SUCCESS COACH
Academic Staff
Regular
Academic Advisor
A Success Coach is assigned to a student upon admission and remains the student’s primary point person throughout enrollment in their program. Information and assistance is provided to the student along a wide range of domains, including traditional academic advising, mentoring, general student services, and educational coaching. The Success Coach works closely with the OPLR student services team (financial aid, registrar, admissions, enrollment, etc.), program management and faculty to assist in ensuring a smooth transition from the point of admission to advising, enrolling and advancing in their studies. Proactive wrap around support is provided in an individualized manner to assist the student in navigating and succeeding as a student.
Position Description Clarification
This position description represents a general outline of job duties, expectations, responsibilities and qualifications. It is not intended to be comprehensive in nature. In addition, this position is likely to evolve over time and therefore the position description may not fully reflect the precise nature of the position at a future point in time.
Contact information
Questions may be addressed to Kristina Williston, HR Generalist at [email protected].
- Connect with all assigned students within specified timeframes to introduce the academic success coaching process and establish a proactive and supportive wrap around relationship that will be fostered and maintained through the student life cycle
- Ensure that students are provided with an individualized learning plan that identifies resources for managing areas of challenge and concern, and timely next steps required to reach agreed upon academic goals
- Monitor student academic progress and communicate with each student at frequent and regularly scheduled times, intervening as appropriate to assist those students having difficulty
- Serve in a liaison capacity with faculty and other program representatives in assisting students in understanding their specific progress and mastery
- Respond to life coaching needs, ensuring that work/life barriers to success are identified and addressed
- Provide career guidance, describe career opportunities, and refer students to campus partner career services units which can assist in matching student educational goals in their program of interest
- Work closely with stakeholders to meet established enrollment and retention goals
- Be available and responsive to students during scheduled hours
Work closely with campus partners and program representatives as assigned
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Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to match message delivery to audience needs via multiple delivery methods
- Demonstrated ability to provide quality customer service
- Demonstrated experience utilizing active listening and critical thinking skills to effectively solve problems
- Ability to flourish and thrive in a fast-paced environment of rapid change, be comfortable with ambiguity, and think on one’s feet
- Ability to use an array of technology tools including databases, Microsoft office suite, and social networking
The Office of Online & Professional Learning Resources (OPLR) is committed to providing service and support to the Universities of Wisconsin Administration and all 13 UW universities in online and continuing education, teaching, learning, and workforce skills training and resources.
OPLR works in partnership with all 13 UW universities to develop and deliver online semester- and competency-based degrees and a broad array of credit and non-credit certificates, courses, and other credentials to help adult and professional learners achieve their academic and professional development goals and to develop the workforce of Wisconsin.
The Success Coach (working title: Academic Adviser) is a full-time, salaried (exempt) academic staff position.
Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within the range of $50,000- $60,000 commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience.
Bachelor’s degree
Minimum of 1 year of professional experience in advising, counseling, student services, human services or related field
Professional experience in a higher education setting
Master’s degree in appropriate field which may include higher education, counseling, student affairs or related field
Experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Salesforce preferred, and student information systems
The office is located at 780 Regent Street, Madison, WI. Telecommuting or hybrid work options may be available, with a minimum in-office expectation of two days per month. However, depending on business needs, there may be occasions when additional in-office presence is requested. Residency in/relocation to the state of Wisconsin is required. Office hours are 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, with one day per week providing extended coverage until 6:00 PM. Telecommuting agreements are subject to change at any time.
Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through August 31 , 2026 . However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled. To receive full consideration, applicants are required to apply online and provide in PDF format a Resume and Cover letter addressing your experience and education as it applies to all minimum and preferred qualifications.
Questions may be addressed to Kristina Williston, HR Generalist at [email protected].
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request by contacting [email protected] .
This offer of employment is conditional pending the results of a criminal background check and a reference check process that includes questions regarding employee misconduct, sexual violence, and sexual harassment. If you have prior work history within the past 7 years with the Universities of Wisconsin, your personnel file will also be reviewed for employee misconduct. If the results are unacceptable, the offer will be withdrawn or, if you have started employment, your employment will be terminated.
Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e., a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on, before, or after the effective date of appointment.
The Universities of Wisconsin will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. §. 19.36(7) .
Universities of Wisconsin employees receive an excellent benefits package. To learn more about the benefits package, review the Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees or University Staff Please see this link for total compensation information: Universities of Wisconsin Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator to provide you with total compensation information.
The Universities of Wisconsin provides statistics on campus crime in its Annual Security Report. For more information on university campus statistics see https://www.wisconsin.edu/compliance/clery/ .
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
