Academic Support Specialist (Mesa)

Job Title: Academic Support Specialist (Mesa) Department: Academic Support Center Reports to: Assistant Provost – Mesa Campus

Status:

Full-Time, Benefit Eligible

Location:

Mesa Campus Rate: $50,000 annually

Position Summary:

The Academic Support Specialist leads and provides hands-on academic support at Benedictine University’s Mesa campus. This position oversees peer tutoring, coordinates student accommodations in collaboration with appropriate University offices, and helps students develop the skills, confidence, and self-advocacy needed to succeed in college.

The Academic Support Specialist reports to the Assistant Provost – Mesa Campus and works in coordination with the Academic Support Center on the Lisle, Illinois, campus, which operates under the direction of the Assistant Provost for Academic Administration. This collaboration supports consistent practices, shared resources, and coordinated academic support services across the University.

Working with faculty, academic advisors, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Athletics, and other campus partners, this position responds to academic challenges, connects students with resources, and contributes to campus retention and student success initiatives. The position fosters a welcoming, accessible learning environment through individualized support and responsive programming.

Essential Job

Responsibilities:

1. Academic support services and interventions: Coordinate and provide individualized academic support to students on the Mesa campus. Meet with students to identify academic challenges, assess support needs, and develop strategies that promote academic progress and independence. Collaborate with faculty, academic advisors, Student Affairs, Athletics, and other campus partners to identify students who may benefit from support and coordinate appropriate interventions. Connect students with tutoring, academic resources, and other services, and follow up to monitor progress and adjust support as needed.
2. Peer tutoring program: Coordinate the peer tutoring program to provide accessible, effective academic support across courses and disciplines. Recruit, select, train, schedule, and supervise peer tutors in collaboration with faculty and other campus partners. Develop and maintain tutor training materials and provide ongoing guidance on tutoring practices, professionalism, confidentiality, and appropriate referrals. Monitor tutoring demand, tutor availability, and service quality; collect feedback from students and faculty; and recommend adjustments to meet changing needs.
3. Accommodations: Serve as a point of contact on the Mesa campus for students seeking academic accommodations. Coordinate accommodation requests, approved services, and implementation with appropriate University personnel in accordance with University policies and applicable accessibility requirements. Communicate approved accommodations to faculty and staff as appropriate, assist with the coordination of accessible testing and other approved services, and help address questions or implementation concerns. Maintain accurate and confidential records and support students in understanding and communicating their accommodation needs.
4. Student success coaching and workshops: Provide individual and group coaching to help students develop academic skills, confidence, and self-advocacy. Assist students with strategies such as time management, organization, study skills, test preparation, note-taking, and effective use of academic resources. Develop and facilitate workshops, presentations, and other programming in response to student needs and campus priorities. Collaborate with faculty and staff to integrate academic success resources into courses, student programs, and campus initiatives.
5. Early alerts and academic recovery: Respond to academic alerts and referrals from faculty, advisors, and other campus partners. Conduct timely outreach to students experiencing academic difficulty, meet with students to identify barriers to success, and help develop individualized academic success or recovery plans. Support students on academic probation or otherwise at risk by connecting them with appropriate resources and coordinating follow-up with relevant University personnel. Document outreach and support activities and monitor student progress in accordance with University policies and confidentiality requirements.
6. Assessment and reporting: Maintain records of academic support activities, tutoring participation, accommodations coordination, workshops, and student outreach, as appropriate. Track service usage, identify trends and unmet needs, and gather feedback from students, faculty, and staff. Assist in evaluating the effectiveness of academic support services and interventions, and prepare reports for campus and University leadership. Use assessment findings to recommend improvements and support student success and retention efforts. Other

Functions:

1. Participate in campus and University committees, meetings, initiatives, and events related to academic support, accessibility, student success, and retention. Represent the Academic Support Center at orientation, student outreach activities, and other campus events as appropriate. Collaborate with colleagues across campuses to share resources, communicate student needs, and support consistent practices.
2. Recognize student needs that extend beyond the scope of academic support and refer students to appropriate University offices and community resources. Work with relevant staff to facilitate connections and follow up as appropriate, while respecting student privacy and professional boundaries. Maintain familiarity with available resources and communicate emerging student needs or service gaps to the appropriate University personnel.