Student Success Specialist in Villanova, Pennsylvania at Villanova University

The Student Success Specialist serves as the primary operational and administrative liaison for the Ellis Center’s Office for Student Success. Reporting to the Director, this role oversees daily office operations, coordinates program logistics, and guides students, families, faculty, and staff through university policies, confidential processes, and support resources.

Key Responsibilities

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.

Administrative Liaison & Communication Hub: Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the Office for Student Success, delivering high-level administrative support to faculty, advisors, students, families, and campus partners. Manage the CLAS Student Success shared email inbox by triaging high-volume, confidential inquiries, independently exercising judgment to prioritize responses, and escalating complex or urgent matters to the Director and Associate Dean.

Student Concern & Faculty Feedback Triage: Oversee the Slate Student Success Concern and Faculty Feedback workflows. Log, document, and track faculty, staff, and family referrals, initiating timely outreach and intervention strategies for at-risk students.

Attendance Verification Management: Review, evaluate, and approve excused absence documentation in accordance with university policy. Draft and issue confidential notifications to faculty and advisors while maintaining compliant, meticulous record-keeping.

Support the Director in administering the confidential Medical and Non-medical Leave of Absence processes for CLAS students. Serve as the secondary point of contact for students requesting, returning from, or inquiring about a leave of absence coordinated by the Office for Student Success or the Dean of Students. Coordinate communications among university offices involved in the leave process, including the Registrar, Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Athletics, and other campus partners. Prepare and distribute confidential correspondence, facilitate student deactivation and reactivation processes, coordinate registration PIN distribution to advisors, and ensure faculty, advisors, and students receive timely communication throughout the leave process.

Coordinate the Academic Standing process three times annually under the direction of the Ellis Center Leadership. Prepare committee materials in collaboration with the Ellis Center advising team, organize Academic Standing Committee meetings, prepare and distribute individualized academic standing notifications, coordinate the academic standing appeal process, and verify the accuracy and timely delivery of all communications. Due to strict university deadlines, this responsibility may require extended hours during peak periods.

In collaboration with the Director and Assistant Director(s), coordinate and manage educational programming for students, faculty, and staff that promotes student success, academic resilience, and effective navigation of university resources and policies.

Coordinate the University Withdrawal process by serving as the primary administrative contact for students considering withdrawal from the University. Meet with students to explain university procedures, discuss available resources and alternative pathways to degree completion when appropriate, prepare withdrawal documentation, and distribute official correspondence while maintaining confidentiality throughout the process.

Provide administrative and operational support to the Director, including scheduling meetings, drafting correspondence, maintaining departmental records, responding to inquiries received through the office phone and general email account, providing reception desk coverage as needed, and training and supervising graduate assistants supporting data collection, office operations, and programming initiatives.

In collaboration with the Ellis Center team, develop, maintain, and improve data collection processes across multiple platforms supporting retention, persistence, and student success initiatives.

Perform other duties and assist with projects as assigned.

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This position falls within salaried grade 13 and the range is $52,000-65,100. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.