Academic Program Specialist

University of Wisconsin Stout • Stevens Point, WI

15d • $45,000 - $55,000

About The Position

The Academic Program Specialist for Graduate Student Retention (APS-GSR) contributes to the development, coordination, and evaluation of more than 17 graduate programs within the School of Education. This position plays a key role in ensuring program effectiveness and student success by overseeing graduate student progress, academic planning, management of dissertation administrative processes, and contracting of adjunct faculty (including dissertation committee members). Using independent judgment and discretion, the APS-GSR supervises daily program activities, resolves issues, and supports continuous improvement of academic initiatives. Responsibilities include overseeing faculty contracting processes, collaborating with program leadership to assess instructional needs, and ensuring timely and accurate documentation in coordination with Human Resources and Academic Affairs. The person in this role is a key member of the SOE Graduate Office team. This position collaborates closely with faculty, staff, and leadership to identify program needs, streamline workflows, and coordinate logistics. Committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment, the APS-GSR ensures that all program operations align with departmental goals and student development initiatives. In support of doctoral student development, the specialist manages all aspects of dissertation committee administration, including tracking assignments, processing approvals, and guiding students and faculty through key milestones. This role ensures compliance with institutional policies, oversees compensation workflows, and maintains accurate records to support data-driven decision-making. Additionally, the specialist monitors enrollment trends, manages independent study tracking, and maintains departmental databases to ensure operational accuracy and transparency. This position also supports the planning and execution of academic events and initiatives, coordinates logistics for meetings and interviews, and evaluates program effectiveness to inform continuous improvement. As a collaborative member of the Graduate Office team, the specialist fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment and contributes to the design and implementation of new programming that enhances academic experience for students and faculty alike.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree
• Ability to quickly learn UWSP policies and procedures as they relate to SOE.

Nice To Haves

• 1-3 years of related professional experience (i.e., personnel contract processing, enrollment management, etc.)
• Proficiency in Canvas
• Demonstrated ability to acquire knowledge of system software used in SOE (i.e., TAM, WISER, accesSPoint, Digital Measures, Qualtrics)
• Ability to work with diverse stakeholders in a professional manner. These stakeholders could include potential students, faculty, administrative faculty, administrative staff, school district partners, donors, and parents.

Responsibilities

• Coordinates program components and evaluates program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement
• Identifies program, needs, contributes to the development of unit workflows, schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, events, and interviews
• Utilizes independent judgement regarding development, implementation, promotion, and evaluation for one or more academic programs, initiatives, or events
• May supervise the day to day activities of one or more academic programs and resolves issues exercising discretion to meet unit goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees