The Associate Director for Academic Success & Retention serves as a key operational leader for Rocky Top Gateway (RTG) within the Division of Student Success at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Reporting to the Executive Director, this position is responsible for overseeing the daily implementation of the program's student success model and ensuring that students participating in RTG receive proactive, coordinated support that promotes academic progress, engagement, and successful matriculation to UT.

The Associate Director manages the program's academic success and retention strategy, working closely with partners at Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC) and across the University of Tennessee to ensure students remain on track to complete all program and academic requirements. This includes developing systems to monitor student progress, coordinating interventions when challenges arise, and maintaining consistent communication with students to reinforce expectations and connect them with appropriate campus resources. This position supervises two Academic Coaches, who provide hands-on case management and individualized guidance to RTG students. Together, the team implements a high-touch, proactive advising and support model designed to ensure students successfully complete their first year and transition to UT as sophomores.

The Associate Director works extensively with academic advising units, student success initiatives, academic colleges, and campus support offices to ensure a coordinated student experience. Through careful oversight of student progress, collaboration with institutional partners, and leadership of the academic coaching team, this role plays a critical part in ensuring RTG students thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration, Student Affairs, Counseling, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of professional experience in student success, academic advising, student support programs, or a related area in higher education.

• Demonstrated experience supporting student retention, academic success, or transition programs.

• Ability to collaborate effectively with multiple institutional partners and stakeholders.

• Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• Experience working effectively in a hybrid work environment, including managing priorities, communication, and productivity across in-person and remote settings.

• Experience supervising or coordinating staff in a hybrid or flexible work setting.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to design and implement student-centered support structures that promote belonging, persistence, and academic success.

• Skill in proactively identifying student needs and deploying timely interventions.

• Knowledge of effective recruitment, yield practices, and communication strategies tailored to prospective students and families.

• Skill in developing long-term strategic plans that align with institutional priorities and drive program growth.

• Ability to translate vision into actionable goals, policies, and operational structures.

• Knowledge of partnership-building practices across academic and administrative units, including external institutions.

• Ability to navigate complex organizational structures and maintain productive, collaborative relationships.

• Skill in supervising, mentoring, and evaluating professional staff to foster a high-performing team environment.

• Ability to promote accountability, professional growth, and a culture of care and student-centered service.

• Knowledge of assessment tools, data collection methods, and student success metrics.

• Ability to analyze data to inform decisions, evaluate program effectiveness, and implement continuous improvement.

• Skill in communicating clearly, persuasively, and strategically with students, families, staff, faculty, and leadership.

• Ability to influence decisions and advance program goals through strong interpersonal and public-speaking skills.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Experience working with first-year transition programs, transfer pathways, or dual-institution partnerships.

• Demonstrated experience designing or implementing proactive advising, intrusive student support, or case management models in a higher education setting.

• Experience managing a caseload-based student support model, including documentation, outreach strategies, and coordinated intervention planning.

• Experience collaborating with faculty, academic advising units, and academic support services to support student success and persistence.

• Experience using student success technologies or CRM systems (e.g., Navigate, Banner, Salesforce) to track student progress, manage outreach, and monitor interventions.

• Demonstrated ability to use data to inform student support strategies and improve retention outcomes.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of best practices in bridge programs, transition programs, or dual-institution academic pathways.

• Knowledge of emerging trends in first-year experience, retention strategies, and transfer success.

• Skill in creating high-touch, relationship-driven support systems for large student populations.

• Knowledge of effective student recruitment and yield techniques, especially for specialized pathway programs.

• Ability to represent the program professionally to diverse stakeholders, including campus leadership, PSCC partners, students, and families.

• Knowledge of community college transfer environments and common barriers to transition

Work Location .

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR12

• Anticipated hiring range: Minimum $72,188

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted.

• Resume

• Cover Letter

• List of 3 Professional References

Proactive Academic Success & Student Progress

• Lead the implementation of a proactive, intrusive student success model grounded in best practices for student retention, persistence, and transfer readiness.
• Develop and maintain structured systems to monitor student academic performance, engagement, and completion of RTG requirements, utilizing early alerts, progress reports, and consistent outreach.
• Ensure frequent, intentional communication with students regarding academic expectations, deadlines, and program milestones, reducing ambiguity, and promoting accountability.
• Identify and engage students experiencing academic or personal challenges through timely, coordinated interventions, working in partnership with advising, faculty, and student support services.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of transfer student success frameworks, ensuring students are academically prepared and positioned for successful matriculation to UT.

Student Support Systems & Case Management

• Oversee a structured case management approach for RTG students, ensuring each student receives consistent, personalized, and developmentally appropriate support.

• Establish clear protocols for tracking student interactions, documenting interventions, and escalating concerns when additional support is required.

• Serve as a central point of contact for student experience concerns, challenges, and complaints, ensuring issues are addressed promptly, appropriately, and in alignment with university processes.

• Partner with campus offices (e.g., Dean of Students, Student Conduct, CARE teams) as needed to support student well-being and resolution of concerns.

Cross-Institutional Collaboration & Academic Alignment

• Serve as a key operational partner with Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC), collaborating with both staff and faculty to support student academic progress and engagement.
• Build relationships with PSCC faculty to support early identification of academic concerns, classroom engagement, and student success interventions.
• Collaborate closely with academic advising teams at both institutions to ensure students are progressing appropriately toward transfer and, where applicable, reverse transfer pathways.
• Partner with enrollment management and relevant offices to support clear communication and alignment around transfer articulation, course applicability, and degree progression.
• Coordinate with key campus partners to ensure students experience a seamless and aligned academic pathway across institutions.
• Establish strong collaboration with the Vol Study Center and related academic support services to coordinate course-based interventions, tutoring support, and responses to academic alerts and progress reports.
• Ensure alignment with campus partners and are actively utilizing available tools and resources to support student success.
• Work across Student Success, Academic Affairs, and Student Life units to ensure interventions are coordinated, timely, and effective.

Supervision & Staff Leadership

• Provide direct supervision for Academic Coaches, including hiring, training, performance management, and ongoing professional development.
• Ensure coaches are effectively implementing proactive outreach, case management, and intervention strategies aligned with program expectations.
• Foster a culture of accountability, care, and high expectations, grounded in measurable student success outcomes.

Data Tracking, Assessment & Outcomes

• Maintain accurate and comprehensive data related to student academic progress, engagement, and program completion.
• Monitor key indicators related to retention, academic performance, and transfer readiness, identifying trends and areas for improvement.
• Utilize data to inform targeted interventions, program adjustments, and continuous improvement efforts.