Administrative & Student Support Specialist

University of Akron•Akron, OH

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Assist the Department Chair or School Director in coordinating the department’s day-to-day academic operations and programs while providing advanced administrative support. Serve as an informational resource for faculty, staff, and students by answering inquiries, providing information, and resolving problems. Provide information and support related to graduate and undergraduate admissions, registration, financial aid, scholarships, course and classroom scheduling, enrollment, academic records, and student programs. Support the Department Chair or School Director with calendar management, document preparation, filing systems, databases, travel arrangements, and projects. Support departmental business operations, including budgets, inventory, purchasing, personnel processes, events, and travel. Provide functional guidance to administrative staff and students and assist with departmental policies and procedures. This is a non-exempt union position in the Staff Bargaining Unit, with salary grade SBU-110. The hourly rate is $18.21; salary determination is subject to the SBU Collective Bargaining Agreement. Employment offers are contingent upon verification of credentials and a satisfactory criminal background check. Work performed as a University of Akron employee is expected to take place in Ohio. The application deadline is October 27, 2026.

Requirements

At least 4 years of experience in office or clerical procedures.
At least 18 months of education or training beyond high school.
Advanced computer knowledge relating to word-processing, spreadsheet, and database software packages.
Ability to use and retrieve information from databases to perform daily job duties.
Ability to coordinate programs, work in a fast-paced environment, and use new technology.
Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, and research skills.
Ability to maintain and monitor budgets.
Effective verbal and written communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Two years of experience in higher education or a similar environment is preferred.
Working knowledge of, or ability to learn, web content management software, enterprise resource planning systems, and other departmental systems or applications.

Responsibilities

Advise students, faculty, and staff and provide information regarding the department’s academic activities.
Support graduate and undergraduate admissions, registration, financial aid, scholarships, course evaluations, transfer coursework evaluation, and degree completion processes.
Process and review admission applications and credentials; communicate decisions; process and monitor scholarships and scholarship applications.
Assist with course and classroom scheduling and enrollment.
Analyze, maintain, and monitor confidential academic paperwork, records, and databases; create reports for decision-making and distribution.
Assist in coordinating student-related programs and events hosted by the department.
Provide administrative support to the Department Chair or School Director, including calendar management, document preparation and proofreading, filing systems and databases, travel arrangements, and project coordination.
May assist with support of the departmental website.
Support departmental business operations, including monitoring department and program budgets, maintaining equipment and supply inventories, administering purchasing activities, and authorizing limited expenditures.
Assist with employment processes and maintain personnel records, including position searches and personnel matters such as appointments or changes, faculty load reporting, part-time faculty reasonable assurance memos, Personnel Action Forms, and student employment processes.
Assist with department events and conferences and make travel arrangements as needed.
May serve as building coordinator and work with PFOC and locking systems as needed.
Oversee administrative staff and students by providing functional guidance to ensure smooth workflow.
Provide guidance in creating and revising departmental policies and procedures.
Perform other job-related duties as needed by the Department Chair or School Director.