Student Success and Completion Specialist

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman.

About The Department

The Student Success department fosters a community of support and inclusion for students to succeed in their educational endeavors; to help make art & design education equitable and accessible to vulnerable student populations. Consisting of an Associate Dean, Academic & Career Coaches, a Student Success & Completion Specialist, part-time Faculty Mentors, Student Peer Mentors, and program student staff. Student Success provides comprehensive, coordinated and targeted support for the FirstGen Fellows and Chicago Fellows Programs, as well as retention and degree completion support for continuing undergraduate students.

Position Summary

The Student Success and Completion Specialist (SSCS) is the primary staff person responsible for developing, coordinating and analyzing the department's comprehensive student retention plans within the Office of Student Affairs and in cooperation with other institutional department partners. The SSCS oversees enrollment retention for all students and identifies and engages 6-year cohort students and those who have left SAIC who may be able to return to finish their degrees. The SSCS facilitates student advising on relevant policies such as AP and transfer credits and taking classes off campus for SAIC credit. The Student Success and Completion Specialist supervises the Student Success Program Coordinator student worker position and provides support to our FirstGen and Chicago Fellows programs. This role reports to the Associate Dean of Student Success

Responsibilities

• Enrollment Retention Outreach and Management Initiate, oversee and coordinate semesterly enrollment retention initiatives. Identify and assess unenrolled students, develop and coordinate outreach strategy and priorities, and monitor progress. Initiate retention campaigns in EAB Navigate, or other designated tool, and coordinate efforts of Advising staff to assist with intervention for targeted groups of at-risk students. Work with partner departments such as Student Financial Services to prepare them to engage and assist students needing help during the enrollment retention campaign period.
• First Time Freshmen Retention Reporting Develop and produce standardized reports charting first-time freshmen persistence from semester to semester and year over year. Prepare reports comparing persistence data and contribute to analysis of trends. Serve on departmental and institutional student retention committees.
• 6 Year Cohort Serve as primary staff responsible for continuously identifying all Fall-admitted first-time freshmen who are eligible to graduate within six years of initial enrollment and providing individualized advising and support to those who have not completed their degree 8 semesters after their start date. Advise students, review credit checks, provide planning resources, assist in course selection, oversee degree progress, and assist with procedural steps as needed (appeals, grade change requests, off-campus classes requests, etc.). Follow up post-term and review grades and future enrollment, and assist students in correctly enrolling for remaining degree requirements. Collaborate with the Registration and Records Office, Undergraduate Division, and other relevant departments to identify alternative solutions for degree completion.
• Supervision Hire and supervise the Student Success Program Coordinator and Student Success Photography and Social Media Specialist (student employees) in provision of administrative and programming support for Student Success programs, activities and events. Provide tools for the student program staff to assist the Student Success team in workshop planning, implementation and assessment; and to contribute to the overall mission, communication efforts (including social media) and ongoing initiatives for students, mentors and on-campus work supervisors.
• Return from Leave of Absence Outreach and Support Perform continual review of and outreach to students who have not persisted at SAIC. Engage students on leave of absence, as appropriate, to help them make plans to return to SAIC to complete their degrees. Provide targeted and individualized support through the re-enrollment, registration and reorientation process. Create programming, instruction and additional outreach campaigns to regularly follow up with unenrolled and newly re-enrolled students regarding their plans and options over time.
• Permission to Take Classes Off Campus Advising Serve as primary advisor for policies and procedures for taking classes outside of SAIC for SAIC credit. Manage the permissions requests and collaborate with the Registrar’s Office on these approvals.
• Student Opportunity Database Research and maintain lists of SAIC and external scholarships, grants, fellowships and experiential opportunities relevant to increasing student success for the targeted student communities. Provide opportunities for individual and group advising on program research and application processes.
• First Gen Fellows and Chicago Fellows Program Assist with the First-Generation Fellows and Chicago Fellows programs in support of a holistic engagement experience for first-generation and local students of diverse support needs. Assist other Student Success staff in planning, organization and facilitation of the Student Success activities, workshops and events.
• Technology and Data Collection - Manage data related to retention, graduation rates, and enrollment retention outreach tracking. Manage and administer student campaigns (in EAB Navigate). Collaborate with department leadership to research, develop and implement technological solutions and automations useful to assessing and improving service and support for students.
• Departmental Initiatives and Programs Provide assistance with OSA departmental functions such as Graduation, Art Sales, incoming Freshman registration and Orientation. Some weekend and evening work required for programs such as Move-In, Orientation, Family Weekend, Admissions events, and as needed to support Office of Student Affairs initiatives.
• Supervisory Responsibilities and Coordination Hire and supervise the Student Success Program Coordinator and Student Success Photography and Social Media Specialist (student employees) in provision of administrative and programming support for Student Success programs, activities and events. Provide tools for the student program staff to assist the Student Success team in workshop planning, implementation and assessment; and to contribute to the overall mission, communication efforts (including photography and social media) and ongoing initiatives for students, mentors and on-campus work supervisors.
• Other Duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 1-3 years of student advising, mentorship, and/or student success experience required
• Previous work in higher education academic setting preferred.
• 1-3 years of student advising, mentorship, and/or student success experience required
• Previous experience in data analysis, visualization and reporting is highly preferred.
• Must be proficiency in utilizing technology (i.e., Google Workspace, EAB Navigate, PeopleSoft, MS Office products, and email) as tools in advising and a willingness to develop proficiency in additional tools as needed.
• Ability to effectively communicate with faculty, students and staff as well as a strong sense of congeniality and collaboration are required.
• Must be able to work independently and possess strong organizational skills.
• Must be able to regularly follow up with students and provide them with encouragement/direction as needed.
• Ability to support students with varying dynamic and/or urgent needs in appropriate and compassionate ways.
• A broad interest in and knowledge about SAIC and fine arts and design education is preferred.
• Must be sensitive to the needs of a diverse artist population.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer;
• Walk to other buildings on campus for meetings and programs; occasional standing requirements include assisting with programs such as move-in, orientation, graduation, art sale and other large-scale events.

Compensation & Benefits

Please click on the links below to view our competitive, comprehensive benefits package:

Hiring Range

The expected hiring range is an estimated amount for positions based on the grade. Final offers are based on various factors, including skill set, experience, qualifications and other job-related reasons.

• Benefits
• PTO Overview
• Job Classification: Exempt
• Employment Category: Full Time Staff
• Grade Level: 6

If you are accessing this listing from a third party, not all links to salary and benefits information may work. Please visit our career page at saic/ artic.edu/employment for complete information

Application Instructions

Please submit your resume and cover letter to be considered for this position.

Union

This position is part of a bargaining unit represented by AFSCME Council 31.

Accessibility

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Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Art Institute of Chicago is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits, hires and promotes qualified individuals compliant with federal and state laws. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact the Department of Human Resources at [email protected].