Academic Specialist

Requisiton Details

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GENERAL REQUISITION INFORMATION


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. Read the full statement.

Job Title
Academic Specialist


Job Grade
AS23S


Division
Academic Affairs


College/Dept
Programs


Department
TLC


Requisition Number
2026-00229


FTE (full-time equivalency)
1


Work Schedule
M-F, 8am-5pm


Does the position provide the opportunity to work Remotely/Telecommuting?
Yes - partial remote/telecommute opportunity


Appointment Term
12- 12/12 months


Is this position essential personnel according to the inclement weather policy?
No


Pay Information
59400


Pay Schedule
Annually


FLSA Designation
Exempt


Position Summary


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.

Job Duties


Responsibility Area:
Academic Advising and Coaching


Duties:


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.

Percentage Of Time
50


Essential Function:
Yes


Responsibility Area:
Early Academic Intervention & Referral Coordination


Duties:


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.

Percentage Of Time
20


Essential Function:
Yes


Responsibility Area:
Teaching Responsibilities


Duties:


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.

Percentage Of Time
15


Essential Function:
Yes


Responsibility Area:
Advisor Development, Training Support & Collaboration


Duties:

• 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.

Percentage Of Time
15


Essential Function:
Yes

Required and Preferred Qualifications


Required Education


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

Will consider an equivalent combination of education and experience.


Required Experience


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.

Required License/Certification

Required Additional Qualifications:

Preferred Education

Preferred Experience

Preferred License/Certification

Preferred Additional Qualifications:

Compliance Requirements


Credit Check
No


Motor Vehicle Licensing Validity Check
No


Pre-employment Physical Request and Assessment
No


Drug Screen
No