teaching responsibilities will then be an additional essential job function.

Hawkeye Community College is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, committed to equity and diversity in its educational services and employment practices: https://www.hawkeyecollege.edu/about/diversity-inclusion/equal-opportunity. The College does not discriminate on the basis of sex; race; age; color; creed; national origin; religion; disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; genetic information; or actual or potential parental, family, or marital status in its programs, activities, or employment practices. Veteran status is also included to the extent covered by law. Any person alleging a violation of equity regulations shall have the right to file a formal complaint. Inquiries concerning application of this statement should be addressed to: Equity Coordinator and Title IX Coordinator for employees, 319-296-4405; or Title IX Coordinator for students, 319-296-4448; Hawkeye Community College, 1501 East Orange Road, P.O. Box 8015, Waterloo, Iowa 50704-8015; or email equity-titleIX@hawkeyecollege.edu, or the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Citigroup Center, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661, phone number 312-730-1560, fax 312-730-1576, email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov. 

If any applicant is in need of a reasonable accommodation in completing the application process, please notify a member of Human Resource Services.