Student-Athlete Support Specialist

Student-Athlete Support Specialist

Virginia Peninsula Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of a statewide system of community colleges. It primarily serves the residents of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York. Student-Athlete Support Specialist serves as a key member of the Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) Athletics Department.

This position provides holistic support to student-athletes by fostering academic success, personal development, and overall well-being. Through proactive outreach, mentoring, and collaboration with faculty, staff, and coaches, the Student-Athlete Support Specialist advances the College's mission, supports the Athletics "Culture of Care," and promotes retention, persistence, and graduation of all VPCC student-athletes.

Provide individualized academic coaching, mentoring, and success planning for all student athletes. Monitor academic progress, class attendance, and eligibility in compliance with NJCAA/Region 10 standards. Assist student-athletes with course selection, registration, and academic goal setting.

Serve as a primary resource for personal, social, and career development. Facilitate workshops, study halls, and success initiatives (time management, study skills, resilience). Develop and implement programming aligned with VPCC's Enrollment Management and Student Success Initiatives. Provide support for Athletics-related academic interventions including study hall tracking, progress report collection, and eligibility appeals.

Partner with faculty, advisors, and support services (Accessibility, TRiO, Single Stop, Career Services, etc.) to ensure wrap-around support. Work closely with coaches to identify at-risk student-athletes and implement intervention strategies. Serve as a liaison between Athletics and Academic Affairs to enhance the student-athlete experience. Collaborate with Athletics administration on strategic initiatives to improve athlete retention, wellness, and transfer pathways. Assist in coordinating student-athlete onboarding, orientation, and life-skills programming.

Maintain accurate records of student-athlete academic progress and participation. Track eligibility, retention, and graduation data for departmental assessment and reporting. Support the Director of Athletics in upholding NJCAA, Region 10, and institutional policies.

Promote the Athletics Department's core values of accountability, resilience, and teamwork. Encourage involvement in community service, leadership development, and campus engagement. Contribute to a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all student-athletes.

* This is a full-time, restricted classified position. Continuation of employment is based on funding availability.
* This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority. All employees are responsible employees and mandatory reporters.
* Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support athletic events or student needs.
* This position provides oversight, coordination, and management of student workers and volunteers for the Department of Athletics.

Experience in advising and mentoring students with academic and career planning. Relevant work-related experience. Willingness to travel and work varied hours, including evenings and weekends. Valid Virginia driver's license or able to obtain one within 60 days of hire.

Comprehensive knowledge of student success, coaching and retention strategies Comprehensive knowledge of career development theories and practices. Comprehensive knowledge of college resources required for student success. General knowledge of academic programs of study Working knowledge of NCAA/ NJCAA/collegiate athletic eligibility requirements and compliance. Understanding of FERPA and other student privacy regulations. Familiarity with retention strategies and federal student support initiatives such as SNAP E&T 50/50, TRIO, or…