Academic Success Coach, Compass Program

Position Overview

Merrimack College has an immediate need for an Academic Success Coach(es) for the Compass Program. The Academic Success Coach plays an integral role in supporting Compass students in a cohort (approximately 40 students).

Position Summary

The position works with a caseload of students primarily one-on-one to support the academic development of college students and to strengthen a variety of students’ academic and non-academic skills. The Academic Success Coach will establish and maintain a collaborative and cooperative relationship with faculty, the Compass Program Director, the larger Academic Success Center staff, and the Dean of Student Success. This position reports to the Compass Program Director. Compass is an academic support program in which first year students participate in small cohort courses designed to facilitate their transition to college and prepare them for long-term success, including graduation. Compass students spend their first year immersed in an intensive curriculum of both core and developmental courses while receiving weekly, one-on-one, sessions with a dedicated Academic Success Coach.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provides a whole-student approach to academic, emotional, and wellness support, including supporting students with learning differences
• Manages an active caseload of primarily Compass freshmen and additional upper-class students
• Has weekly one-on-one meetings with each student in their freshmen caseload
• May meet with additional upper-class students on occasion or regularly, as needed
• Assists in providing weekly guided study hours for all Compass students throughout the academic year
• Assists one-on-one and in groups with coursework, organization, task-completion,test preparation and other academic support as needed
• Actively involved in monitoring academic progress of each student and able to share insights with Compass team to determine steps to best support students’ continued progress and success
• Collaborates with Compass professor and grad fellow working with a specific freshmen cohort to provide real-time, wrap-around student support and assistance
• Collaborates with and navigates campus services and personnel relevant to the academic and holistic success of Compass students
• Responsible for teaching a one-credit First Year Experience course (one or two sections, as needed)
• Represents Compass Program at a variety of college key events (e.g., Orientation, Admission events, etc.)
• Other duties and responsibilities, as assigned

Qualifications:

• Master’s/doctoral degree in Psychology, Education, Counseling, or related field preferred
• Three or more years of experience providing academic support to students enrolled in college level courses, including students with learning differences and under-prepared students
• Strong communication skills
• Knowledge and/or experience working with mental health concerns common in at-risk students
• Experience or strong interest in developing and providing workshops for a diverse group of learners geared towards study skills, time management, academic engagement and reflection

Application Materials Should Include:

• Resume
• Cover letter stating motivation and interest in the position, citing experience relevant to the qualifications and including experience with, and commitment to, our Catholic Augustinian mission, our values, and our desire to be a more diverse, equitable and inclusive institution of higher learning.

This position is subject to the successful completion of a criminal background check.

Vaccinations and Remote Work 

This is an on-campus position as employees are essential in order to provide a fully on-campus, residential college experience for our students and the community.

The COVID-19 vaccine and booster for which an individual may be eligible are highly recommended for students, faculty and staff. Merrimack College does not require proof of COVID vaccination for enrollment, employment or to be a guest on our campus.

Statement on Our Mission

Merrimack College is a Catholic Augustinian institution of higher education committed to building a culturally and racially diverse community. Our mission is to enlighten minds, engage hearts and empower lives and is inspired by our Catholic faith and the Augustinian tradition of seeking truth through inquiry and dialogue.

Merrimack College seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to Merrimack’s Catholic and Augustinian mission and values and advance our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups. All candidates should describe in their application previous experience related to equity, diversity, and inclusion, as well as how they will engage in fostering a culture that supports our Catholic and Augustinian mission and our values of diversity, equity and inclusion.

About Merrimack College

The only Catholic, Augustinian institution of higher education in New England, Merrimack College is a private, independent, coeducational institution with more than 4,000 undergraduate and some 1,400 graduate students from 32 states and 37 countries. The College features more than 100 career-focused undergraduate, professional and graduate programs, all taught by exceptional faculty who are passionate about their subject and student success. The College comprises five schools: arts and sciences, engineering and computational sciences, nursing and health sciences, the Winston school of education and social policy, and the Girard school of business. The College’s suburban 240-acre campus is approximately 25 miles north of Boston in the towns of North Andover and Andover, Massachusetts. Merrimack is a Master’s Colleges and Universities/Larger Programs (M1) institution in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Merrimack is one of the fastest growing educational institutions in the country and has steadily climbed up in the U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of Best Colleges, coming in 34th out of 175 schools ranked in the Regional Universities North category in 2022. Merrimack also ranked 3rd in the Most Innovative Schools category. Merrimack is a NCAA Division I athletic institution.

Merrimack College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.