Student Retention and Engagement Specialist

Job Details

Job Location
:
Helms College Macon - Macon, GA

Education Level
:
Bachelor's Degree

Salary Range
:
Undisclosed

Travel Percentage
:
None

Job Shift
:
Day

Under the direction of the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, the Student Retention and Engagement Specialist is a salaried position responsible for supporting Helms College students—both on-campus and online—by developing, coordinating, and implementing programs, events, and activities that promote student engagement, academic success, retention, course completion, and graduation. The specialist serves as a key liaison between academic departments, faculty, and students to ensure consistent communication and proactive support throughout the student lifecycle.

This position also contributes to the creation of a positive and inclusive college culture by providing individualized guidance, coordinating support services, and promoting initiatives that foster personal and academic growth.

• Demonstrate the core values of Goodwill Industries by modeling service, ownership, accountability, and respect in all interactions.
• Serve as a mentor and act as one of the primary points of contact and mentors for Helms College students, partnering with faculty, admissions, and student services to provide coordinated, responsive support.
• Lead the college’s retention efforts by organizing and facilitating regular retention meetings and partnering with academic and student‑service teams to address emerging student needs. Collect, analyze, and report data on student retention, progression, and areas of concern, using insights to guide interventions, advising practices, and program improvements aimed at meeting or exceeding ACCET’s 67% retention benchmark for each program.
• Monitors student attendance by generating, reviewing, and analyzing reports from the college’s attendance‑tracking software to identify patterns of absenteeism, ensure accurate records, and support timely interventions for at‑risk students in collaboration with faculty and Student Affairs.
• Conducts proactive outreach to students with attendance concerns, documents communication and outcomes, and coordinates with instructors or support staff to develop individualized plans that promote consistent engagement, class participation, and successful course completion.
• Initiate proactive communication with students—via phone, email, video conferencing, or learning platforms (LMS)—to build advising relationships and offer personalized support.
• Conduct regular check‑ins with assigned advisees (online and in‑person) to:
  • Provide encouragement and guidance throughout their academic journey.
  • Communicate academic policies, procedures, and deadlines clearly.
  • Evaluate student performance and academic progress.
  • Develop and implement improvement plans for students needing academic support or intervention.
• Support online learners by:
  • Identifying unique challenges faced by remote learners and connecting them with appropriate support services.
  • Collaborating with instructional design and faculty teams to improve online student success strategies.
  • Encouraging virtual engagement through digital communication tools and online communities.
  • Monitoring engagement analytics in the Learning Management System (e.g., login frequency, discussion participation, and assignment submission patterns) and providing learner support.
  • Providing individualized success coaching as needed to online learners, helping them develop time‑management strategies, study plans, and accountability routines.
• Student wellness and referral responsibilities:
  • Recognize early warning signs of distress or disengagement and coordinate with the Student Support Advisor or campus leadership to ensure timely referrals to appropriate campus or community resources.
  • Provide structured follow‑up after referrals to ensure students receive support, understand next steps, and feel connected to the college community.
• Maintain accurate and confidential student records in compliance with FERPA, including grades, registration, academic status, and graduation eligibility.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to retention,…