Academic Success Coordinator

About Curry College:

Founded in 1879, Curry College is a private, four-year, liberal arts-based institution located on a wooded 135-acre campus in Milton, MA just seven miles from downtown Boston. Accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE). Curry College offers 20 undergraduate majors, as well as four graduate programs.

Curry College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in every aspect of its operations. The College values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff from a variety of backgrounds. 

Job Description:

Job Summary

The Academic Success Coordinator provides clear proactive education and guidance to students and families, directing them to appropriate institutional resources and assisting them in creating and adhering to plans for academic success. S/he serves as a point of contact for students, families, and faculty regarding students who are experiencing academic difficulty. S/he works directly with individual students, their family members, and concerned faculty and staff to provide assistance in resolving academic concerns. The Academic Success Coordinator also serves as the primary Academic Advisor to a caseload of students.

Duties include direct service to students and families; proactive outreach to at-risk students on targeted retention efforts within the Office of Academic Advising & Success, and in collaboration with other Academic Support Services at the College, Career Services, Admission, and Student Affairs. The position requires exceptional oral and written communication skills, an ability to bring complex situations to closure with strong professional judgment, a student-focused orientation, and expertise in documenting outcomes with clear written follow-up.

Essential Functions 

1. Direct Service to Students:

• Provide proactive intervention throughout the first year to a group of incoming FY students using a communication plan and intervention strategy approved by the Student Success Work Team;
• Responds to academic concerns about students within FERPA guidelines; meets with families, faculty and students to resolve issues, and respond to concerns about college policies, procedures, and processes;
• Monitors and responds to Curry's centralized web-based Academic Alert system as a means of coordinating early interventions with students;
• Monitors and responds to the Academic Success email account;
• Monitor student progress, provide extensive outreach to students, and assist students with problem solving with a particular focus on connecting students with appropriate supports;
• Meets with students on academic probation, to develop, monitor, and evaluate student educational plans in accordance with Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines;
• Meets with students on matters of academic integrity, grade appeal, academic appeals;
• Communicates directly with students to positively impact timely graduation in partnership with Advising and the Registrar's Office;
• Provides information to the Academic Petition and Dismissal Committees in the assessment of appeals regarding academic policies for individual students;
• Serves as the primary Academic Advisor to a caseload of students;
• Assists with pre-registration of new students;
• Escalates high need students to the Associate Director for further follow up as needed.

2. Direct Service to Parents and Families:

• Provides proactive information to parents and families to guide expectations, and inform families about academic processes and policies;
• Escalates high need cases to the Associate Director for further follow up.

3. Retention & Student Success Program Planning:

• Engage in networking across the institution to ensure students connect with appropriate resources to support their success. Collaborate with student services, academic support, technology, and others to coordinate and execute student retention strategies based on best practices and institutional research;
• Under the Direction of the Associate Director of Advising & Academic Success, develops, executes, and evaluates activities to support at-risk students including workshops, print and web materials, and peer support. Engage in continuous efforts to improve students' experience, to identify needs for additional resources or interventions, and to work with others to assess the effectiveness of student success efforts;
• Serves on the Academic Services Team;
• Works collaboratively with colleagues in Office of Advising & Academic Success and on the Academic Services Team through cross-training, information sharing, and planning;
• Other duties as assigned.

4. SAP Compliance:

• Meets with students to develop, monitor, and evaluate student educational plans in accordance with Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines;
• Maintain currency with satisfactory academic progress policies and related internal policies and external regulations;
• Serves on SAP Appeal review committee.

Additional Functions

• Respect and maintain confidentiality, parameters of operation, professional protocols, and individual privacy;
• Initiate independent actions and initiatives including creative problem-solving with families and a keen awareness of program requirements and academic counseling options;
• Assess complex situations and respond with a clear, supportive and consistent message.