Program Manager for Student Engagement and Second Year Experience

The University of St. Thomas invites qualified candidates to apply for a Program Manager for Student Engagement and Second Year Experience (Prog Mgr I) position within the Campus Life Department.

The University of St. Thomas embraces belonging and equal opportunity for all. Our convictions of dignity, diversity and personal attention call us to embody and champion an inclusive environment.  The University is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer (EEO).  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, or other protected characteristic.  This commitment to inclusion and equal opportunity is consistent with our mission: Inspired by Catholic intellectual tradition, the University of St. Thomas educates students to be morally responsible leaders who think critically, act wisely, and work skillfully to advance the common good.  A successful candidate will possess a commitment to the ideals of this mission.

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY

The University of St. Thomas offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, which includes:

• Tuition Remission for employees, spouses, and dependents
• Generous Retirement Contributions to support your future
• Comprehensive Health Coverage including medical, dental, and vision
• Fully Paid Insurance: disability, life, and AD&D
• Paid Parental Leave to support growing families

Salary Range: $52,000 - $63,087

The University of St. Thomas has provided a salary range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The specific salary offered will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information.

JOB SUMMARY

The Student Engagement & Second-Year Program Manager advances student belonging, connection, and success by fostering meaningful participation in campus life and leading strategic initiatives for second-year students. Grounded in the Catholic mission of the University of St. Thomas, this position emphasizes accompaniment—walking with students as they discern their sense of purpose, community, and vocation.

The Program Manager provides guidance, mentorship, and program coordination that help students find their place in campus life and connect their involvement to personal growth, academic persistence, and the common good. This position also leads Campus Life’s Second-Year Experience (SYE) initiatives to ensure continued engagement and belonging beyond the first year.

Collaborating with campus partners, the Program Manager also supports university traditions, recognition programs, and large- scale events, ensuring that every student feels seen, supported, and part of the Tommie community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Student Engagement, Retention, and Belonging Initiatives

• Coordinate intentional engagement initiatives that connect students to meaningful experiences, organizations, and campus traditions.
• Create and implement Engagement Plans that help students link co-curricular participation to academic, social, and vocational goals.
• Proactively identify and reach out to students who show signs of disengagement, providing connection to mentors, communities, and support networks.
• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise Tommie Engagement Consultants (TEC) student leaders who build community and foster belonging among undergraduates.
• Lead the TEC Program as a peer engagement initiative that connects with students across all class years, ensuring every Tommie feels seen, supported, and part of the campus community.
• Guide TECs in conducting personalized outreach, developing individualized engagement plans for students, and celebrating milestones in their involvement journeys.
• Use Salesforce and Tommie Link to identify disengaged students, monitor engagement trends, and track retention outcomes.
• Implement data-informed strategies to strengthen inclusion and belonging, with a particular focus on first-generation, commuter, and low-income students.
• Collaborate with Retention & Student Success, Residence Life, Off-Campus Student Life, and Student Diversity & Inclusion Services to coordinate early-alert interventions, outreach campaigns, and re-engagement efforts.
• Partner across Campus Life and university departments to align engagement efforts and co-create initiatives that advance connection, inclusion, and community flourishing.

Management of Campus Life First-Year Tommies and Second-Year Student Engagement Initiatives

• Develop, coordinate, and assess a comprehensive First-Year Tommies (FYT) program and a Second-Year Engagement (SYE) program that supports student connection, belonging, and success.
• Plan and implement Welcome Back Days (fall) and First Week Back (spring) to engage returning students and encourage re-involvement.
• Collaborate with Director of Campus Life in planning of Welcome Days to welcome and connect new students to St Thomas campus and resources in the fall.
• Collaborate with STAR, Academic Affairs, Residence Life, and other campus partners to design programs that address the unique developmental needs of first-year, second-year, and priority student populations.
• Manage the FYT and SYE student cohorts in Tommie Link, including marketing, event postings, and engagement tracking.
• Coordinate the First-Year Tommies Pathway and Second-Year Engagement Pathway within Tommie Link by recruiting qualifying events, promoting participation, and supporting data collection and assessment.
• Evaluate the impact of first-year and second-year initiatives on retention and belonging and provide reports and recommendations for improvement.

Campus Life Traditions, Awards, and Events

• Coordinate signature university programs and student recognition initiatives, including the Tommie Awards, Leadership Scholarships, and Commencement Speaker student selection.
• Support Campus Life’s involvement in large-scale university traditions such as Homecoming, Holidays at St. Thomas, and Tommie Fest.
• Serve on department or division committees that advance engagement, retention, and belonging.

Marketing, Data, and Operations 

• Develop and manage communications related to student engagement, including Tommie Link pages, social media content, and weekly weekend emails.
• Maintain accurate records of student participation, engagement data, and program assessment results.
• Provide data reports and updates for departmental and division-wide assessment and strategic planning.
• Support Campus Life office operations by providing customer service, responding to inquiries, and assisting with office coverage as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree

• Three years of program management or office management experience, preferably in a higher education environment

An equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and skills have been acquired may be substituted.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in a relevant field

• Previous experience with university programming, activities, first-year experiences, and/or co-curricular retention programs 

HOW TO APPLY

All interested candidates must apply online at https://www.stthomas.edu/jobs/. Follow the instructions to complete an online application which includes creating or updating an applicant profile, uploading a resume, and completing a job specific application.

In light of its commitment to create and maintain a safe learning and working environment, employment with the University of St. Thomas requires consent and successful completion of a background screening.

Official job posting is available at www.stthomas.edu/jobs.