The University is in Denver, Colorado, a city known for its dynamic blend
of business, innovation, and world-class recreation. Denver is
consistently ranked by Forbes and Kiplinger's Magazine as one of the top
cities for young professionals and recent college graduates. The University of
Denver is a private institution founded in 1864. It serves a population of
more than 5,200 undergraduate and 6,200 graduate students as a
research-intensive institution. The beautiful campus is located approximately
seven miles from downtown with easy access to public transportation.
Position Summary
The Student Success Manager performs a variety of administrative and advising
functions to assure an optimal experience for all graduate students in the
Data Science Graduate Program. This position reports to the Faculty Director
for Data Science. The Student Success Manager provides pro-active,
superior, student-centered academic coaching and advising on issues,
directly and indirectly, related to students' academic planning,
progress, and performance. As such, this position also interfaces with a
range of campus offices that are integral to our students' learning
experience.
As the initial point of student contact for academic advising and coaching,
the position is responsible for establishing a regular cadence of
communication with graduate students, faculty, and other University
offices as related to academic timelines, university policies & program
guidelines, and students' progress toward graduation. This position is
also responsible for meeting student retention benchmarks established for the
data science program and providing information and services to advance
enrollment performance.
The University's administrative offices are open Monday - Friday, 8:00
am - 4:30 pm. This position requires additional flexibility to adjust for
students' scheduling needs as well as to support occasional program events
during non-traditional work hours (e.g., evening webinars). This
position is eligible for a flexible work arrangement after the initial
training period, with a minimum of 3 days per week on campus.
Essential Functions
Student Support
- Serves as a first responder for student needs and requests related to
academic processes and timelines, curricular advising, campus support
services, and course-related concerns throughout a student's lifecycle
(acceptance through credential completion).
- Proactively build and maintain strong relationships with all active
(current and stopped-out) students to ensure successful completion of
their program.
- Provide student retention leadership by meeting or exceeding student
persistence, retention, and enrollment benchmarks through implementing a
student retention plan, closely monitoring plan performance, pro-actively
implementing adjustments when necessary, and reporting outcomes.
- Effectively utilize academic performance software to monitor student
academic progress, identify those at risk of stopping or dropping out, and
pro-actively provide them with resources to ensure persistence, retention,
and academic success.
- Effectively lead and manage routine, core functions of student
retention, including assisting in the development (and subsequent approval
of) degree plans and monitoring and managing of course enrollments.
- Effectively and pro-actively use permissions with Banner (DU's Student
Information System) to record student progress, provide feedback/updates
regarding student outreach, indicate student issues, changes to degree
plans, course of study, etc.
Provides supplemental advising for international students (e.g., US.
regulations, internship arrangements, and OPT/CPT requirements) and
serves as a point of contact with the Office of International Student and
Scholar Services.
Administrative Processes and Collaboration
Serves as the primary liaison between the data science program and other
campus offices and progra s for all aspects of students' graduate experience.
- Provides support to data science program staff for student internships and
related career development projects and initiatives.
- Participates in data acquisition activities and integration with particular
focus on student recruitment, retention, and curricular planning
- Attends staff meetings and prepares regular summaries of completed and
proposed work.
- Prioritizes scheduling to ensure consistent, high-quality, services
during high volume periods each term.
Proactively seeks opportunities to improve performance and processes.
Anticipates challenges/issues develops appropriate and effective solutions
and executes them.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Demonstrated aptitude for self-direction as well as responsive teamwork.
- Ability to distinguish curricular details and requirements relevant to
student academic advising and support.
- Demonstrably outstanding written, oral, and interpersonal communication
skills, including the ability to write effective student outreach
correspondence and internal communication, and effectively present
information in informal and public (including large group) settings.
- Understanding of adult learning styles and preferences,
graduate/continuing professional education, and the organizational culture
of colleges and universities. Ability to navigate effectively within
constraint
- Ability to quickly learn and support policies and procedures that apply to
graduate students in the program.
- Demonstrated commitment, knowledge, and ability to effectively engage
individuals from broadly diverse communities.