Job Summary
Student Support Specialists are committed to helping our students reach their fullest potential both in and out the classroom. This position assists and empowers students with the challenges (personal, academic, financial) they may encounter as students, so they are better able to engage in a positive learning experience while at Purdue and beyond.
The goal of the Student Support Specialist is to foster student development and clarification of academic, professional, and personal goals as well as assess student needs and match those needs with the appropriate University resources. They spend the majority of their time being available to see students who walk in, call or email the Dean of Students, Main office.
The Student Support Specialist exercises critical and analytical thinking skills to problem solve and address student concerns. They provide consultation for students, staff, faculty, and parents as well as outreach to the campus community. They stay current on higher education trends and University policies in order to provide quality, student-centered service. In addition to providing direct service, the student support specialist engages in intentional and continuous efforts to improve service to students, which includes improving internal processes and procedures.
**What We’re Looking For: **
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
- A minimum of 3 years professional experience in an education setting
- Effective rapport building and strong interpersonal skills including excellent written, oral and presentation skills.
- Demonstrated ability to exercise good judgment and discretion in analyzing and resolving private and sensitive situations with minimal supervision.
- Evidence of strong organizational skills and ability to complete multiple tasks in a busy environment.
- Ability to grasp knowledge of policies and procedures related to different aspects of student services.
- Sensitivity to and appreciation of cultural, political, and geographical differences, with the ability to work well with a diverse student body.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective collaborative relationships with campus departments, student groups and colleagues.
- Ability to discern appropriate level of communication with multiple audiences and maintain confidentiality around complex and sensitive issues to be in compliance with applicable ADA, FERPA, and other applicable state, federal, University, and College of Professional Studies guidelines.
- Knowledge of college-student development issues and commitment to student service with a vested interest in staying abreast of research in the field of academic and student affairs.
- Experience with Microsoft Office applications including Power Point, Access, Excel, and Outlook.
What is helpful:
- Master's degree in higher education, college student development, student affairs counseling, student personnel services, or a related field
Additional Information:
- To learn more about Purdue’s benefits summary
- https://www.purdue.edu/hr/Benefits/employeebenefits/benefits_enrollment/pdf/summaries/2023/Benefits-summary-Admin-Op-2023.pdf
- Purdue will not sponsor employment authorization for this position
- A background check will be required for employment in this position
- FLSA: Exempt (Not Eligible For Overtime)
- Retirement Eligibility: Defined Contributions immediately
Who We Are at Purdue University:
When you join Purdue University, you join a community that keeps moving forward. For more than 150 years, we’ve been known for not only our groundbreaking work in STEM research, but also for our collective imagination, ingenuity and innovation.
EOE: Purdue University is an EO/EA University