Student Development Specialist

Position Summary:

The Student Development Specialist is responsible for a caseload of approximately 130 student-athletes.  This position will ensure that their assigned caseload persists towards graduation, according to University expectations and NCAA requirements.  In doing this their effort will be directed to supporting our students and providing them direction as they monitor NCAA and Big Sky eligibility standards, identify possible retention barriers, provide academic and personal development, and assess the students ability to succeed at UNC while connecting them with the necessary resources for student success.

Job Duties:

Primary functions of the Student Development Specialist:  
1) Case management for approximately 130 students by intensively monitoring the students' academic progress and delivering individualized academic support for their caseload. 
2) Provides caseload with advisement and guidance towards appropriate and timely degree progress. 
3) Assess academic programming.  Design, implement, and sometimes deliver relevant and innovative academic skill development programming.  Communicate with offices across campus, including faculty and staff, to determine the best avenues of success and academic skill development for the students served by SAASC. 

Intensive monitoring of academic progress and delivery of individualized academic support for an identified population of students.  The intent is to develop individual learners to perform at a high level during their collegiate experience.  The student development specialist will act as a case manager for these students and monitor their academic performance at UNC and ensure that they are properly progressing towards graduation and maintaining their NCAA and Big Sky eligibility by continually monitoring the NCAA benchmarks (PTD, PTDT, and all PTD requirements set by Bylaw 14.4).  (essential 50%)

Assist in the advisement and registration process with assigned population.  All changes to the student-athletes schedule need to be checked and approved by the student development specialist before they can be processed.  All schedules and schedule changes agreed upon by the student athlete and their major advisor will be checked by the student development specialist to verify they are on proper degree progress and will maintain full NCAA athletic eligibility; as well as, allow them to actively participate in their class schedule around scheduled practices and additional workout/team expectations.  (essential 20%)

Perform academic needs assessment and assess academic preparedness for success.  Identify student athletes who are considered at-risk based on their academic skill level and preparedness for the college classroom.  Track academic progress and connect the students with the necessary resources on campus which will assist in their academic development (ASA Tutoring Center, Writing Center, Career Center, etc.). (essential 10%)     

Meet frequently with academic support staff and coaches to discuss student athlete performance and evaluation.  Discuss the academic performance of current student athletes and provide success strategies for students who are at-risk of low-performance in their classes. (essential 10%)

Assist with the implementation and coordination of academic success programs.  Assisting with designed CHAMPS/Life Skills programs for student athletes. (essential 10%)

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Higher Education, Special Education, Psychology, Exercise Science, or related field. Master’s degree is preferred.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Demonstrated proficiency in computer technology skills.

Experience as a student-athlete, or previous experience working with student-athletes in an academic development environment is preferred.  Approximately one full academic year of on the job training and experience will be required for a new employee to learn all major duties of the position and perform them well.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience providing academic, personal, emotional, and crisis intervention support.
Ability to work well with faculty, staff, and students in a learning environment.
Experience working with an ethnically diverse student population.
Basic understanding of research methods and assessments.
Basic and practical understanding of how college students learn (college student learning theory).
Familiarity Intercollegiate Athletics and NCAA eligibility rules (Bylaw 14).