**Position Title:** Retention Specialist **Job Description:** **HINDS COMMUNITY** **COLLEGE** **Job** **Description** **​** **JOB TITLE: Retention Specialist** **REPORTS TO: Coordinator of Advising** **DEPARTMENT: Student Services** **EXEMPT: Yes** **VICE** **PRESIDENT: Student Services** **GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE** **FUNCTION** All Hinds Community College employees must commit to the Caring Campus approach to student engagement and daily apply these general behavioral objectives: listen to student questions and concerns with a positive attitude and make meaningful connections with students. This position will work closely with the PBI-Formula Grant Director to ensure that the college strengthens its commitment to become more student-centered and equity focused, while helping students to persist, graduate, and transfer to universities or enter the workforce. This is a grant position, externally funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Predominantly Black Institutions Formula Grant Program. **QUALIFICATIONS** **REQUIREMENTS** To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. **EDUCATION AND/OR** **EXPERIENCE** Master’s Degree required, with a minimum of 2 years of experience in higher education. Previous experience in education, advising, or retention areas at a community college preferred. **ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES** , include the following. Other duties may be assigned. Maintain knowledge of diversity-related issues, legislation, and best practices. Identify and support students who are disengaged from completing courses and degree programs; perform outreach to faculty and staff to identify struggling students who could benefit from retention support. Develop a comprehensive student of concern program and respond to early alerts on these students. Actively re-engage and provide outreach to students who have recently withdrawn from the College; determine reasons for withdrawal and barriers to success. Develop plans to re-enroll these students as well as address the barriers that may impact all students. Serve as a direct resource for students who wish to withdraw from the college. Conduct exit interviews with students, provide alternatives to withdrawal, education on financial and academic impact of withdrawal. Meet with at-risk students one-on-one to assess goals, barriers and needs; refers students, as appropriate, to departments for targeted aid or intervention. Advise and enroll at-risk students in academic or career and technical courses in their applicable program of study and monitor progress toward degree on these students. Develop and implement a retention communication campaign that can be focused toward all students. Publicize student success resources that the college offers at pertinent times throughout the academic year. Assess and monitor trends in student retention; identify and implement student success strategies. Collaborate with the Student Success Center to identify top-level at-risk students and provide additional intervention beyond the academic support currently offered by the SSC, including addressing early alerts submitted by instructors. Work closely with the audit team to analyze data related to student withdrawals and make inform strategies for intervention and retention. Assist with the development and implementation of a Strategic Retention Plan for the College in collaboration with the Strategic Enrollment Project Manager. **SUPERVISORY** **RESPONSIBILITIES:** None **PHYSICAL** **DEMANDS** The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hand to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, taste and smell. The employee is frequently required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. **WORK** **ENVIRONMENT** The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, and the employee is occasionally required to perform job responsibilities in the outdoors and off site. We promote a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects individual strengths, ideas, and capabilities. We believe that our differences enable us to make better decisions, drive innovation, and deliver better results **.** **Mission** Hinds Community College is committed to moving people and communities forward by helping develop their purpose, passion and profession. **Vision** Hinds Community College will be a catalyst to create a competitive economy and a compelling culture for Mississippi. **Values** Hinds Community College aspires to the following IDEALS: + Integrity + Diversity + Excellence + Accountability + Leadership + Stewardship In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable Federal and State Acts, Hinds Community College offers equal education and employment opportunities and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability or veteran status in its educational programs and activities. We recognize our responsibility to provide an open and welcoming environment that fosters a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for employees and students to collaboratively learn, work and serve our communities. **The following have been designated to handle inquiries regarding these** **policies:** **EEOC Compliance:** Coordinator of Campus Culture and Diversity Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601-857-3458 or Email: EEOC@hindscc.edu . **Title IX** : Associate Vice President Student Services, Title IX Coordinator Box 1100 Raymond MS 39154; Phone: 601-857-3353 or Email: TitleIX@hindscc.edu . **Full Time/Part Time:** Full time **Position Type:** 12 Month 260 Days **Job Classification:** Student Services **Scheduled Hours:** 40