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North Carolina Central University

Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist

🇺🇸 Durham, NC 🕑 Full-Time 💰 TBD 💻 Other 🗓️ January 16th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

North Carolina Central University is hiring a Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist. This role focuses on developing and implementing support systems to improve student persistence, retention, and graduation by providing individualized academic success sessions and leading targeted intervention programs. The position collaborates closely with academic advising and success coaching teams to identify at-risk students and deliver strategic initiatives to enhance academic resilience and success.

Highlights
  • Identify and conduct outreach to high-risk students using enrollment and early alert data.
  • Provide individualized academic success sessions and develop personalized intervention plans.
  • Develop and lead workshops aimed at improving achievement and retention for underserved student populations.
  • Design and evaluate student success programs to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
  • Lead initiatives to enhance the student experience, including mentorship and peer support networks.
  • Recruit, train, and develop peer support staff to foster academic persistence and belonging.
  • Collaborate with campus partners and serve on committees to address student needs.
  • Require excellent communication, organizational skills, and proficiency in data analysis and reporting.
  • Bachelor's degree required; master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, or related fields preferred.

  • Permanent full-time position within the Office of the Provost focusing on academic program support and student success.

Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist Full Description

Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Pre-Employment Requirements:
  • You must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application.
  • Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD 214 form or those seeking National Guard Preference must attach as NG23A form. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with your application during the process of applying to the job posting.
  • Final candidates are subject to criminal background checks, and education/license verification prior to employment.
  • North Carolina Central University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.

Employee Benefits available to NCCU permanent employees include the following and more:
  • Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave
  • Community Service Leave
  • NC State – Health Benefits
  • NCFlex – Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and more
  • 11-12 Paid Holidays
  • Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS)
  • Optional Supplemental Plans – 401k, 403b, 457b and 457
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Campus Recreation Center Discount
  • University Bookstore Discount and more.
Posting Details 
 Position Information 
Position/Classification Title  | Academic Services Professional
Working Title  | Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist
Position Number  | 819903
FLSA  | Exempt
Appointment Type  | Permanent - Full Time
Tenure Track  | No
FTE  | 1 = 40 hours/week, 12 months
If time limited, duration date  | 09/30/2026
Department Hiring Range  |
EEO-1 Category  | Professionals
SOC Code  | 21-1012 - Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors
 Position Overview 
Be an Eagle - Where Purpose Takes Flight!  | Are you ready to make an impact? At North Carolina Central University (NCCU), we are more than an institution—we are a community rooted in a legacy of excellence and transformation. A historically Black university located in Durham, North Carolina, also known as ‘The City of Medicine,’ NCCU has been a cornerstone of education since 1910, fostering innovation and progress.

Join our team and enjoy a comprehensive benefits package and exclusive perks designed to support your work-life balance. At NCCU, your professional growth will be nurtured, and your contributions will help shape the future for our students and the community we serve. Become part of a legacy that drives change and achievement.

An opportunity awaits you at NCCU, where your purpose can take flight.
Visit NCCU.edu.
Primary Function of Organizational Unit  | The Office of the Provost is responsible for all matters pertaining to academic programs. This includes oversight of academic program planning, the quality and delivery of instruction, strategic budgetary planning and collaborative research initiatives. The Office of the Provost is also responsible for all recruitment initiatives and matters associated with enrollment management. Additionally, this office fosters opportunities through its academic units for student success through academic advising, coaching, and mentoring.

Primary Purpose of Position  | The primary purpose of this position is to develop and implement comprehensive support systems that bridge academic support intervention services and engagement across the campus for students at high-risk for attrition. This position focuses on improving persistence, retention, and graduation outcomes by providing individualized academic success meetings, designing targeted interventions, and developing programs that address the unique needs of underserved students. This position works closely with both the First & Second Year Experience unit, Academic Advising, and Academic Success Coaching teams to identify students at risk of academic failure and implements proactive strategies to foster academic resilience and persistence.

The Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist will lead key persistence initiatives that drive student success including programming and assessing the effectiveness of these interventions through regular data tracking and progress monitoring. Additionally, the position will design and deliver workshops, develop programming, and collaborate with faculty and campus partners to provide a holistic support system for underserved students, ensuring that all efforts contribute to student persistence and overall success.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities  | The successful candidate for the position must: Demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills; Possess superior organizational skills; Demonstrate an ability to keep accurate and consistent records; Possess knowledge of instructional practices, and student success models; Demonstrate an ability to work with diverse learners to ensure their success; Demonstrate the ability to work independently, and with team members call and possess the ability to effectively evaluate student outcomes and staff; Demonstrate an ability to utilize technology; Demonstrate the ability to gather and interpret data, and prepare report; Possess knowledge of student success strategies to increase student persistence.
Minimum Education/Experience  | Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a closely related field preferred.
Licenses or Certification required by Statute or Regulation  | None
Equal Opportunity Employer  | Consistent with the policy of the State of North Carolina, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) reaffirms that it has been, and will continue to be, the policy of this University to be an equal opportunity employer. North Carolina Central University is committed to providing educational opportunities and prohibits discrimination against students, applicants, employees, or visitors based on race, color, genetic information, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, political affiliation, or veteran status. Any individual alleging discrimination based on sexual orientation cannot grieve beyond the University’s internal grievance process. In keeping with this policy, and to further the principle of equal opportunity, all other personnel matters such as recruitment, selection, hiring, promotion, compensation, performance appraisal, disciplinary actions, benefits, transfers, separations, reduction in force, grievance procedures, company-sponsored training, education, tuition assistance, and social and recreational programs will also continue to be administered in accordance with this policy.
 Primary Responsibilities and Duties 
Function  |  Administrative
Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function.  | Identifies and conducts targeted outreach to students at high risk for attrition using data from enrollment services and early alert systems. Provides individualized academic success sessions to identified students to aid in their development of success skills and utilization of academic policies and campus resources. Monitors the academic progress of identified students and develops personalized intervention plans to support their academic persistence.Function  |  Administrative
Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function.  | Develops and leads workshops focused on academic achievement, retention, and persistence for low-income, Pell-eligible, and rural students. Assists in the creation and evaluation of student success programs, tracking progress and outcomes to ensure alignment with institutional goals.Function  |  Administrative
Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function.  | Leads special projects focused on enhancing the student experience to address the unique needs of low-income, Pell-eligible, and rural students. Develops and implements new initiatives aimed at fostering student engagement, academic resilience, and a sense of belonging. Collaborates with campus partners to create innovative programs such as mentorship opportunities, peer support networks, and leadership development activities.Function  |  Administrative
Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function.  | Develops and implements peer support initiatives to ensure identified students have access to resources and mentorship for their academic and personal growth. Oversees the recruitment, training, and ongoing development of peer support staff, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively support their peers and foster a sense of belonging and academic persistence.Function  |  Administrative
Describe the specific tasks and responsibilities related to the function.  | Participates in regularly scheduled campus and/or departmental staff meetings and events; Serves on various committees on campus to ensure critical topics related to the position’s key demographic are represented and engaged with campus partners.
 Posting Detail Information 
Posting Number  | EPA03460P
Open Date  | 01/14/2026
Date desired for closing or initial review  |
Close Date  | 01/20/2026
Open Until Filled  | No
Date Position Available  |
Special Instructions to Applicants  | Pre-Employment Requirements: You must complete and submit an electronic application for employment to be considered. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an electronic application. Applicants seeking Veteran’s Preference must attach a DD 214 form or those seeking National Guard Preference must attach as NG23A form. Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with your application during the process of applying to the job posting. Final candidates are subject to criminal background checks, and education/license verification prior to employment. North Carolina Central University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. 

Employee Benefits available to NCCU permanent employees include the following and more:

Accrued Vacation and Sick Leave Community Service Leave NC State – Health Benefits NCFlex – Vision, Dental, Flexible Spending Account, Life Insurance and more 11-12 Paid Holidays Teachers and State Employees Retirement System (TSERS) Optional Supplemental Plans – 401k, 403b, 457b and 457 Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Campus Recreation Center Discount University Bookstore Discount and more.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents
  1. Resume/CV
  2. Cover Letter
  3. Unofficial Transcripts (official required from selected candidate)
Optional Documents
  1. DD-214 (Veterans Only)
  2. Letter of Recommendation 1
  3. Letter of Recommendation 2 
  4. NGB23A or NGB22/DD256 (National Guard Only)
  5.  Licenses and/or Certification required by Statute or Regulation
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

North Carolina Central University
 1801 Fayetteville St.
 Durham, NC, 27707
 Mainline: 919-530-6100