Specialist, Retention and Student Achievement

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Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.   
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

Job Title: Specialist, Retention and Student Achievement

Division: Academic Affairs

Evaluation Group: Staff

FLSA Status:  Exempt

Reports To: Assistant Provost, Assessment and Accreditation

Positions Supervised: NA

The retention and student achievement specialist plays a vital role in advancing Lindenwood University’s mission to promote student success. Reporting to the Assistant Provost for Assessment and Accreditation, this position collaborates across all colleges and divisions to design and implement strategies that improve retention and persistence outcomes. The Specialist applies best practices in retention management, uses assessment and analytics to guide data-informed decisions, and identifies resources needed to achieve strategic goals. This role requires strong interpersonal skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and effective collaboration with diverse students, faculty, staff, and administrators while providing regular updates to the Assistant Provost and Provost on student success trends.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibilities and Execution

• Provides leadership in developing and implementing data-informed strategies and initiatives to improve student retention and persistence
• Designs and monitors measurable retention goals and action plans for key student populations
• Assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of new and existing retention initiatives
• Ensures retention programs are intentional, inclusive, and effective in serving all student groups—residential, commuter, transfer, undeclared, non-traditional, and others—to promote a high-quality student experience
• Identifies and secures resources needed to achieve retention goals; collaborates with stakeholders to implement technological solutions, streamline data processes, and address barriers impacting specific student populations (e.g., first-generation, commuter)
• Coordinates outreach and support strategies for “no-show,” at-risk, and “murky middle” undergraduate students by partnering with faculty and staff
• Develops and implements interventions for students demonstrating academic, social, or behavioral challenges that may affect success or persistence
• Plans and delivers workshops or seminars for faculty and staff on best practices in student retention and success
• Collaborates with internal partners to align policies, operations, and initiatives that support student success across the university
• Contributes to strategic planning, policy development, committee service, and cross-functional projects in coordination with the Assistant Provost

Service Excellence

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Fields high priority requests directly from senior leadership
• Maintains strict confidentiality of all records reviewed

Communication, Teamwork, and Collaboration

• Communicates complicated data effectively to a variety of audiences
• Collaborates with other offices or stakeholders
• Functions as one of the university’s student retention and persistence experts, participating in decision-making and providing guidance to multiple units within the university
• Demonstrates command of area of specialization, as well as desire for continued growth
• Maintains professional relationships with colleagues and engages in professional development activities to augment existing skills and/or develop new ones

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree from an accredited institution preferred
• Multi-tasking skills, as well as problem-solving expertise
• Experience in Higher Education
• Experience in working and communicating effectively with students a must

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Strong administrative skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with faculty, students, and staff
• Strong leadership and ability to take initiative
• Highly developed creative, analytical, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of leading trends in retention and persistence
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning and operational execution
• Proven ability to build collaborative relationships in a shared governance academic environment

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions.

• General office setting
• Non-standard Flex

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily
• Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, keyboards, etc.
• Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly
• Regular on-campus attendance is a necessary and essential function

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees.  Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.