PT Student Engagement and Retention Specialist

About the Role

Southwest Virginia Community College (SWCC) is seeking a Part-Time Student Engagement and Retention Specialist to join their team. This role is dedicated to increasing student success, sense of belonging, and persistence through proactive outreach, early intervention, and student engagement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and lead planning efforts for the annual Back-to-School Bash, including event programming, vendor communication, promotional activities, and student participation assessment.
• Organize and staff Welcome Tents during the first week of each semester, providing information on campus resources and serving as a point of contact for student questions.
• Plan and coordinate the annual End-of-Year Student Celebration to recognize student involvement, achievements, and persistence.
• Monitor and provide outreach to early alert student lists, conducting proactive outreach to students identified as high risk based on academic, financial, enrollment, or engagement indicators.
• Contact students prior to enrollment cancellation deadlines to address barriers and encourage enrollment completion.
• Manage and support outreach efforts related to institutional retention reports.
• Develop intervention plans and track student responses and outcomes.
• Partner with Academic Advising to coordinate intervention efforts for students at risk of stopping out or withdrawing.
• Conduct triage calls, emails, and text outreach to assess student needs and connect them with appropriate campus resources.
• Assist students with navigating issues related to registration, financial aid, academic concerns, and institutional processes.
• Support targeted retention campaigns before census, drop, and withdrawal deadlines.
• Promote participation in engagement opportunities that strengthen students’ connection to the institution.
• Maintain accurate records of outreach attempts, student contacts, engagement activities, and intervention outcomes within institutional systems.
• Track student participation in engagement programs and follow-up support services.
• Prepare reports on outreach efforts, event participation, student needs, and retention outcomes.
• Analyze student engagement data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Work closely with Advising, Enrollment Management, Financial Aid, Student Affairs, faculty, and student organizations to coordinate support services and engagement opportunities.
• Attend retention and student success meetings and contribute strategic recommendations.
• Serve as a resource for students requiring assistance navigating institutional services.
• Support cross-departmental efforts that enhance student belonging and persistence.
• May be required to perform other duties as assigned or assist the agency in the event of an emergency declaration.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Experience working with students in higher education, advising, student activities, enrollment services, or customer service environments.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and events while maintaining attention to detail.
• Ability to manage sensitive student information with confidentiality.
• Up to 29 hours per week. Hours may include day, evenings, and weekends.
• Some travel required.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Education, Student Affairs, Counseling, Social Work, Communications, Event Management, or a related field.
• Experience planning events, student programs, or engagement initiatives preferred.
• Experience with student information systems, CRM platforms, retention software, or event management systems preferred.