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Job Description
Academic Specialist University of Nebraska at Omaha - 4.1 Omaha, NE Job Details Full-time $59,400 a year 3 days ago Qualifications Master's degree in social work Master's degree in education Student resource provision Student caseload management Master's degree in sociology Educational support mentoring Caseload management Coaching Master's degree in psychology Student outcome measurement Mid-level Sociology Student social support Career exploration services for students Collaboration with other professionals for student support Psychology Workforce development advising (career advising) Improving student retention rates Social Work 1 year Workshop facilitation Classroom Teaching Referral coordination Student-centered approaches (student motivation techniques) Student transition support Leadership Training delivery Analytics Full Job Description
GENERAL REQUISITION INFORMATION EEO
Statement:
The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity. Read the full statement. Job Title Academic Specialist Job Grade AS23S Division Academic Affairs College/Dept Programs Department TLC Requisition Number 2026-00229 FTE (full-time equivalency) 1 Work Schedule M-F, 8am-5pm Does the position provide the opportunity to work Remotely/Telecommuting? Yes - partial remote/telecommute opportunity Appointment Term 12- 12/12 months Is this position essential personnel according to the inclement weather policy? No Pay Information 59400 Pay Schedule Annually FLSA Designation Exempt Position Summary The Academic Specialist exists to be the college-embedded, high-touch connector that makes the First-Year Initiative (FYI) work in real life…not as an idea, but as a coordinated, proactive support system for first-year students. The primary function of the role is to combine a reduced caseload of proactive academic guidance with structured first-semester onboarding and first-year seminar delivery, while serving as the day-to-day liaison between the college and the FYI ecosystem (peer mentoring, referrals, early alerts, and campus partners). This position exists because traditional advising loads and structures don't reliably allow the sustained outreach, timely intervention, and cross-unit coordination required to improve persistence, especially for at-promise students, so the Academic Specialist provides the dedicated capacity to translate FYI's design into consistent student experiences and measurable retention gains.
Job Duties Responsibility Area:
Academic Advising and Coaching Duties:
Manage a reduced caseload (no more than 200 students) to provide proactive, holistic advising from admission through transition to major. Conduct one-on-one coaching sessions on goal setting, time management, and academic planning. Percentage Of Time 50
Essential Function:
Yes Responsibility Area:
Early Academic Intervention & Referral Coordination Duties:
Coordinate interventions for students showing early signs of struggle. Serve as a connector between advisors, instructors, and support services (DASH, Care Team, etc). Assist students transitioning from pre-college or BMS programs to their academic colleges. Percentage Of Time 20
Essential Function:
Yes Responsibility Area:
Teaching Responsibilities Duties:
Teach up to three sections of the First-Year Seminar (FYE-S) in Fall Semester, and Second-Year Seminars in the Spring semester. Integrating skill-building, identity development, and career exploration. Employ validating pedagogy and active learning practices. Percentage Of Time 15
Essential Function:
Yes Responsibility Area:
Advisor Development, Training Support & Collaboration Duties:
Collaborate with the college's advising leadership and the FYI leadership to facilitate advisor coaching workshops and reflective practice sessions. Share effective student engagement and validation strategies. Use analytics and early alert systems to inform outreach. Participate in testing emerging student engagement tools. Provide feedback on functionality and student response. Collaborate with FYI leadership to align activities with UNO's strategic goals and grant deliverables. Document and report student outcomes, trends, and success stories to inform institutional planning. Percentage Of Time 15
Essential Function:
Yes Required and Preferred Qualifications Required Education Master's degree in education, social work, sociology, psychology, leadership or related field. Required Experience 1-3 years of experience in advising or academic coaching, student success, case management, or comparable student-facing support, leading/teaching seminars, or group facilitation experience is preferred.
