The posting
The Nursing Student Support Specialist is a part-time position responsible for leading academic support and student success initiatives for nursing students, with a focus on academic progression, retention, individualized student support, and NCLEX readiness. This position collaborates with students, faculty, and campus partners to identify needs, provide student resources and intervention, and support student success throughout the nursing program.
POSITION STATUS: This is a non-exempt, half-time position requiring in-person work for approximately 20 hours per week (Monday-Friday) from August through May. Hours are limited in June and July, with a minimum commitment of 5-10 hours of work per week and 1,040 hours per year. This position is not eligible for remote work.
Salary Range: $27.50 - $30.00. This is the expected hourly range for this position. The hourly range offered will depend on a candidate's experience and education, and departmental budget.
Responsibilities
- Manages academic support programming and student success initiatives for undergraduate nursing students across all years of the program, providing proactive outreach to students identified at risk.
- Analyzes academic performance and progression data to identify students in need of early intervention and develop strategies to improve student outcomes and retention.
- Provides individualized academic support and coaching to students experiencing academic challenges, including development of academic success plans and referrals to appropriate campus resources in collaboration with students’ faculty advisors, program leadership, academic advising, student accessibility services, and other campus partners.
- Maintains a systematic student-success caseload, documenting interventions, monitoring outcomes, and closing the loop on referrals.
- Manages the NCLEX eligibility and application process, ensuring required paperwork and documentation are completed and submitted accurately and on time so students are approved to sit for the licensure examination.
- Monitors and maintains clinical feedback forms and Student Individualized Education Plans (SIEPs), tracking student progress and ensuring timely follow-up, documentation, and communication with faculty and students.
- Develops and delivers small- and large-group student workshops on topics including study strategies, time management, test-taking, clinical preparation, learning science, stress management, and preparation for nursing licensure examinations.
- Schedules and deploys course evaluations, compiles student feedback on courses and clinicals, and distributes evaluative data to course faculty.
- Evaluates the effectiveness of student-success initiatives using student performance, progression, retention, and graduation data, and prepares reports and makes recommendations for improvement.
Other Responsibilities
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
- Supports the mission, vision, and values of Elmhurst University.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- BSN graduate holding current Illinois RN licensure.
- 3+ years of experience working with undergraduate nursing students or in academic/student support within a higher education or healthcare setting.
- Demonstrated experience providing academic advising, coaching, student support, or early intervention to undergraduate students.
- Experience interpreting academic data and using it to identify students who may be at risk academically or of delayed progression.
- Experience developing and facilitating individual and group academic support programs.
- Strong organizational skills and experience managing confidential student records and documentation.
- Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
- Proficiency with student information systems, Microsoft Office, and data tracking/reporting tools.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with NCLEX preparation, NCLEX eligibility/application processes, or nursing licensure requirements.
- Experience working with clinical education, including reviewing clinical evaluations/feedback and monitoring student progression.
- Knowledge of nursing curricula, clinical education, accreditation requirements, and student progression policies.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements The essential functions of this position are primarily performed in an indoor setting with limited exposure to outdoor weather conditions. Work is often sedentary in nature and requires remaining in a stationary position for extended periods. Required abilities include speaking and hearing for in-person and virtual communication, using close and distance vision when reading documents or viewing screens, and performing tasks with repetitive fine motor skills. Work may require occasional lifting, bending, carrying, or otherwise moving objects weighing up to 15 pounds. Qualified applicants who can perform the essential functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodations will be considered.
Benefits
An overview of Elmhurst University benefits is available here.
