University College Academic Advisor (Student Success Coach)

SUNO seeks a dynamic, student-focused professional to serve as a University College Academic Advisor (Student Success Coach) with a strong understanding of the unique academic, personal, and compliance-related needs of student-athletes. This position provides comprehensive academic advising, retention support, and holistic success coaching to first-year, second-year, transfer, and continuing students with 0–60 earned credit hours, while providing intentional advising and retention support for student-athletes balancing academics, athletics, leadership development, and personal growth. The Academic Advisor supports students in achieving academic success, maintaining satisfactory academic progress and athletic eligibility, navigating institutional processes, and developing the personal, leadership, and career-readiness skills necessary for persistence and graduation.

The successful candidate will demonstrate a strong understanding of student development theory, academic intervention strategies, enrollment management practices, and the unique demands associated with intercollegiate athletics participation. The position works collaboratively with faculty, coaches, Athletics staff, and campus partners to promote student retention, engagement, and degree completion through proactive advising, individualized success planning, and timely referrals to campus resources and support services.

Grant-funded Position Statement

This position is funded 100% through the federally funded Title III-B Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Program. Continued employment is contingent upon the availability of grant funding, programmatic needs, and satisfactory job performance. In support of the University’s Title III Program objectives, the employee is expected to assist with the implementation, assessment, documentation, and reporting of activities designed to strengthen student success, retention, academic achievement, and institutional effectiveness initiatives at Southern University at New Orleans.

Essential functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

1. Advise first-time freshmen, continuing, transfer, and student-athletes with 0–60 earned credit hours regarding course selection, registration, academic planning, degree progression, and academic eligibility requirements.
2. Provide holistic student success coaching that supports academic achievement, leadership development, personal wellness, and career readiness for all students, with particular attention to the unique needs of student-athletes.
3. Collaborate regularly with Athletics staff, coaches, faculty, and academic departments to monitor student-athlete academic performance, attendance, eligibility, and persistence.
4. Assist student-athletes in balancing academic responsibilities with practice, travel, competition schedules, and co-curricular involvement through proactive advising and individualized success plans.
5. Meet with students multiple times per semester to discuss academic progress, performance indicators, personal challenges, and graduation planning while maintaining accurate documentation and case notes.
6. Monitor academic progress and retention data for assigned student populations and develop intervention strategies for at-risk students and student-athletes.
7. Identify barriers to student success such as time management, academic preparedness, study skills, financial challenges, or personal concerns and connect students to appropriate campus resources including tutoring, counseling, mentoring, disability services, and academic support programs.
8. Facilitate workshops and success seminars on topics such as time management, study strategies, academic accountability, leadership development, NCAA/NAIA academic expectations, wellness, and career preparation.
9. Interpret and explain university policies, academic regulations, degree requirements, and eligibility standards to students, families, faculty, and athletics personnel.
10. Support orientation, registration, recruitment, and transition programming for new students and student-athletes.
11. Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with Deans, Department Chairs, faculty, coaches, Athletics administrators, and campus support offices.
12. Communicate regularly with academic departments regarding curriculum updates, student concerns, and student success initiatives.
13. Assist students with academic forms and processes including withdrawals, appeals, major changes, academic recovery plans, and graduation planning.
14. Maintain accurate student records and reports using Navigate, Banner, Microsoft Excel, and other institutional systems.
15. Participate in retention initiatives, student success campaigns, enrollment management efforts, and university-wide student engagement activities.
16. Evening and occasional weekend hours may be required, particularly during athletic seasons, orientations, registration periods, recruitment events, and student success programming.
17. Perform all other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Knowledge of academic advising, student development theory, retention strategies, and higher education best practices.
• Understanding of the academic, social, emotional, and time-management challenges faced by student-athletes.
• Familiarity with NAIA, NCAA, or intercollegiate athletics academic eligibility standards and compliance expectations preferred.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive student support practices.
• Strong ability to build rapport and establish trust with students from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with Athletics, faculty, coaches, and campus partners.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational, case management, and data-tracking skills.
• Ability to analyze student performance data and develop targeted intervention strategies.
• Familiarity with FERPA regulations and student confidentiality practices.
• Proficiency with student information systems, advising technologies, Microsoft Office Suite, and student success platforms such as Navigate and Ellucian Banner.

Work environment

Professional office setting with frequent interaction with students, faculty, coaches, and campus partners. Participation in athletic events, orientations, recruitment activities, workshops, and student engagement programming may be required.

Physical demands

Ability to sit/stand/walk at will; Ability to climb stairs; Ability to communicate verbally and in writing; Ability to use a keyboard; and Ability to lift or carry up to 10 pounds.

Participation in recruitment and external relation events is required.

Travel required

Some travel to conferences, athletic events, student development programs, recruitment activities, and university-related functions may be required.

Required education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Education, Counseling, Higher Education, Student Affairs, Business, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field required.
• Experience advising, mentoring, coaching, or supporting college students or student-athletes preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of student success principles and retention practices.
• Experience using student information systems and technology platforms to monitor student progress and outcomes.
• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills with the ability to work effectively with students, faculty, coaches, staff, alumni, donors, and community stakeholders.

Preferred education and experience

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred.
• Previous experience working in Athletics Academic Support, Advising, TRIO, Student Success, or First-Year Experience programs preferred.
• Experience working with historically underserved and first-generation student populations strongly preferred.

Southern University of New Orleans (SUNO) is an Equal Opportunity Employer.