Student Persistence and Achievement Specialist

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
.

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.

• 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, and to effectively evaluate student outcomes and staff.
• Demonstrate the ability to utilize technology.
• Demonstrate the ability to gather and interpret data, and prepare reports.
• Possess knowledge of student success strategies to increase student persistence.

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree in Higher Education, Counseling, Student Affairs, or a closely related field preferred.

• Identify and conduct targeted outreach to students at high risk for attrition using data from enrollment services and early alert systems.
• Provide individualized academic success sessions to identified students to aid in their development of success skills and utilization of academic policies and campus resources.
• Monitor the academic progress of identified students and develop personalized intervention plans to support their academic persistence.
• Develop and lead workshops focused on academic achievement, retention, and persistence for low‑income, Pell‑eligible, and rural students.
• Assist in the creation and evaluation of student success programs, tracking progress and outcomes to ensure alignment with institutional goals.
• Lead special projects focused on enhancing the student experience to address the unique needs of low‑income, Pell‑eligible, and rural students.
• Develop and implement new initiatives aimed at fostering student engagement, academic resilience, and a sense of belonging.
• Collaborate with campus partners to create innovative programs such as mentorship opportunities, peer support networks, and leadership development activities.
• Develop and implement…