Success Coach

Department: University Life

Classification: Education Support Spec 3

Job Category: Classified Staff

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible

Pay Band: 04

Salary: Salary starting high $50K to low $60k; commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

Works with Minors check: Yes

About the Department:

The Division of University Life's Student Success Coaching unit is a hub for student engagement for all new freshman and transfer students and provides access to coaching for all undergraduate students at Mason. Student success coaching increases the retention rate and academic success of incoming students by helping students set and achieve academic, career, and personal goals and connecting students to campus and community resources. The Student Success Coaching unit provides incoming students access to ongoing mentoring and coaching from professional and student staff that maintain university-wide and college-specific knowledge to ensure the success of Mason's incoming student populations.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Assistant Director, the Success Coach provides holistic support for their assigned caseload of incoming students in their first year and available for the duration of students' time at Mason as needed by using the university's chosen methodology in the nine focus areas of development (academics and major fit, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, civic engagement, and well-being).

Success Coaches provide an element of support for student career goals beyond the academic component. Mason provides coach training on the coaching methodology to all incoming Success Coaches. The Success Coach provides success strategies for students, manages outreach and support efforts, and intervenes on student concerns to increase retention. Success Coaches contribute to Mason's strategic goals of preparing career ready graduates, while increasing graduation and increasing retention rates.

This position is required to work occasional evening and weekend hours, particularly in the summer.

The Student Success Coaching unit is considering candidates for either a Success Coach I or Success Coach II position. Candidates considered for the Success Coach II position are required to have a coaching credential recognized by the International Coaching Federation. Candidates without the credential will be considered for the Success Coach I position.

Responsibilities:

Coaching:

• Supports daily operations and student support, reporting, and troubleshooting with stakeholders to ensure holistic coaching is provided by using the university's chosen methodology in nine focus areas of development (academics and major fit, school community, managing commitments, effectiveness, commitment to graduation, career exploration, finances, civic engagement, and well-being);
• Coaches assist with students' career exploration and major fit processes to achieve academic and career goals, as well as identify barriers to success and help students implement strategies to overcome them;
• Maintains university-wide and college-specific knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and resources for first year students; and
• Success Coach II: In addition to the above, handles complex issues brought from Success Coach I. 

Student Impact and Outreach:

• Monitors student progress and performance, analyzes problem areas, determines solutions and conducts intervention activities, and processes for students;
• Meets with and provides success strategies to students; manages outreach and support efforts to students with a variety of academic and personal development skills necessary to achieve student success;
• Assists and supports all retention related efforts within the school/college to support success and retention efforts while implementing interventions to improve student retention;
• Collaborates with Academic Advisors and other university stakeholders to support student success;
• Participates in university, divisional, and unit-based events, and is required to be on-campus when necessary. Events include, but are not limited to, New Student Orientation, Preamble, UL All-Staff Meetings, I-Team meetings, SSC programs, and other stakeholder-related programs;
• Provides appropriate, accurate, and timely referrals for students; and
• Follows up with at-risk/interventions for students identified in the Patriot Success Survey, and other relevant student surveys.

Training and Technology:

• Participates in university wide foundational coaching training and ongoing professional development;
• Utilizes the chosen university platform for tracking and reporting student interactions and making referrals;
• Success Coach II: Provides shadowing and support for Success Coach I;
• Successfully participates in and completes the post-certification quality assurance program with an average of “meeting expectations” or above; and
• Performs other related duties as assigned by Assistant Director. 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience;
• Some professional experience, typically obtained in one or more years, with demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, orientation, disability services, veteran’s services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities;
• Experience serving and supporting diverse student populations;
• Demonstrated working knowledge of student transitional issues;
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer service;
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate with a variety of constituents and departmental stakeholders;
• Skill in situational conflict resolution;
• Ability to work to meet deadlines, work accurately and quickly with attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple complex programs and projects simultaneously; and
• Ability to work with a culturally and ethnically diverse population of students, faculty, and staff.

Success Coach II:

• Professional experience typically obtained in two or more years with demonstrated knowledge in one or more of the following areas: academic advising, success coaching, orientation, disability services, veteran's services, career services, student involvement, and student rights and responsibilities.

Success Coach I: Success coaching certification (preferred)
Success Coach II: Success coaching certification (required)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in related field;
• Prior experience in academic advising or working with student coaching programs;
• Experience with educational database management systems and customer relationship management systems (CRM); and
• Demonstrated experience in student leadership, communication, program development, and administrative skills.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for the Success Coach at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a cover letter and resume.

Posting Open Date:  February 14, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  February 28, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes