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College of Charleston

Associate Director, Retention Initiatives

🇺🇸 Charleston, SC

🕑 Full-Time

💰 $48K - $55K

💻 Other

🗓️ July 24th, 2025

FERPA

Edtech.com's Summary

College of Charleston is hiring an Associate Director, Retention Initiatives. The role involves proactively engaging students facing complex challenges that may affect academics through early alert measures and retention initiatives, managing the late withdrawal petitions process, and addressing student and parent concerns by providing counseling or appropriate referrals within academic policies.

Highlights
  • Oversee and manage the petition process for late withdrawal, including committee facilitation and data analysis.
  • Support early alert retention strategies such as the Faculty/Staff Assisting Students in Trouble (FAST) program through outreach and engagement.
  • Provide counseling and guidance to students, parents, faculty, and staff on academic issues and referral to services.
  • Lead the Academic Warning Program by identifying at-risk students and coordinating support efforts.
  • Supervise and mentor student employees and a full-time retention staff member, including performance management.
  • Develop campus collaborations to enhance student engagement and ensure compliance with FERPA and institutional policies.
  • Preferred familiarity with Banner, Maxient, and early alert/incident reporting systems.
  • Bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years related higher education student services experience; Master’s degree preferred.
  • Salary range is $47,588 to $55,000, commensurate with education and experience.
  • Benefits include health/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, paid leave, retirement plans, employee tuition assistance, and an employee assistance program.

Associate Director, Retention Initiatives Full Description

Associate Director, Retention Initiatives
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Please complete the application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.
*Salary is commensurate with education/experience which exceeds the minimum requirements.
Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check.

All applications must be submitted online https://jobs.cofc.edu.
Posting Details
 POSTING INFORMATION 
Internal Title  | Associate Director, Retention Initiatives
Position Type  | Classified
Faculty / Non-Faculty / Administration  | Non-Faculty
Pay Band  | 6
Level  | 1
Department  | Academic Success and Retention

Job Purpose  | Support student success and retention by proactively engaging students who are managing complex problems/challenges that may impact academics identified through early alert measures (FAST), readmission and other retention initiatives such as Late Withdrawal. Manages, investigates and addresses student & parent concerns and provides appropriate counseling &/or referrals within the scope of the academic standards, policies and resources.

Minimum Requirements  | Bachelor’s degree and at least 2 years of related employment experience with studentservices in a higher education setting. Master’s degree in counseling, education, orrelated field is preferred. Familiarity with Banner, Maxient and with early alert/incident reporting systems preferred. Candidates with an equivalent combination of experience and/or education are encouraged to apply.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities  | Ability to provide supportive counseling and action-oriented strategies for a wide range of student problems. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, college administration, faculty, and staff. Ability to plan, organize and implement special projects on behalf of the department. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing. Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data to assess the efficacy of current programs and services. Must have knowledge of and the ability to interpret and communicate College of Charleston policies and procedures.

Additional Comments Regarding Position  | May be required to work some weekends, early mornings or evening hours during critical periods.

Special Instructions to Applicants  | Please complete the application to include all current and previous work history and education. A resume will not be accepted nor reviewed to determine if an applicant has met the qualifications for the position.*Salary is commensurate with education/experience which exceeds the minimum requirements.Offers of employment are contingent upon a successful background check.
All applications must be submitted online https://jobs.cofc.edu.
Salary  | *$47,588 - $55,000
Posting Date  | 07/23/2025
Closing Date  | 08/06/2025
Benefits  | Insurance: Health/Dental/Vision Life Insurance Paid Leave: Sick/Annual/Parental Retirement Long Term Disability Paid Holidays Free CARTA Bus Service Employee Tuition Assistance Program (ETAP) Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Full Benefits Package – Click Here
Open Until Filled  | No
Posting Number  | 2025101
EEO Statement  | The College of Charleston is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of sex, gender (including gender identity and/or expression), pregnancy, race, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, and other classifications protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws. For more information, please visit eop.cofc.edu.
Quicklink for Posting  | https://jobs.cofc.edu/postings/16954

