Position Title: Professional Academic Coach, Academic Success Center ( Hiring multiple positions)

Reports to: Assistant Director, Strategic Initiatives

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for the position of Professional Academic Coach within the Academic Success Center.

The University: The University of Tennessee is the state’s flagship research institution, a campus of choice for outstanding undergraduates, and a premier graduate institution. Enrolling over 30,000 students, the campus is located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and beautiful East Tennessee. As a land-grant university, it is committed to excellence in learning, scholarship, and engagement. In all its activities, the university aims to advance the frontiers of human knowledge and enrich and elevate society. The university values intellectual curiosity, pursuit of knowledge, and academic freedom and integrity.

The Division: The Division of Student Success at UT works to engage each student scholar’s experience by supporting their unique strengths and goals. It collaborates with UT faculty and staff to help each student scholar maximize their individual strengths and understand how their strengths contribute to their academic dreams, career paths, and personal well-being. As a member of Student Success, the center’s mission is empowering student scholars to create and achieve career goals by providing comprehensive career education.

Position Summary: The Professional Academic Coach provides proactive and intentional academic and social support for UTK new first-year students. Academic coaches will build meaningful relationships with an assigned number of first-year students. Coaches will assist each student by helping them to develop and understand their strengths and co-create an academic success plan to meet their unique goals and enhance their well-being. Through the use of data and referrals from faculty and staff, coaches promote persistence by identifying and providing strategic outreach to students who may need short-term or long-term intrusive academic support. Academic Coaching meetings focus on helping each student holistically understand their strengths and identify ways those strengths can support their academic goals and well-being. Coaches may provide support through various strategies: time management, learning strategies, goal-setting, and targeted referrals to campus resources, including resources which deepen, enhance, and maximize the student's UT experience. Coaching sessions may take place both in a structured office environment and also in less-structured locations across campus, meeting students in high-traffic, convenient locations. In addition to engaging with students and maintaining their caseload, the Professional Academic Coach will assist with the maintenance and response to Academic Alerts, using multiple forms of communication to connect with students in their caseload. Academic coaches will also help the ASC leadership team with the day-to-day operations of the center.

Position Responsibilities:

Academic Coaching

- Provide academic success coaching (time management, goal setting, study skills, learning strategies, resource referrals, etc.) to diverse transfer student populations; assist students in the resolution of academic problems; teach students strategies for learning;

- Assist with administration of Academic Alert program and conduct routine communication, outreach, and programming for students on alert;

- Assist in case management for first-year students in need of additional academic support;

- Provide academic support for second year and beyond students who are in need of additional resources and / or academic strategies;

- Review student academic transcripts in preparation for student meetings to better assist students in progressing to graduation;

- Develop and use extensive knowledge of UTK policies (academic and others) to help students navigate academic choices and improve student persistence;

- One-on-one meetings with students at the ASC office to develop learning and life strategies that promote academic success;

- Group student-focused activities in and outside of the office to promote social integration to UT;

- Developing skills in time management, managing freedom, goal setting, creating study plans, preparing for tests, and other academic success skills and strategies; developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving, and inter-and intra-personal skills to result in deeper learning, enhanced well-being and improved success in the classroom

- Establishing and strengthening connections to the campus community, and helping students maximize their options and opportunities at UT.

- Participate in student-facing campus events to develop connections with their students;

- Employ case-management and other academic software, such as EAB Navigate, Banner, Slate, and other software, to document coaching sessions and communication with students

Support in ASC Initiatives

- Develop, implement, and assess ASC and division programs and initiatives as the office grows to meet the needs of the campus community;

- Assist with assessment activities as requested;

- Participate in campus wide outreach activities, including campus requests, Admissions browse sessions, and transfer orientation programs;

- Engage students at new student orientations, open houses and recruitment events;

- Actively pursue professional development opportunities;

- Use other standard office software to communicate with staff and develop program materials;

- Attend weekly staff and department meetings.

Case Management Outreach and Campus Involvement

- Communicate routinely with their caseload of first year students, via in-person as well as electronic forms of communication;

- One-on-one informal sessions with students outside of the office to develop deeper connections with their students;

- Group coaching sessions to promote academic success

Education/Experience

Required: This position requires a bachelor’s degree and one year of experience by date of hire (part-time calculated as half time) working in a higher education, K-12, or community outreach environment.

Preferred: Master's Degree and experience in higher education

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

Required:

· Knowledge of student academic support

· Skill in providing student academic support

· Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office, scheduling software, and similar office technology

· Strong interpersonal and communication skills

Preferred:

· Knowledge of learning strategies, academic intervention and support;

· Skills in developing learning strategies for students in need of additional academic support;

· Ability to work with multi-cultural students and students with diverse backgrounds;

· Abilities in Advising, first-year studies program delivery, or learning disabilities experience;

· Excellent presentation and outreach skills.

Salary: $49,000 and accompanied by a university benefits package.

Application Process: For full consideration, applicants must apply electronically through the Taleo system including submission of cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references.