Student Advocacy Specialist - Bellisario College of Communications

POSITION SPECIFICS

The Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications s eeks a Student Advocacy Specialist to coordinate student retention and student success efforts.

The Student Advocacy Specialist will assist in improving efforts around first year seminars as well as focus on student retention and student persistence within special student populations.

This position will be filled at the Advanced Professional or Senior Professional level, based on the successful candidate’s qualifications.

• Monitor undergraduate retention, persistence, and graduation rates, including key student populations such as 2+2 students, Pell Grant recipients, underrepresented minorities, and first-generation students.
• Design, implement, and assess programs and outreach initiatives that promote student success, with a focus on targeted populations.
• Oversee the College’s Living-Learning Community in partnership with Residence Life, and develop programming and services that support first-year student success.
• Support undergraduate recruitment and enrollment initiatives, including events, communications, and prospective student outreach.
• Collaborate with student organizations and oversee student mentoring and federal work-study programs to enhance student engagement and retention.
• Partner with the scholarships coordinator to align scholarship resources with student success and graduation goals.
• Evaluate and enhance First-Year Seminars and curricular/co-curricular initiatives to improve retention and persistence, particularly for transfer and 2+2 students.
• Assist with Bellisario College undergraduate recruitment efforts, including attendance at recruitment events and outreach to prospective students.
• May supervise student employees.

If filled as Student Advocacy Specialist
- Advanced Professional, this position requires:

Bachelor’s Degree3+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Required

Certifications:

None If filled as Student Advocacy Specialist
- Senior Professional, this position requires:

Master’s Degree6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Required

Certifications:

None

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $49,188.00 - $78,444.00.

Salary Structure
- Information on Penn State’s salary structure

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters.

The ASR is available for review here.

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