 Job Duties 
Activity  | Oversees all aspects of the ‘Petitions for Withdrawal After the Official Withdrawal Deadline’ process and committee. Counsels students regarding the process and provides guidance and feedback prior and during review to ensure that petitions are thorough and complete. Facilitates review of petitions with the Late Withdrawal Petition Committee; Recruits, trains committee members, serves as a resource to the committee. Works with Dean of Students and Case Manager pertaining to Risk Management conditions subsequent to approval of late withdrawal petitions. Creates, analyzes and maintains databases and reports to track the late withdrawal process to assess efficacy and to make recommendations to improve student persistence and retention.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 25Activity  | Supports Early Alert measures and strategies implemented by the department that promote retention and persistence. This includes managing the ‘Faculty/Staff Assisting Students in Trouble’ (F.A.S.T.) program: in a timely fashion, facilitates FAST reports by conducting various outreach attempts to engage and connect with students who may need additional support and/or intervention. Receive and respond to other avenues of early alert reports to support student needs and success including but not limited to elevated student concerns or referrals from Students of Concern Committee.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 15Activity  | Provides direct supervision and mentorship to two student employees, including assigning daily tasks, monitoring work quality, offering feedback, and supporting professional development. Ensures the student employee adheres to departmental procedures and contributes effectively to team goals.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 10Activity  | Create campus wide connections with partner offices to drive engagement of students who seek out guidance from our office or are referred to us through the FAST program. Participate and represent ASRO in collaborative campus events such as New Student Orientation, Student Success Week, STEP Workshop etc., to engage and educate faculty/staff/students about services available through the Academic Success and Retention Office. Ensures compliance with FERPA and other federal, state and institutional guidelines.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 5Activity  | Counsels students, parents, faculty, and staff to provide advice and guidance regarding complex and confidential issues that may be impacting academic success through scheduled appointments, drop-in appointments and academic coaching. Refers students to the appropriate services available at the College of Charleston and elsewhere when appropriate. Develops and maintains confidential files. Interprets and explains College of Charleston policies and procedures regarding academic standards.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 20Activity  | Leads the implementation and ongoing delivery of the Academic Warning Program, including identifying at-risk students, coordinating outreach and support strategies, collaborating with faculty and academic advisors, and assessing program effectiveness. Ensures timely communication, accurate tracking, and continuous improvement of intervention efforts to promote student persistence and academic success.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 15Activity  | Directly lead and supervise full-time position responsible for retention and graduation efforts. Regularly develops, trains, and provides performance feedback. Identifies growth opportunities, reverse shadowing, and continual training options throughout period of employment. Reviews and approves timesheets for all assigned staff, and completes annual performance evaluation.
Essential or Marginal  | Essential
Percent of Time  | 10
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
  1. * How did you hear about this employment opportunity? 
    • Chronicle of Higher Education
    • CofC - Alumni Career Services
    • College of Charleston Website
    • Diverse: Issues in Higher Education
    • Glassdoor
    • Handshake
    • HigherEdJobs
    • Indeed.com
    • Internal Job Posting
    • jbcjobs (Joint Base Charleston Military & Family Readiness)
    • Job Fair
    • LinkedIn 
    • Monster.com
    • Personal Referral
    • Post and Courier
    • Public Job Posting
    • SC Works (SC Department of Employment and Workforce)
    • Twitter
    • Word of mouth
    • Other
    • The Society for College and University Planning
    • National Labor Exchange
    • CareerBuilder
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume
  2. Cover Letter / Letter of Application
  3. Reference List
Optional Documents
  1. Other Document
  2. Other Document 2
  3. Other Document 3
  4. Form DD 214
Email: jobs@cofc.edu
General Information: 843.953.5512
 Mailing Address: 66 George St.
Charleston, SC 29424 

HR Office 160 Calhoun St.
 Lightsey Building B36
 Charleston, SC 29424
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