About Sacred Heart University
As one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities and among the fastest-growing private doctoral institutions in the U.S., Sacred Heart University is a national leader in shaping higher education for the 21st century. SHU offers more than 100 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs on its Fairfield, Conn., campus. Sacred Heart also has a campus in Dingle, Ireland, and offers online programs. Nearly 10,000 students attend the University’s nine colleges and schools: College of Arts & Sciences; School of Communication, Media & the Arts; School of Social Work; School of Performing Arts; College of Health Professions; the Isabelle Farrington College of Education & Human Development; the Jack Welch College of Business & Technology; School of Computer Science & Engineering and the Dr. Susan L. Davis, R.N., & Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. Sacred Heart, a Laudato Si’ campus, stands out from other Catholic universities as it was established to be led by the laity. This contemporary Catholic university is rooted in the rich Catholic intellectual tradition and the liberal arts and, at the same time, cultivates students to be forward thinkers who enact change—in their own lives, professions and in their communities. The Princeton Review includes SHU in its Best 391 Colleges: 2026 Edition and Best Business Schools: 2025 Edition. Sacred Heart is home to the award-winning, NPR-affiliate station, WSHU Public Radio; a Division I athletics program and an impressive performing arts program that includes choir, band, dance and theatre.
The Davis & Henley College of Nursing at Sacred Heart University is seeking an Academic Success Coach with a faculty rank of Assistant Clinical Professor to join their undergraduate program in Fall 2026.
A dedicated Academic Success Coach, Registered Nurse with 5-7 years teaching experience, would provide individualized academic support, early intervention for at-risk students, and structured preparation for academic testing and the NCLEX-RN licensure examination. This role would strengthen student outcomes while also protecting critical institutional metrics tied to retention, graduation, and licensure success.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide Academic Coaching specific to nursing courses for students to include:
- Study skills development and academic remediation
- Time management and goal setting
- Emotional support and resilience strategies
- Individualized academic coaching to nursing students, including development of personalized success plans
- Support students in building effective study strategies, clinical reasoning, and NCLEX-style test-taking skills
- Support students in interpreting complex nursing course content and clinical expectations
- Support student’s development of clinical judgment and application of the nursing process
- Monitor student progress and provide ongoing accountability and feedback
- Maintain appropriate documentation of student interactions and progress
- Provide coaching for high-risk students to support testing and NCLEX success through individualized study plans, structured accountability, and development of effective NCLEX-style test-taking strategies.
- Provide intensive support for students at highest academic risk
- Identify students at highest risk and provide proactive outreach
- Coordinate remediation initiatives
- Assist with test preparation programming
- Collaborate with faculty to support student success strategies
- Faculty Collaboration and Coaching & Program Support
- Partner with nursing faculty to support student success initiatives and share trends related to student performance
- Participate in student success, retention, and progression meetings & academic advising committee
- Assist with the development and delivery of workshops, group sessions, and academic success programming
- Contribute to continuous improvement efforts related to student outcomes and program effectiveness
- Collaborate effectively with faculty on remediation and student support
- Data Tracking & Assessment
- Track student engagement and outcomes related to coaching interventions
- Analyze trends in student performance to inform targeted support strategies
- Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of academic success initiatives
- Responsible for teaching 3 credits per semester in the UG nursing program.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in nursing with Doctorate preferred. Enrollment in a doctoral program required within 3 years of start date if highest degree is an MSN.
- 5-7 years experiences teaching in a BSN nursing program.
- Current unencumbered nursing license in the state of CT.
- Experience in academic advising, coaching, mentoring, or student support.
- Strong understanding of nursing curriculum, clinical education, and NCLEX-RN preparation. Experience writing NCLEX exam questions.
- Familiarity with evidence-based academic support and coaching practices.
- Ability to analyze student performance data and identify trends.
- Awareness of student development theory and barriers to student success in higher education
- Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills with the ability to establish trust with students. Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students in a team-based environment.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal. Facilitation skills for workshops, group sessions, and academic programming.
- Ability to assess student needs and develop individualized support strategies. Ability to adapt coaching strategies to meet individual student needs.
- Strong organizational and time management skills. Ability to manage multiple student caseloads while maintaining attention to detail.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment.
- Ability to support students from diverse backgrounds with varying levels of academic preparedness.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience supporting at-risk or academically struggling students.
- Experience with NCLEX preparation programs or standardized testing platforms.
- Certification or training in academic coaching, advising, or student success strategies.
- Experience in curriculum support, remediation, or student success program development.
Application Instructions:
Applicants must submit a complete curriculum vita, a letter specifically relating the CV to the requirements of the position. Final candidates will be required to provide three letters of reference and transcript(s). Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Only online submissions will be considered. Questions regarding this position may be addressed to Dr. Heather Ferrillo, FPD Program Director, Dr. Susan L. Davis, RN, and Richard J. Henley College of Nursing, Sacred Heart University. 5151 Park Avenue, Fairfield, CT 06825;
[email protected]
Sacred Heart University is a space that respects and embraces differences, recognizes the unique contributions that individuals can make, and creates a community that maximizes the potential of all faculty and staff. As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage applications from qualified candidates who reflect the wider world in which we live.
