Academic Specialist

Overview

Academic Specialist

Division:
Academic Affairs

College/Dept:
Programs

Department: TLC

Requisition Number:

FTE: 1

Work Schedule:

M-F, 8am-5pm

Remotely/Telecommuting:
Yes – partial remote/telecommute opportunity

Appointment Term: 12- 12/12 months

Pay Information: 59400

Pay

Schedule:

Annually

FLSA Designation:
Exempt

The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to preventing and eliminating discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation. The University prohibits retaliation against anyone for reporting discrimination or protected activity. Read the full statement on the university website.

The Academic Specialist exists to be the college-embedded, high-touch connector that makes the First-Year Initiative (FYI) work in real life, not as an idea, but as a coordinated, proactive support system for first-year students. The primary function is to combine a reduced caseload of proactive academic guidance with structured first-semester onboarding and first-year seminar delivery, serving as the day-to-day liaison between the college and the FYI ecosystem (peer mentoring, referrals, early alerts, and campus partners).

This role provides dedicated capacity to translate FYI’s design into consistent student experiences and measurable retention gains.

• Academic Advising and Coaching – Manage a reduced caseload (no more than 200 students) to provide proactive, holistic advising from admission through transition to major. Conduct one-on-one coaching sessions on goal setting, time management, and academic planning. Percentage of Time: 50
• Early Academic Intervention & Referral Coordination – Coordinate interventions for students showing early signs of struggle. Serve as a connector between advisors, instructors, and support services (DASH, Care Team, etc). Assist students transitioning from pre-college or BMS programs to their academic colleges. Percentage of Time: 20
• Teaching Responsibilities – Teach up to three sections of the First-Year Seminar (FYE-S) in Fall Semester, and Second-Year Seminars in the Spring semester. Integrate skill-building, identity development, and career exploration. Employ validating pedagogy and active learning practices. Percentage of Time: 15
• Advisor Development, Training Support & Collaboration – Collaborate with the college’s advising leadership and FYI leadership to facilitate advisor coaching workshops and reflective practice sessions. Share effective student engagement and validation strategies. Use analytics and early alert systems to inform outreach. Participate in testing emerging student engagement tools. Provide feedback on functionality and student response. Collaborate with FYI leadership to align activities with UNO’s strategic goals and grant deliverables.
  
  Document and report student outcomes, trends, and success stories to inform institutional planning. Percentage of Time: 15

• Required Education – Master’s degree in education, social work, sociology, psychology, leadership or related field.
• Required Experience – 1-3 years of experience in advising or academic coaching, student success, case management, or comparable student-facing support; leading/teaching seminars or group facilitation experience is preferred.
• Required License/Certification – None specified.
• Additional Qualifications – Preferred.

Credit Check:
No
• Motor Vehicle Licensing:
Validity Check No
• Pre-employment Physical Request and Assessment:
No
• Drug Screen:
No

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * What is the highest level of education you have attained? none High School Diploma/GED Associates Degree Bachelors Degree Master’s Degree Doctorate (PhD, MD, EdD, JD, etc)
• * Do you have experience in advising, academic coaching, student success, case management, leading/teaching seminars, or comparable student-facing support? Yes No

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents