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Penn State Job Catalog

Student Success Specialist – Senior Supervisor (PSU1279)

Additional Levels

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

Job Strings

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Student Success



Job Summary

The Student Success Specialist develops, implements, assesses, and promotes academic support programs aimed at improving retention, graduation, and academic achievement outcomes; engages and meets with students to make academic support referrals; identifies opportunities for intervention and designs strategies to achieve desired learning outcomes; fosters supportive, responsive, and engaging learning communities; collaborates with faculty to identify students in need of academic support and provides services including developmental courses, workshops, tutoring, and study groups.

Representative Duties

  • Meet with students to identify and respond to learning needs; refer students to academic support resources with the aim of increasing retention; monitor and coordinate support services; design methods to monitor academic progress
  • Coordinate and provide services in a learning center including assessments and tutoring; deliver seminars and workshops to support student success
  • Evaluate documentation to determine program eligibility for students; collaborate with faculty to implement services
  • Develop and implement proactive retention programs and initiatives; develop strategies to increase student engagement, close achievement gaps, and reach desired learning outcomes; leverage assessment data to identify opportunities for intervention; create new learning resources
  • Collaborate with faculty to design academic support programs aimed at providing students with tools and resources to succeed; define, measure, and report on desired outcomes; collaborate with faculty and learning partners to optimize course content
  • Integrate research-based strategies and interventions; define, measure, and analyze outcome data; apply feedback to long-rang planning aimed at advancing program impact
  • Develop communication strategies to identify and engage potential participants; promote available support services; create responsive and supportive learning communities that encourage student engagement
  • Serve as a liaison to other departments and develop initiatives that improve the student experience across the University; collaborate with other academic services including advising and disability departments; foster partnerships with faculty, staff, and leadership in order to advance program goals
  • May supervise full-time staff, student workers, tutors, and part-time employees

Level Matrix

Level:
Senior Supervisor
Base Description:
– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.
Level Summary:
– Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. May demonstrate subject matter expertise. Demonstrates intermediate to advanced planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Demonstrates the ability to coach assigned employees. Assigns and reviews completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards. Trains, coaches, mentors, and motivates staff. Anticipates potential problems, issues, and opportunities; researches and recommends solutions within defined policies. May develop creative recommendations for solving problems.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Professional track, performs work at the Senior Professional level or higher)
Fiscal Responsibilities:
– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)
– May assist in planning and forecasting budgets
Problem Solving:
– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies general precedents and practices and specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines
Independence of Action:
– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– Organizes work of direct reports and sets team priorities
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards
Communication and Collaboration:
– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution
Salary Structure
  • Comp Grade – 8
  • Minimum – $51,000.00
  • MidPoint – $62,500.00
  • Maximum – $74,000.00
FLSA Exemption Status
Exempt
Minimum Education
Master's Degree
Minimum Experience
6+ years of relevant experience
Equivalency
Or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Additional Job Requirements