APU is seeking employees who desire to engage in our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is pleasing to God and edifying to one another.

The Retention Specialist provides support services for students to promote retention and academic success. This position is funded through the Title V Grant Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Program and will focus on efforts to increase services, retention, and degree completion for Hispanic, First generation college students, and low income students. The Retention Specialist will assist in identifying and implementing retention strategies by monitoring systems, utilizing student success data and surveys, and engaging with students to ensure progression toward graduation leading to career goals are met. The Retention Specialist will be responsible to the Director of Academic Success for providing focused attention on data informed retention strategies. The Retention Specialist will work with the Director to partner with Institution Research to provide visualization and awareness of key success finding and identified needs for students in all career levels at APU.  Finally, the Academic Success Center supports a diverse student population, which requires the Retention Specialist to have a strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusivity.

This position is part-time, grant-funded, with employment based on grant funding.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience; Master’s degree preferred.

Required Experience

• One year or more years of staff experience in a client based, service-oriented environment. Academic advising experience preferred.

Primary Duties/Essential Functions

• Provide support services for students to promote retention and academic success, which include persistence outreach efforts. 
• Liaise with Enrollment Management Services, Student Life, and other offices to coordinate support services that promote undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral student success. 
• Assist in identifying trends and researching best practices in student persistence and completion.
• Identify scholarship, grant, and other outside resources that support student persistence. 
• Attend monthly retention data meetings with the Office of Institutional Research.
• Assist the Director with creating support services assessment, evaluation, and awareness across campus. 
• Organize and maintain office and up-to-date student records.
• Maintain daily electronic timekeeping to document regular, punctual attendance. 
• Execute projects as assigned by the Director. 

Skills

• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Exchange, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, type 55 wpm. 
• Exceptional oral, written, analytical, interpersonal, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. 
• Must be able to keep information confidential.
• Must demonstrate exceptional multicultural competence.
• Must be well organized, detail oriented, and capable of managing multiple tasks concurrently.  
• Ability to focus on detail. Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks/deadlines. 
• Self-starter with strong management/ organizational skills.

Mental Demands

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion with the ability to work under pressure with many distractions and handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to interface in a friendly, caring, effective manner with students, parents, faculty and staff. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team.
• Agree  with the purpose and goals of Azusa Pacific University in providing a Christian-based higher education for its students.
• It is imperative that the Retention Specialist demonstrates a desire to learn about the varying needs of diverse populations, can appropriately engage, and celebrate the difference of all students we work with.

Physical Demands

• Requires repetitive motions and sitting at computer keyboard.  
• Hearing and speaking on the telephone.  
• Able to conduct business at other offices on campus.  
• Able to lift, bend, grasp, reach, lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally.

Visual Demands

• Reading, writing notes, and working with records systems on a computer monitor. 

  Environment

• Pleasant office, comfortable temperature.

  Technologies

• Proficient in Google Apps., Microsoft Office, Word and Excel.

Compensation

• Grade 8: $21.44 to $24.66 is the hourly compensation for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package. 

Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about 'what we believe', our 'mission statement', and our 'statement of faith'.

You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/

Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.

Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.