Student-Athlete Support Specialist

Virginia Peninsula Community College is a two-year institution of higher education established as a part of a statewide system of community colleges. It primarily serves the residents of the cities of Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, and Williamsburg, and the counties of James City and York.

Student-Athlete Support Specialist serves as a key member of the Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC) Athletics Department. This position provides holistic support to student-athletes by fostering academic success, personal development, and overall well-being. Through proactive outreach, mentoring, and collaboration with faculty, staff, and coaches, the Student-Athlete Support Specialist advances the College’s mission, supports the Athletics “Culture of Care,” and promotes retention, persistence, and graduation of all VPCC student-athletes.

Academic Success & Advising
· Provide individualized academic coaching, mentoring, and success planning for all student athletes. · Monitor academic progress, class attendance, and eligibility in compliance with NJCAA/Region 10 standards. · Assist student-athletes with course selection, registration, and academic goal setting.
Student Development & Retention
· Serve as a primary resource for personal, social, and career development. · Facilitate workshops, study halls, and success initiatives (time management, study skills, resilience).
· Develop and implement programming aligned with VPCC’s Enrollment Management and Student Success Initiatives. · Provide support for Athletics-related academic interventions including study hall tracking, progress report collection, and eligibility appeals.
Collaboration & Communication
· Partner with faculty, advisors, and support services (Accessibility, TRiO, Single Stop, Career Services, etc.) to ensure wrap-around support. · Work closely with coaches to identify at-risk student-athletes and implement intervention strategies. · Serve as a liaison between Athletics and Academic Affairs to enhance the student-athlete experience. · Collaborate with Athletics administration on strategic initiatives to improve athlete retention, wellness, and transfer pathways. · Assist in coordinating student-athlete onboarding, orientation, and life-skills programming.
Compliance & Reporting
· Maintain accurate records of student-athlete academic progress and participation. · Track eligibility, retention, and graduation data for departmental assessment and reporting.
· Support the Director of Athletics in upholding NJCAA, Region 10, and institutional policies.
Community & Culture of Care
· Promote the Athletics Department’s core values of accountability, resilience, and teamwork.
· Encourage involvement in community service, leadership development, and campus engagement. · Contribute to a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive environment for all student-athletes.

*This is a full-time, restricted classified position. Continuation of employment is based on funding availability.

*This position is designated as a Campus Security Authority. All employees are responsible employees and mandatory reporters.

*Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support athletic events or student needs.

*This position provides oversight, coordination, and management of student workers and volunteers for the Department of Athletics.*