Academic and Student Support Manager
- Staff, full-time (32+ hours per week)
Title: Academic and Student Support Manager
Position Number: 100046
Unit/Department: Access and Success
FTE: Full-time
Salary: Commensurate with experience and qualifications of the selected candidate
Department Summary:
The Office of Access & Success provides the tools and support Drake University students need to be the best they can be academically. This includes academic coaching, accessibility services, tutoring, and other forms of support. Learn more about Access & Success at https://www.drake.edu/access-success/ .
Job Summary:
The Academic and Student Support Manager supports student persistence, academic achievement, and coordinated care efforts through the management of peer tutoring, academic coaching, student support interventions, and related student success initiatives. This position coordinates student-facing academic support services and serves as a key connector within the university’s broader student success network.
The manager collaborates closely with advising units, faculty, accessibility services, career services, and other campus partners to ensure students are connected with appropriate resources and support systems. This position also plays an important role in the administration and utilization of Starfish to support coordinated care, intervention follow-up, and student success communication efforts.
This role combines student support coordination, peer program management, systems utilization, training, outreach, and operational support responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with college students in advising, tutoring, coaching, student success, or related areas
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, and staff
• Experience coordinating programs, services, or student employees
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain confidentiality
Preferred Qualifications:
• Master’s degree in higher education, counseling, student affairs, education, or related field
• Experience with student success technologies such as Starfish or similar platforms
• Experience with peer education, tutoring, academic coaching, or coordinated care models
• Knowledge of student persistence, retention, and academic support best practices
• Experience with training facilitation, workshop development, or student outreach initiatives
Job Duties:
- 35% - Peer Tutoring & Academic Coaching Coordination — • Coordinate day-to-day operations of peer tutoring and academic coaching services • Collaborate with academic units to recruit, train, supervise and evaluate peer tutors and academic coaches • Develop and facilitate ongoing training and professional development for peer educators • Collaborate with academic units and faculty to identify tutoring and coaching needs • Coordinate tutoring and coaching schedules, availability, and appointment management within Starfish • Monitor student participation, utilization, and effectiveness of support services • Assist with payroll processes, student employee scheduling, hour tracking, and budget monitoring • Support assessment and continuous improvement efforts related to tutoring and coaching services • Develop academic support resources, workshops, and skill-building initiatives for students
- 30% - Student Intervention & Coordinated Care Support — • Serve as a primary triage contact for Starfish flags and alerts that do not have an immediately identified referral pathway or ownership area • Conduct outreach to students to better understand concerns, barriers, and support needs • Connect students with appropriate campus resources and support services • Collaborate with advising units, faculty, accessibility services, and student support offices to coordinate student support efforts • Monitor unresolved or escalated student concerns and assist with appropriate follow-up • Support coordinated care and intervention processes designed to improve student persistence and engagement • Assist with documentation and communication related to student support interventions • Identify patterns and trends related to student support needs and communicate observations to leadership
- 15% - Training, Systems Support, & Campus Education — • Assist with campus-wide training and support related to Starfish utilization and coordinated care practices • Support faculty, staff, and peer educators in understanding student support resources and referral processes • Assist in development of training materials, guides, and presentations • Provide support and education related to academic coaching, tutoring, and other student success initiatives • Collaborate with campus partners to improve awareness and utilization of student support services • Assist with implementation and communication of student success initiatives and processes • Provide backup operational support for accessibility and accommodations services as needed
- 10% - Student Outreach, Engagement, & Representation — • Represent Student Success and Academic Support Services at visit programs, orientation programs, student resource fairs, and campus events • Assist with outreach and communication efforts promoting academic support services and student success initiatives • Develop strategies to increase awareness and utilization of tutoring, coaching, and student support resources • Collaborate with campus partners to support transition and persistence initiatives • Assist in development of student-facing communication materials and engagement campaigns
- 10% - Assessment, Collaboration, & Special Projects — • Assist with collection and analysis of utilization, participation, and effectiveness data related to student support services • Support ongoing assessment and continuous improvement efforts • Participate in campus committees, working groups, and student success initiatives • Collaborate with campus partners to strengthen coordinated support efforts • Assist with special projects related to student success, persistence, and academic support initiatives • Perform other duties as assigned in support of institutional student success goals
Special Instructions to Applicants:
For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter. If you have any questions about this job positing or the application process, please email jennifer.tran@drake.edu .
Review of Applications Begins:
A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant’s references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
ABOUT DRAKE
Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University’s core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.
STRONG COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
At Drake University, we don’t just accept differences—we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our students, our employees, and our community. As reflected in our Core Values, we embrace a diverse and inclusive community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Drake University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (p: 515.271.3133; e: jobs@drake.edu) and let us know how we can assist you.
