Professional Academic Coach & Veteran Engagement Coordinator - Veteran Success Center - UTK

The Professional Academic Coach and Veteran Engagement Coordinator provides proactive and intentional academic and social support for UTK veteran students. Academic coaches will build meaningful relationships with an assigned number of veteran students, to include all veterans within the Tickle College of Engineering. Coaches will assist each veteran student by helping them to develop and understand their strengths and co-create an academic success plan to meet their unique goals. Using data and referrals from faculty and staff, coaches promote persistence by identifying and providing strategic outreach to veteran students who may need short-term or long-term intrusive academic support. As the engagement coordinator, this position will work directly with the director, assisting in the planning and implementation of veteran programming to include, but not limited to, social events, academic support programs, orientation, and career engagement. This position will serve as a liaison between the Tickle College of Engineering and student veterans, to plan, promote, and facilitate engagement opportunities within the college. Coaches may provide support through various strategies: time management, learning strategies, goal-setting, and targeted referrals to campus resources, including resources which deepen, enhance, and maximize the veteran student’s UT experience.

 

Academic coaching:

• One-on-one meetings with veteran students at the Veteran Success Center to develop learning and life strategies that promote academic success
• One-on-one informal sessions with veteran students outside of the office to develop deeper connections with their veteran students
• Serve as primary coach for student veterans within Tickle College of Engineering
• Group veteran student-focused activities outside of the office to promote social integration to UT
• Developing skills in time management, managing freedom, goal setting, creating study plans, preparing for tests, and other academic success skills and strategies; developing critical and creative thinking skills, problem solving, and inter-and intra-personal skills to result in deeper learning and improved success in the classroom establishing and strengthening connections to the campus community,

Program and events:

• Participate in veteran student program outreach activities, including campus requests, admissions sessions, freshman summer orientation programs, and veteran student cohort programs activities
• In partnership with the Tickle College of Engineering, host and promote unique veteran engagement events within the college
• Actively pursue professional development opportunities
• Employ case-management and other academic software, such as, Banner, Slate, and other software, to document coaching sessions and communication with veteran students
• Use other standard office software to communicate with staff and develop program materials
• Attend department meetings with Veterans Success Center
• Attend academic coaching training and development meetings with Academic Success Center

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree
• Experience: One year of experience by date of hire (part-time calculated as half time) working in higher education, K-12, community outreach environment, or services in the armed forces
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: A commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and veteran student support;      Positive attitude and sincere desire to provide academic support to veteran students in need as well as to provide university information to parents, faculty, staff, and other constituents;  Excellent oral and written communication skills, including attention to detail, accuracy, and presentation skills;  Ability to relate to and effectively establish rapport with a diverse undergraduate population; Professional demeanor and maturity indicative of a leadership position demonstrating the ability to function as a staff member of a university department; Flexibility in scheduling work hours (some evenings and weekend hours); Proficiency with MS Office application, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; Willingness to develop a strong working knowledge of UT policy and procedure and campus resources; Focus upon the success of the VSC team and willingness to help with all tasks; Must be able to work well with supervisors, colleagues, veteran students, and the university community;

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

 Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree
• Experience: Experience in learning strategies, academic intervention and support; Higher Education Experience; Learning specialist or related experience developing learning strategies for students in need of additional academic support; Experience working with multi-cultural students and students with diverse backgrounds; Academic Coaching Certification in higher education administration, student personnel or related field (NTA/CRLA/ATP/NCLCA/ICF); Advising, first-year studies or learning disabilities experience; 
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Excellent presentation and outreach skills; Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office, scheduling software, and similar office technology

Work Location: University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: MR 8
• Anticipated hiring range: $50,000
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

 

Application Instructions 

• For full consideration, please send resume and cover letter.

 

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. 

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.  

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs.  

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.  

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!