Student Success Centre

The Academic Support Specialist implements and monitors, under the supervision of the Academic Support Zone Coordinator, the Orillia campus and Barrie STEM Hub Academic Support Zone programs and initiatives. Duties include training student staff; developing university-level print and web-based learning materials, and online resources; facilitating and delivering academic skills, academic success advising appointments; compiling statistics and qualitative data on activities.

Other duties related to the Academic Support Zone include facilitating and supporting study clubs and facilitating workshops when invited by professors. Additionally, they will support, as needed, the delivery of Student Success events and initiatives offered to support recruitment, enrolment, retention, and student success.

• Provide orientation and training to Academic Peer Mentors and Academic Writing Coaches;
• Meet regularly with student staff and assist with preparing additional training for each term;
• Facilitate and deliver of academic skills, academic success advising and academic writing coaching sessions;
• Facilitate and support study club sessions;
• Host STEM-based study clubs;
• Provide front line services in person and online;
• Gather student feedback on academic supports and initiatives;
• Represent the Academic Support Zone at University events;
• Assist with the development of academic support resources;
• Participate in assessment and research activities centred on learning supports, student development theory, and academic supports;
• Promote the work of the Academic Support Zone through in-person, print and electronic channels;
• Assist with preparation of annual budget.
• Develop promotional materials to share across Student Affairs;
• Update website, D2L modules and other online based repositories that support academic support initiatives;
• Develop a communications plan, in collaboration with the Academic Support Zone Coordinator, for the Academic Support Zone.
• Track and compile statistics and feedback for all academic support zone initiatives;
• Develop quantitative and qualitative feedback mechanisms for the academic support zone initiatives;
• Timely response to student inquiries.

• Undergraduate degree. Preference given to candidates with advanced degrees;
• 3+ years experience working in an educational setting and development of academic skill support.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to establish rapport with students, faculty, and staff;
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills;
• Familiarity with software programs such as Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, Canva, other interactive grammar and research programs, and website management;
• Ability to develop marketing collateral to raise the awareness of academic supports among various student groups;
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team;
• Ability to work with diverse populations;
• Ability to facilitate workshops in small and large group settings as well as work with students one on one;
• Ability to implement operational procedures and gat