STUDENT SUCCESS ADVISOR

Job Title:
Student Success Advisor

Department:
Advising


Grade Level:
Grade 14

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director, the Student Success Advisor provides proactive, holistic, and intrusive academic advising to support students in achieving their educational and career goals. The advisor fosters student persistence, retention, and degree completion by building meaningful relationships, connecting students with resources, and guiding them through academic planning, problem-solving, and decision-making.

This position plays a key role in creating a student-centered environment that supports academic success, personal development, and timely degree attainment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

1. Academic Advising & Student Support

• Provide comprehensive academic, career, and holistic advising to prospective and enrolled students to promote student success, persistence, and degree completion.
• Assist students with educational planning, course registration, transfer pathways, and understanding institutional policies, procedures, and graduation requirements.
• Support students in adjusting to and navigating the college environment through individualized guidance and proactive outreach.
• Utilize holistic and caseload advising strategies to monitor student progress, identify barriers to success, and provide timely intervention and support.
• Serve as an advocate for students experiencing academic, personal, or situational challenges and connect them with appropriate campus and community resources.
• Partner with students to establish academic and career goals, develop individualized success plans, and encourage accountability and self-advocacy.

2. Student Success & Retention

• Support institutional retention and completion initiatives by conducting targeted outreach to at-risk student populations, including students on academic warning/probation
• Monitor academic progress and advise students regarding academic standards, satisfactory academic progress, and pathways toward regaining good standing.
• Collaborate with faculty, staff, and campus departments to provide coordinated support services, including tutoring, counseling, financial aid, accessibility services, and student engagement opportunities.
• Assist students in developing essential college success skills such as time management, study strategies, goal setting, and effective communication.
• Encourage student participation in academic and co-curricular activities that enhance engagement, belonging, and persistence.
• Maintain regular communication with assigned caseload students through outreach campaigns, follow-up appointments, and early alert interventions.

3. Degree Completion & Transfer Initiatives

• Maintain current knowledge of Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board guidelines, Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements, transferability of coursework, and related enrollment policies.
• Guide students in developing individualized degree plans aligned with academic goals, transfer pathways, and timely completion.
• Provide specialized support to students nearing graduation by reviewing degree progress and ensuring completion of institutional and program requirements.
• Assist students with transfer planning, career exploration, and identifying educational opportunities that align with their academic and professional goals.
• Support institutional initiatives focused on increasing completion, reducing excess credit accumulation, and improving student momentum.

4. Assessment, Documentation & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential advising records within the customer relationship management and student information systems technologies.
• Document student interactions, referrals, academic progress, and intervention strategies in accordance with departmental and institutional standards.
• Contribute to departmental assessment activities, retention reporting, and institutional student success initiatives.
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training related to advising best practices, student development theory, retention strategies, and higher education trends.

5. Campus Engagement & Other Duties

• Assist with registration, onboarding programs, recruitment activities, and other enrollment management initiatives as needed.
• Participate in college-wide events, including commencement, student success programming, outreach activities, and special projects.
• Serve on institutional committees, task forces, and cross-functional teams as assigned.
• Support departmental goals and initiatives that enhance the student experience and advance institutional priorities.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or related field.
• Minimum 1-2 years of experience in academic advising, student support, or related student services role.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build rapport with diverse student populations.
• Knowledge of holistic and intrusive advising practices.

Preferred:

• Master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or related field.
• Experience working with at-risk, first-generation, or underrepresented student populations.
• Familiarity with student information systems, advising technologies, and early alert systems.
• Understanding of retention and degree completion strategies.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Commitment to student development and success.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Data-informed decision-making skills to improve student outcomes.
• Sensitivity to the needs of diverse student populations.