Retention Specialist

Retention Specialist

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

Main Campus (BG), OH

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

BGSU01996

Division

Community Well-Being

Department

TRIO Programs

Opening Date

09/29/2026

Pay Grade

353

• Description
• Benefits

Summary

The Retention Specialist is an entry level administrative staff position within the TRIO Programs Department that has primary responsibility for Student Engagement Services, maintaining a participant caseload, and supporting recruitment and programming within the Student Support Services program.

Essential Functions

Retention

• Provide advising to a caseload of approximately 115-125 students, including monitoring progress via student meetings and semester and midterm grades
• Providing counseling to program participants to improve academic skills
• Provide intrusive services to students not meeting satisfactory academic progress including outreach by phone, letters and electronic media to students, monitor persistence and academic performance to ensure that program goals are met
• Assist students with selection of coursework from grad plan and course registration and/or changing their schedules, including helping students determine which courses to take at other institutions based on transfer matrix information and knowledge of the transfer credit process, reviewing academic plans, exploring possible major changes and explaining academic policies (such as add/drop deadlines and procedures, repeating courses, etc.),
• Administering and analyzing need assessment tools
• Work one-on-one with current students on caseload, providing academic and career advising, financial and economic literacy, graduate school assistance and assistance with personal/social issues and concerns

Assist the Academic Support Coordinator and Student Engagement Coordinator by attending and recruiting students to participate in SSS programs and activities.

Provide financial, career and graduate school advising in person or through workshops. Provide relevant workshops to meet student needs in coordination with the Student Engagement Coordinator.

Recruitment

• Assist with the identification and selection of potential program participants throughout the academic year
• Meet with prospective students and their parents
• Conduct SSS Information Session on program services to incoming parents and students
• Assist with application assessment by analyzing and compiling student information, including financial aid and admissions information and placement test scores to determine to determine eligibility for the program

Responsible for teaching during the TRIO Summer Program, First Year courses (BG1910), as well as various TRIO workshops and retreats.

Record-keeping and reporting, including caseload management and maintenance of case files and collecting, analyzing and assessing information for performance reports due each semester covering all work activities and preparing goal assessment reports.

Participation in committees relevant to the SSS program participants needs.

Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

The following Degree is required:

• Master's Degree required.

The following Experience is required:

• 2 years of experience advising low-income, first-generation students and/or students with disabilities
• 1 year working with student information systems
• 1 year experience teaching college courses

Additional Information

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated working knowledge in servicing students with low-income and first-generation backgrounds and students with disabilities
• Demonstrated experience working with wide variety of students with broad backgrounds and experiences
• Demonstrated ability to work from a place of cultural competence to support an inclusive environment
• Experience advocating for students in matters of financial aid and working with students through appeals processes
• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, practices and activities of TRIO or similar programs
• Case management skills
• Knowledge of university student information systems such as CSS or similar databases
• Excellent oral and written communication skills

Grant Funded

This is a grant-funded position. Duration of employment is contingent on continued availability of funding.

Application Deadline

The search committee will review applications until the position is filled; however, for best consideration, applications should be provided October 13, 2026.

Required Application Materials & Evaluation

• Experience must be fully documented on the official application.
• The application will be used to evaluate if candidates meet the minimum requirements for the position and for consideration when determining starting pay rate.
• Experience requirements are inclusive of relevant professional experience, or experience attained through relevant internships, co-ops, student employment positions, or graduate assistantships.

Uploads

• Required: Resume (for supplemental information only)
• Optional: Cover Letter

Essential Requirement: Work Authorization

BGSU does not offer H-1B or other work authorization visa sponsorship for this position. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and maintain work authorization throughout the employment term.

Bowling Green State University is an equal opportunity employer. The University is committed to maintaining an employment and educational environment that is free from unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. The University prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected class: age (40 years of age or older), ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender identity and expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, marital status, military status, national origin, political affiliation, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.

EEOC Know Your Rights

OCRC Know Your Rights

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Bowling Green State University, please call 419-372-8421 or email ohr@bgsu.edu.

BGSU is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents

Benefits

Bowling Green State University provides a comprehensive benefit program as part of a total compensation package. This includes medical, prescription, dental, vision, health accounts (medical & dependent), life & disability insurance, retirement plans, employee assistance program and tuition fee waivers for employees and their eligible dependents as well as paid time off, flexible work options, holidays and parental leave. For more information, please visit Benefits-at-a-Glance.

Employer Bowling Green State University

Address 1851 N Research Drive

Huntington Building

Bowling Green, Ohio, 43403

Phone (419) 372-8421 Human Resources

(419) 372-2865 Student Employment

Website https://www.bgsu.edu/human-resources/careers.html