Provides holistic, personalized support to undergraduate students in developing, progressing, and achieving their goals. Responsibilities include working with a designated group of undergraduate students and campus referrals to facilitate resources to support them with academic concerns, course difficulties, academic self-efficacy, financial and time management, and overall program progression. A success coach motivates students to take ownership of their academic experience and collaborates with campus resources to ensure students receive comprehensive support in academics, career readiness, and personal development.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree.
One Year of experience in student services at a college or university.
Demonstrated positive interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, build rapport, and project a positive attitude.
Demonstrated organizational, interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
Demonstrated knowledge of current and emerging trends concerning college student retention and completion.
Demonstrated accuracy and attention to detail.
Working knowledge of computer applications and word processing software.
Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Ability to perform essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
Master’s Degree in Higher Education, Educational Leadership, Student Affairs, or a related field.
Knowledge of/experience working with college students in academic advising, counseling, executive or life coaching.
Prior experience in coaching or advising college students.
Experience using early alert and/or retention data and software solutions.
Experience with the development and delivery of intervention campaigns.
Experience with case management methods.
Familiarity with student information systems and customer relationship management (CRM) software.
Duties & Responsibilities
Provides direct student assistance to develop and strengthen academic and personal success strategies such as study skills, time management strategies, and effective learning habits tailored to their academic needs.
Identifies and addresses academic, social, and personal barriers impacting student success, providing coaching or referral to appropriate campus resources (e.g., tutoring, counseling, career services, disability services).
Develops and delivers regular workshops, presentations, and programming that promote retention and progression such as time management, study skills, financial wellness, and area in support of the Central Guarantee.
Utilizes a case management approach to encourage regular interactions with campus resources and maintain detailed records for all student meetings and tracking related to the Central Guarantee.
Responds to early alerts providing intrusive, ongoing, transformative advice and academic support coaching with designated students and campus referrals.
Provides direct communication and outreach as needed to anticipate specific student needs.
Assists with financial distress and adequate progress issues in conjunction with the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.
Meets with students in need of academic recovery (probationary and reinstated students) each term to create individualized success plans and accountability/progress markers.
Assists with program evaluation and assessment providing recommendations to enhance communications, operations, and the strategic planning.
Works collaboratively with college faculty and staff to develop, deliver, and evaluate effective retention efforts.
Provides regular feedback on student concerns to identify barriers or areas for continuous improvement.
Attends meetings and assists with college and university events and activities as assigned.
Complies with all university policies paying specific attention to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
Participate in professional development and research best practices to advance services, efficiencies, communication plans and initiatives.
Demonstrates a positive, progressive approach to working with colleagues, faculty, staff, students, family members, and external constituents.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervision Exercised
None.
Message to Applicants
Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering an environment that is reflective of the communities we serve. We are especially interested in highly qualified candidates who will advance and promote CMU’s mission, vision, and leadership standards.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
This position will remain open until filled. The university reserves the right to close the recruitment process once a sufficient applicant pool has been identified. For best consideration, please submit application materials by August 19, 2026.
Employee Group
Professional & Administrative -Salary
Pay Range
$42,000 - $50,000
Division
Student Recruitment & Retention
Department
Student Success
Employment Status
Full-Time
Weekly Work Schedule
Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed
Location
Mount Pleasant, MI
About CMU
Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.
CMU Leadership Standards
Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.
