Manager, Student Success & Retention

Manager, Student Success & Retention

Position Title
Manager, Student Success & Retention

Position Type

Classification
Manager 1 - Administration

Department
Instruction

Division

Discipline

Work Schedule
This regular, full-time administrative position will work Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with evening and weekend hours as needed, and at various locations.

Position Summary
The Student Success and Retention (SSR) Manager works closely with instructors, students, and academic leadership to identify and address retention challenges, improve student engagement, and ensure effective instructional practices that support long-term student success.

In addition to success and retention strategies, the manager will have up to 50% teaching responsibilities in English, Reading, and First Year Seminar (FYS). The manager will provide instruction for Kickstart programming and teach credit-bearing classes. Additionally, the manager will collaborate with the Center for Student Success to coordinate Kickstart, including the developmental math content.

The SSR Manager will also provide support for other retention efforts, including the Reading Across the Curriculum (RAC) program that is designed to increase students' critical thinking skills through improved reading and increased retention in gateway courses.

Kellogg Community College is located in Battle Creek, Michigan, a community of approximately 54,000 people. Leisure activities, natural resources and learning opportunities provide a foundation for residents. Located along the I-94 interstate, Battle Creek is within 30 minutes of Kalamazoo, 60 minutes of Lansing and Grand Rapids and within three hours of Detroit, Chicago and Indianapolis.

KCC Equity Statement
At Kellogg Community College, we are committed to creating an inclusive environment where we foster respect for others and our differences, support cultural understanding, demonstrate ethical behavior and champion social justice. We will accomplish this by:

• Deepening our understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion through learning, engagement with others and personal reflection;
• Valuing the lived experiences and perspectives of others while nurturing and understanding the differences between us;
• Rejecting all forms of prejudice, discrimination and racism; and
• Advancing integrity, justice and civility among and between us.

Physical Demands
The job responsibilities are performed in an office area and presentation venues. Travel by car required. The job has intermittent periods during which continuous physical exertion is required, such as independent mobility between work areas, standing, sitting, stooping, bending, climbing, lifting material or equipment, some of which may be heavy or awkward (8 - 45 pounds). Typically requires regular use of one or more physical senses of medium intensity and long duration. Must meet reasonable deadlines, quotas or demands for accuracy, and may be involved in some mildly unpleasant situations.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Master's degree in English or related discipline, or a Master's degree or higher with at least 18 graduate semester hours in English or a related discipline from a regionally accredited college or university (attach unofficial transcripts showing courses completed and degree(s) conferred).
2. A minimum of two (2+) years of successful teaching experience in an educational setting.
3. Experience in planning and developing bridge/retention programs for higher education.
4. Additional discipline studies in both writing and developmental English and Reading, corequisite support courses, First Year Seminar/Experience (FYS/E), and/or Service Learning.
5. Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Preferred but not Required

1. Experience in higher education teaching, preferable at a community college.
2. Additional discipline studies and experience teaching Developmental Math.
3. Experience in planning and implementing reading initiatives to support student success at or above the secondary education level(s).
4. Experience in implementing Service Learning in a post-secondary environment.
5. Ability to strategically think, problem solve, take risks, and make and communicate difficult decisions.

Proposed Salary
According to the Kellogg Community College Hay Administrative Compensation program, the 2025-2026 annual salary range for a Manager 1 position, $63,276 to $79,098 to start.

Special Instructions to Applicants
To be considered, all required materials must be submitted no later than Monday, October 6, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. EST, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all required materials are submitted by the closing date and time. Only online applications will be accepted - any paper applications will be rejected and returned to the applicant. As part of the interview process, applicants will be given a skills test. If you have questions regarding our online application process, please call 269 565-2074 or e-mail [email protected].

To apply, visit

Projected Hire Date

External Posting Date
09/15/2025

External Closing Date
10/06/2025

External Closing Time
9:00 a.m. EST

Internal Posting Date
09/15/2025

Internal Closing Date
10/06/2025

Job Duties

Essential Function: Program Development and Support

Description:

• Develop and implement retention programs aimed at improving student engagement, academic preparedness, and elimination or mitigation of barriers to success.
• Specifically, coordinate with faculty, student affairs personnel, and academic administrators to offer the Kellogg Kickstart program in the summer and fall of each year.
• Deliver content for Kickstart in Writing and Reading.
• Provide administrative support to facilitate or lead Instructional retention measures.
• Communicate effectively with students to keep them informed about available resources and retention initiatives.
• Participate in assessment of the effectiveness of student success programs, including retention strategies and interventions.
• Use data analytics to identify trends or at-risk student groups and create proactive interventions to improve retention rates.
• Conduct surveys, focus groups, or other feedback mechanisms to understand student needs and experiences.
• Make data-driven decisions to adjust retention and success programs, ensuring they meet the needs of diverse student populations.
• Utilize technology tools, such as student success platforms, LMS, CRM software, or data analytics tools, to track and manage student progress.

Essential Function: Instruction

Description:

• Serve in the role of instructor with attendant responsibilities as follows:
  • Teach developmental writing and reading corequisite support classes as needed.
  • Teach FYS for Kickstart.
  • Teach ENGL 151 and 152 as needed.

• May also teach developmental math corequisite support courses and Service Learning.
• Teaching may occur in any modality; modality will be determined by academic administration based on student needs.