Student Success Manager for Professional Programs

Located where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains, the University of Denver embodies the spirit of exploration and discovery that defines our region and our history. DU is a private institution built on exploration through research and collaboration among educators, students, and local and global communities. With nationally recognized academic programs, a history of widespread influence, a forward-looking vision for a 21st-century education, and a deep commitment to promoting inclusion, we open a world of opportunity and empower our students to make a difference around the world. Through learning, scholarship and practice, students gain the experience, knowledge and courage they need to tackle big challenges in the real world and guide communities and organizations.

The Daniel Felix Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science (RSECS) occupies a state-of-the-art facility that supports cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community innovation. We are home to unique centers including the Knoebel Institute for Healthy Aging (KIHA), and our faculty actively partner across disciplines to solve problems that matter both locally and globally.
The University of Denver is an R1 research university located in the heart of a thriving metropolitan area, with a strong commitment to the Four-Dimensional Experience focused on fostering student growth across intellectual, personal, character, and career dimensions. DU enrolls approximately 13,800 students (5,800 undergraduates and 8,000 graduate/professional students) and is deeply invested in innovation, community impact, and inclusive excellence.

Position Summary

The Student Success Manager for Professional Programs works collaboratively as part of the RISE (Recruitment, Innovation, Student Success, and Excellence) team, a newly formed team that supports three professional master’s programs in Cybersecurity, Data Science & AI, and Systems Engineering as well as Graduate Marketing and Enrollment.

As the initial point of student contact for academic advising and coaching, the position is responsible for establishing a regular cadence of communication with graduate students, faculty, and other University offices as related to academic timelines, university policies & program guidelines, and students’ progress toward graduation.

The role is also responsible for meeting student retention benchmarks established for the three programs and providing information and services to advance enrollment performance academic and professional goals.

This position reports to the Director of Professional Programs.

Essential Functions

Onboarding New Students

• Welcome and assist prospective students through the deposit and enrollment process for their chosen programs.
• Manage all aspects of onboarding for enrolled students, providing guidance related to their education from enrollment through graduation.
• Maintain and enhance a Canvas orientation course for newly enrolled students in the professional programs.

Personalized Student Advising & Support

• Guide students in aligning their career and program interests with their aspirations, providing personalized advice and support to nurture relationships, ensuring degree outcomes align with career goals.
• Act as the primary contact for student needs related to academic processes, advising, degree planning, course enrollment, campus support services, and course-related concerns throughout the student lifecycle, from admission to graduation. This role will support both domestic and international students in online and on-campus programs.
• Orient all students on course requirements, academic policies, registration procedures, and available campus resources.
• Ensure proactive participation in meeting professional program enrollment and retention metrics.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with all current active and inactive students to ensure successful program completion. This includes monitoring students on leave and assisting with their reentry.
• Assist with internships by helping students get approvals and paperwork into 12Twenty CRM system.
• Process graduation audits and candidacy forms for student graduation.

Scheduling & Monitoring

• Collaborate with faculty to prepare course schedules, ensuring consistent, high-quality services during high-volume periods each term. Input and update course schedules and section numbers in the Banner ERP system each term.

• Monitor student academic progress through Banner and Salesforce, identifying at-risk students, coordinating proactive outreach and resources, and maintaining regular communication to support persistence, retentio