Academic Success Coach I

This position supports the Pathways to Teaching Careers in Critical Areas of Need (PTCAN), a Title V Department of Education federally funded grant. The program will implement a targeted pathway toward degree completion with teaching certification in critical areas of need in Urban Education at the College of Public Service. The Pathways to Teaching in Critical Areas of Need (PTCAN) will expand and enhance the services first-generation Hispanic students need for success.  The PTCAN Program at UHD seeks to: 1) increase the social and emotional well-being of prospective first-generation and minority teachers; 2) Increase the academic success of participating students; 3) increase first-generation and minority prospective teacher retention rates; 4) increase first-generation and minority prospective teacher graduation rates; 5) increase the number of UHD first-generation, minority students graduating from UHD with bilingual/ESL teaching credentials (critical areas of need).

This position may be eligible for Hybrid Work, working remotely for up to one day per week after the initial 90 days of employment.

Salary Range: $47,731/year or higher, commensurate with experience and/or education

JOB SUMMARY

The Academic Success Coach fosters the development of student's skills, behaviors, and habits that contribute to success in college and beyond and helps students to identify and overcome obstacles that impede academic success.

DUTIES 

• Fosters the development of students' skills, behaviors, and habits that contribute to success in college and beyond and helps students to identify and overcome obstacles that impede academic success
• Assists students to develop self-efficacy by identifying and overcoming obstacles that may be impeding academic success; motivates students to practice self-regulation and to take ownership of their academic success
• Helps students to identify, develop, and implement learning strategies and study skills specific to course materials
• Refers students to appropriate academic personnel and support resources and collaborates with others as necessary to monitor and accelerate the academic progress of referred students
• Maintains and monitors a caseload of first-time college, probationary, and transfer students; monitors the progress of caseload students via check-ins, scheduled meetings, proactive outreach, and regular communication
• Collects, inputs, analyzes, and interprets data as required
• Collaborates with others as necessary at team meetings, presentations, and training
• Creates and develops relevant course material for workshops and other programming for freshman students
• May teach and facilitate the Academic Recovery Program
• Participates in Orientation, Summer Bridge Program, and university activities, such as Open House

MARGINAL DUTIES 

• Performs all other duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Direct Reports:

• May supervise Student Employees

Delegation of Work:

• May assign work to subordinate(s)

Supervision Given:

• May supervise the work of student workers

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

Knowledge:

• Knowledge of coaching, instructional, and mentoring techniques used in a higher education environment and the related trends, issues, and best practices
• Knowledge of the processes and resources required for organizing and leading group and collaborative activities
• Knowledge of traditional and online course practices and procedures

Skills:

• Good technical skills, including proficiency in MS Office and university software
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Abilities:

• Ability to balance multiple demands and effectively organize and manage time and tasks
• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals and constituencies in a diverse university community

WORK LOCATION AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

Primary Work Location:

• Works in an office environment

Physical Demands:

• Work is performed in a typical interior work environment that does not subject the employee to any unpleasant elements
• The individual has discretion in relation to walking, standing, etc., and has minimal exposure to physical risks
• Must have the ability to move items of up to 30lbs

EEO/AA

Required Education:

• Bachelor's degree

Required Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of related job experience, including experience working with students

License/Certification:

• None Required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Teaching experience is preferred
• Previous experience working with at-risk students is preferred

About University of Houston Downtown

Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.

U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions:  No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. TheStockWatcher.com called UHD a “notable institution providing high-quality online MBA programs. … UHD ensures that its graduates are well-prepared to succeed in their chosen career paths.”

UHD is one of the four distinct and separate components of the University of Houston System, which also includes the University of Houston, University of Houston-Clear Lake, and University of Houston-Victoria. Instructional Sites operated by UHD are University of Houston-Downtown Northwest, University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College Kingwood, and University of Houston-Downtown at Lone Star College CyFair.

The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.

The University of Houston - Downtown is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution and recognizes protected classes of race, color, sex (including pregnancy), genetic information, religion, age (40 and above), national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or status, and gender expression as required by federal law. Veterans and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.