"Academic Outreach Manager"

Job Details

Join our vibrant community of dedicated faculty and staff who work to create a transformative educational experience rooted in faith, reason, and justice.

Eastern University is a nationally-recognized Christian university enrolling approximately 9,000 students in a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs. The university’s main campus is located in St. Davids, PA, with many programs also offered online. Eastern’s core values of Faith, Reason, and Justice are woven into all of its educational offerings. Through dynamic programs, a vibrant campus community, and meaningful service learning opportunities, Eastern University is committed to providing students with transformative, accessible, and affordable education.

Position Description

Reporting to the MSW Program Director, the Academic Outreach Manager is an individual who exhibits extraordinary care for all students through important steps of the educational process. The Academic Outreach Manager facilitates the advancement of students from the point of admission through attainment of their MSW degree. The Academic Outreach Manager leads Student Success Advisors, and oversees the advisement in the MSW Program. The primary focus includes comprehensive academic advisement and planning, support services, and fostering academic engagement/growth for each individual during their time as an Eastern University student.
Eastern University is known for its emphasis on faith, reason, and justice. The Department of Social Work fully embraces and embodies this mission.

Position Responsibilities

General Position Responsibilities

1. Ensures continuity of student advisement and support for MSW Program when needed, particularly with complex advisement issues.
2. Participates in training, staff development, administrative functions, and MSW Meetings.
3. Helps to develop advising training, in person and online, for faculty and students.
4. Develops and implements automated systems for advisement.
5. Maintains compliance with CSWE accreditation standards.
6. Upholds the vision of the Social Work Department.

Specific Position Responsibilities

1. Directs academic advising and registration for approximately 300-400 graduate students.
2. Advocates for students by monitoring the progress of students and provides guidance and direction for course selection and degree completion. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the student’s academic program requirements and transfer evaluations.
3. Supports students in their personal growth academically, emotionally, spiritually, interpersonally and vocationally.
4. Co-manages and monitors the advising website and email to ensure students receive timely resolutions to their questions or concerns.
5. Analyzes student records and regularly monitors progress with consistent follow-up and tracking.
6. Identifies at-risk students and populations and intervenes proactively to support retention.
7. Plans, leads and/or participates in student centered events (e.g. student orientation, graduation).
8. Handles student inquiries related to Brightspace, email, and WebAdvisor.
9. Contacts students not registered in future terms to assure academic progress.
10. Encourages students through life events, obstacles and challenges through moral support and prayer.
11. Creates and conducts surveys relative to university retention efforts, identifying opportunities for improvement(s).
12. Stays current with policies and procedures as well as identifying and recommending appropriate services designed to address the needs of online students.
13. Maintains accurate, organized, detailed student records and reports as assigned for retention purposes.
14. Conducts professional interviews for MSW program applicants to assess their readiness, emotional intelligence, and alignment with social work values. This task is to be assigned and completed during high volume admissions seasons.
15. Provide MSW Internship Supervision as caseload permits each academic year. Assignment to be determined by MSW Program Director.
16. Supporting students’ use of the learning management system (Brightspace).
17. Teaching time-management and "digital learning" skills specifically for the accelerated, 7-week online course format.
18. Acting a point of contact when a student faces personal emergencies, coordinating with faculty for extensions or "Incompletes."
19. Virtually connecting students to Eastern University’s writing center, financial aid, disability services, and the career center.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

1. MSW from a CSWE accredited program
2. Minimum of two years post-MSW practice experience.

Required Qualifications

1. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, record keeping skills, and strong organizational skills
2. Proven interpersonal skills, including the ability to effectively, professionally and skillfully interact with others.
3. Commitment to collaboration and shared decision-making.
4. Ability to work collaboratively and independently across organizational units and with a diverse faculty/staff team and student body.
5. Ability to investigate and analyze information, engage in critical thinking and problem solving, as well as maintain confidentiality of information.
6. Detail oriented.
7. Proficient skill with Microsoft office suite and Google Suite.
8. Proficient skill and use of automation and AI.
9. Embodiment of the values of caring and compassion, justice and integrity, competence and accountability.
10. Commitment to treat each member of the Eastern community with fairness, dignity, and respect seeking a spirit of unity, harmony, and belonging as we join together to achieve our common mission.
11. Theological alignment with the doctrinal statement of the University; sincere and enthusiastic affirmation of the University’s mission, vision and core values; and a commitment to integrating Christian faith into teaching and professional work.

Supplemental Information

The Social Work Department has seven full-time faculty. The BSW program has been accredited by CSWE since 1974 and MSW program since 2024. The Social Work Department at Eastern University educates and prepares students to be competent, generalist (BSW), and advanced generalist (MSW) social work practitioners who are knowledgeable, skilled, and compassionate representatives of God’s mercy and justice in meeting common human needs with particular attention to vulnerable and oppressed populations and communities. This mission is accomplished through: 1) preparing students for social work practice with diverse individuals, families, groups, organizations, and communities; 2) educating students about the values and ethics of the profession and to ethically integrate a Christian perspective embodying empathy, justice, and the dignity and worth of each person; and 3) educating students to use critical analysis and scientific inquiry to develop a social work knowledge base and skills.

Eastern University offers undergraduate, graduate, professional, and seminary programs both online and on-campus at its vibrant locations in St. Davids and Philadelphia. Eastern's core values of faith, reason, and justice are woven into all of its educational programs. Applicants should have a religious commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to endorse it by signing Eastern University’s doctrinal statement. The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes are encouraged to apply.
This description is intended to describe the general level and nature of work performed by the person/people assigned to this position. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities of the person/people so assigned.

About Eastern University

Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences that integrates faith, reason and justice for students in its undergraduate, graduate, seminary, urban, professional and international programs. Applicants should have a Christian commitment compatible with its mission and be willing to support the mission and vision of the university. The university complies with federal and state guidelines of nondiscrimination in employment; members of protected classes encouraged to apply.