Student Success Coach

Full-time

The Office of Student Success at Southern Virginia University is seeking a motivated, full-time Student Success Coach. The successful candidate will guide, mentor, and support students as they navigate their academic experience, persist toward graduation, and work toward their personal and educational goals. This role offers the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students and make a direct impact on their academic success and overall university experience.

Responsibilities
  • The Student Success Coach serves as a primary point of contact for students, providing academic support, guidance, and connection to campus resources. The successful candidate will contribute positively to a collaborative, mission-driven campus culture focused on student success and retention.
  • Caseload Management & Proactive Advising: Monitor student progress and provide proactive outreach related to academic performance, engagement, registration, and persistence.
  • Academic Coaching & Goal Setting: Help students set academic goals, develop success plans, and overcome barriers to persistence and graduation.
  • Workshops & Programming: Create and deliver workshops and programming focused on student success topics such as time management, organization, study strategies, and campus belonging.
  • Campus Liaison & Support Systems Navigation: Help students navigate university processes and connect with appropriate campus resources, including financial aid, housing, billing, academic support, and wellness services.
  • Collaboration & Student Advocacy: Work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and campus partners to support student success and advocate for student needs while encouraging accountability and engagement.
  • Administration & Compliance: Maintain accurate and confidential student records, track advising interactions, assist with retention reporting, and comply with institutional policies and federal regulations, including FERPA.
Minimum Qualifications
  • Education: Bachelor's degree in education, counseling, human services, psychology, or a closely related field.
  • Experience: Previous professional experience in academic advising, student services, counseling, academic coaching, student affairs, or human services.
  • Core Competencies:
    • High levels of empathy, social intelligence, and cultural competency to communicate professionally with diverse populations.
    • Exceptionally organized, detail-oriented, and capable of multi-tasking in a fast- paced environment.
    • Strong problem-solving abilities and sound judgment when handling sensitive, confidential information.
    • Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively with campus stakeholders.
    • Strong verbal and written communication skills across multiple media formats.
    • Ability to collect, analyze, and interpret data to inform data-driven decision- making and develop comprehensive reports.
Preferred Qualifications
  • Master’s degree in education, counseling, student personnel/development, or a related field.
  • Professional background in higher education working specifically with at-risk, first-year, or transitional student populations.
  • Proven experience interpreting and applying academic policies and utilizing student records or early-alert monitoring systems.

Applications

To apply, interested candidates should submit a cover letter, résumé, and three professional references to hr@svu.edu. Southern Virginia University is an equal-opportunity employer. Applications will be reviewed immediately, and the position will remain open until filled.

About Southern Virginia University

Southern Virginia University is a private, faith-based institution of higher education aligned with the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As a university, we gather faithful Latter-day Saints and those who share our values, lift intellectually, socially, and spiritually, and launch into successful lives and careers. Applicants are invited to learn more about the university at svu.edu/mission.