Academic Specialist. Omaha LilyLifestyle

EEO Statement

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate 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 in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity.

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Job Title: Academic Specialist

Job Grade: AS23S

Division: Academic Affairs

College/Dept: Programs

Department: TLC

Requisition Number:

Full-Time Equivalent: 1

Work Schedule: Monday‑Friday, 8 a.m.‑5 p.m.

Remote Option: Yes – partial remote/telecommute opportunity

Appointment Term: 12‑month

Pay: 59,400 annually

FLSA Designation: Exempt

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 of the role is to combine a reduced caseload of proactive academic guidance with structured first‑semester onboarding and first‑year seminar delivery, while serving as the day‑to‑day liaison between the college and the FYI ecosystem (peer mentoring, referrals, early alerts, and campus partners).

This position exists because traditional advising loads and structures don't reliably allow the sustained outreach, timely intervention, and cross‑unit coordination required to improve persistence, especially for at‑promise students, so the Academic Specialist provides the dedicated capacity to translate FYI’s design into consistent student experiences and measurable retention gains.

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.

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.

Teach up to three sections of the First‑Year Seminar (FYE‑S) in Fall semester, and Second‑Year Seminars in the Spring semester. Integrating skill‑building, identity development, and career exploration. Employ validating pedagogy and active learning practices.

• Collaborate with the college's advising leadership and the 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.

Master's degree in education, social work, sociology, psychology, leadership or related field.

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.

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