"Manager, Student Success & Retention"

Job Description

Position Title: Manager, Student Success & Retention

Classification: Manager 1 - Administration

Department: Instruction

Work Schedule: This regular, full-time administrative position will work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with evening and weekend hours as needed, and at various locations.

Position Summary: The Student Success and Retention (SSR) Manager works closely with instructors, students, and academic leadership to identify and address retention challenges, improve student engagement, and ensure effective instructional practices that support long-term student success. In addition to success and retention strategies, the manager will have up to 50% teaching responsibilities in English, Reading, and First Year Seminar (FYS). The manager will provide instruction for Kickstart programming and teach credit-bearing classes. Additionally, the manager will collaborate with the Center for Student Success to coordinate Kickstart, including the developmental math content. The SSR Manager will also provide support for other retention efforts, including the Reading Across the Curriculum (RAC) program that is designed to increase students' critical thinking skills through improved reading and increased retention in gateway courses. Kellogg Community College is located in Battle Creek, Michigan, a community of approximately 54,000 people. Leisure activities, natural resources and learning opportunities provide a foundation for residents. Located along the I-94 interstate, Battle Creek is within 30 minutes of Kalamazoo, 60 minutes of Lansing and Grand Rapids and within three hours of Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis.

KCC Equity Statement: At Kellogg Community College, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where we foster respect for others and our differences, support cultural understanding, demonstrate ethical behavior and champion social justice. We will accomplish this by: Deepening our understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion through learning, engagement with others and personal reflection; Valuing the lived experiences and perspectives of others while nurturing and understanding the differences between us; Rejecting all forms of prejudice, discrimination and racism; and Advancing integrity, justice and civility among and between us.

Physical Demands: The job responsibilities are performed in an office area and presentation venues. Travel by car required. The job has intermittent periods during which continuous physical exertion is required, such as independent mobility between work areas, standing, sitting, stooping, bending, climbing, lifting material or equipment, some of which may be heavy or awkward (8 - 45 pounds). Typically requires regular use of one or more physical senses of medium intensity and long duration. Must meet reasonable deadlines, quotas or demands for accuracy, and may be involved in some mildly unpleasant situations.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in English or related discipline, or a Master's degree or higher with at least 18 graduate semester hours in English or a related discipline from a regionally accredited college or university (attach unofficial transcripts showing courses completed and degree(s) conferred).
• A minimum of two (2+) years of successful teaching experience in an educational setting.
• Experience in planning and developing bridge/retention programs for higher education.
• Additional discipline studies in both writing and developmental English and Reading, corequisite support courses, First Year Seminar/Experience (FYS/E), and/or Service Learning.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred but not Required:

• Experience in higher education teaching, preferable at a community college.
• Additional discipline studies and experience teaching Developmental Math.
• Experience in planning and implementing reading initiatives to support student success at or above the secondary education level(s).
• Experience in implementing Service Learning in a post-secondary environment.
• Ability to strategically think, problem solve, take risks, and make and communicate difficult decisions.

Proposed Salary: According to the Kellogg Community College Hay Administrative Compensation program, the 2025-2026 annual salary range for a Manager 1 position, $63,276 to $79,098 to start.

Job Duties:

Essential Function: Program Development and Support

• Develop and implement retention programs aimed at improving student engagement, academic preparedness, and elimination or mitigation of barriers to success.
• Specifically, coordinate with faculty, student affairs personnel, and academic administrators to offer the Kellogg Kickstart program in the summer and fall of each year.
• Deliver content for Kickstart in Writing and Reading.
• Provide administrative support to facilitate or lead Instructional retention measures.
• Communicate effectively with students to keep them informed about available resources and retention initiatives.
• Participate in assessment of the effectiveness of student success programs, including retention strategies and interventions.
• Use data analytics to identify trends or at-risk student groups and create proactive interventions to improve retention rates.
• Conduct surveys, focus groups, or other feedback mechanisms to understand student needs and experiences.
• Make data-driven decisions to adjust retention and success programs, ensuring they meet the needs of diverse student populations.
• Utilize technology tools, such as student success platforms, LMS, CRM software, or data analytics tools, to track and manage student progress.

Essential Function: Instruction

• Serve in the role of instructor with attendant responsibilities as follows: Teach developmental writing and reading corequisite support classes as needed. Teach FYS for Kickstart. Teach ENGL 151 and 152 as needed.
• May also teach developmental math corequisite support courses and Service Learning.
• Teaching may occur in any modality; modality will be determined by academic administration based on student needs.