Student Success Specialist

The core mission of American Indian Student Services (AISS) is to provide opportunities that enhance American Indian/Indigenous student success, while also advancing a wide range of objectives aligned with The University of New Mexico's enrollment, retention, and graduation goals. AISS is seeking an innovative and action-oriented Student Success Specialist to join a team committed to collaboratively attaining goals; addressing issues in new & creative ways; demonstrating integrity & respect; taking initiative to expand knowledge & skills; and adapting to dynamic shifts in environments and duties.

Combine your passion & professional skill set to positively support students in their higher education journey!

The
successful candidate will be responsible for co-coordinating and
co-facilitating programs and student support initiatives for current UNM-Main
Campus students; students transferring from UNM branch campus sites, community
colleges, tribal colleges, and other colleges or universities; and new admits.
The Student Success Specialist will serve as a liaison with internal and
external constituencies on all facets relating to outreach programming and
represent AISS and the University of New Mexico at local, regional, and
national recruitment events. Co-coordination of community workshops; arranging
campus visits and tours for prospective students and parents; customer service
and networking experience; advanced interpersonal and written skills; and
demonstrated experience collaborating and interacting with various university
units/divisions, tribal governments, higher education programs, and entities
specific to American Indian constituents are integral components of the role.
Dedication to student academic, personal, cultural, and social success;
advanced oral and written skills; and networking expertise are critical
elements of the in-person position.

The individual selected for this position will:

• Participate in the establishment and coordination of targeted American Indian/Indigenous undergraduate and graduate student recruitment and outreach projects, operations, and events.
• Coordinate various programs and marketing for AISS academic/cultural/social special events and programming relating to targeted American Indian/Indigenous recruitment efforts including, but not limited to: American Indian Senior Day, American Indian Junior Day, AISB Summer Bridge Program, AISB Fall Experience Program, Tribal Higher Education Campus Visits, and specialized statewide, regional, and national outreach & recruitment efforts.
• Conduct visits to middle schools, high schools, and colleges to promote UNM American Indian/Indigenous outreach activities for group and individual settings.
• Utilize knowledge of admissions application processes, registration criteria, and financial aid and/or scholarship information and deadlines for internal coordination of student recruitment and enrollment management goals.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of statewide and regional partnerships with public/private/charter/tribal schools and meet with school counselors and administrators regarding participation in department and university outreach programs and activities.
• Assist in the coordination of complex recruitment and outreach projects, operations, and events under the guidance of AISS staff.
• Co-coordinate and co-implement all organizational components of AISS programs (Student Success Workshops, American Indian Summer Bridge (AISB) Program, AISS Ambassador Program, FAF$A-4-U, American Indian Convocation) including but not limited to: student recruitment & outreach efforts; student engagement, curriculum development, program design/planning, staff training, and facilities planning.
• Provide & co-coordinate comprehensive academic advising, financial aid & scholarship guidance, career counseling, and student support services to prospective, new, and current undergraduate students.
• Co-coordinate academic intervention and retention activities and programming and act as a student advocate.
• Implement knowledge of academic standards regarding probation and/or suspension processes/procedures to meet individual student needs.
• Assist with the collection, maintenance, and analysis of departmental recruitment and program activity data in addition to statistical and narrative program reports and evaluations.
• Serve as an active participant in a variety of department/division-specific and university-wide student programming initiatives.

See the Position Description for additional information.

• All regular, non-temporary positions assigned to this classification are represented by a labor union and subject to the terms and conditions of the US-UNM Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Bachelor's degree; no previous experience required.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

Demonstrated proficiency/experience in:

• Organizing and implementing special events incorporating presentation and promotional materials, maintaining budgetary and operational controls, and coordinating multiple entities.
• Coordinating student recruitment activities, programs, and meetings in collaboration with multiple university departments/divisions and academic colleges.
• Logistics support with 1st-year college residential or transition programs, mentorship efforts, and student leadership & retention initiatives.
• Advising (academic/student support) and providing consultation for a diverse college student population.
• Evaluating academic records and formal documents and interpreting department, college, and university academic requirements for degree-granting programs.
• Providing federal financial aid and institutional, departmental, private, and tribal scholarship advisement.
• Generating and developing reports, spreadsheets, and databases: and maintaining program/project records and statistical information utilizing Excel, Access, Hyperion, MyReports and Banner.
• Drafting and creating design sets and copy for print publications/digital & web-based communication and social media platforms utilizing Adobe Creative applications: Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Express, and Photoshop.
• Organizing and leading a variety of programming initiatives that require illustrating proficiency utilizing web-conferencing tools and platforms.
• Working on a team and/or in a collaborative work-setting, multi-tasking and creative problem-solving and working in a high-traffic customer service environment.
• Effectively communicating and interacting with various tribal governments, organizations, higher education programs; and a wide range of individuals representing diverse communities.
• Strong interpersonal interactions and collaboration with a wide range of individuals representing diverse communities, ages, cultures, and education levels.

Only applications submitted through
the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job
advertisement on a 3rd party site, please
visit UNMJobs to submit an application.

To receive full consideration for this position, an applicant must:

1. Complete Online Application

2. Attach/upload Resume

3. Attach/upload a Cover Letter (see Cover Letter instructions below)

4. Attach/upload contact information for three (3) professional references, preferably supervisors (references will only be contacted in the event you are a finalist for the position).

Incomplete Applications may not be considered.

Cover Letter Requirements: Please describe what makes you uniquely qualified for the Student Success Specialist position; specifically outlining and citing examples of your expertise specific to recruitment & outreach initiatives; retention programming; college & university academic advisement and financial aid/scholarship advisement; student support programs and initiatives; level of enthusiasm and experience respective to working with diverse student populations; and how you anticipate contributing to and collaborating with the American Indian Student Services team.

Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.