Graduate Academic Program Specialist - Askew School of Public Administration and Policy

Florida State University•Tallahassee, FL

41d

About The Position

Serves as primary point of contact for departmental academic affairs for all MPA, Combined Pathways, certificate, and non-degree seeking students. Provides guidance and support to students on a range of academic matters, including course selection, degree requirements, and program planning. Manages student registration and enrollment. Initiates and manages the completion of forms from the Graduate School, Registrar's Office, and COSSPP (College of Social Science and Public Policy) related to students' progress in the program. Assists with maintaining the MPA Graduate Student Handbook, MPA Canvas Course, and student listserv. Keeps Graduate Student Tracking database up to date and tracks student progression towards completion. Works with the Office of Academic Affairs to clear students for graduation. Receives guidance and meets deadlines as directed by the Office of Academic Affairs. Tracks students progress, plans course sequencing and schedules, advises on academic policies (including probation/SAP appeals), navigates state-funded vs. non-state-funded course options. Manages advising booking page and advising-related resources and forms, including Program of Study, PAD electives list, pre-approved non-PAD electives list, non-PAD approval form, typical course rotation schedule, course substitution forms. Completes Satisfactory Academic Progress appeals. Monitors and Manages student registration and enrollment tasks, processes transfer credit equivalencies, attends and plans major promotional events, assists students in searching and applying for scholarships, trains OPS employees, and takes on other responsibilities as needed and as directed by department or program leadership. Supervises administrative Graduate Assistants. Supports NASPAA (the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) accreditation review cycle. Maintains administrator access to the Askew School for minor updates. Assists with graduate student admissions, including recruitment, marketing the graduate program to prospective students, answering inquiries from prospective students, timely processing and tracking applications. Works with the Graduate Admissions Office to coordinate application materials for prospective students. Ensures students meet residency requirements, including Florida residency for US applicants. Coordinate with IT staff to update and manage the website for graduate recruitment. Runs new graduate student orientation. Initiates regular contact with MPA students, utilizing a variety of communication methods (email, phone, video conferencing). Timely, accurate, and student-centered response to student inquires/requests (via email, phone, or other platforms). Maintains detailed records of all communication with students, including email correspondence, notes from phone conversations, and summaries of video conference meetings. Proactively communicates important program updates, deadlines, policy changes, and other relevant information to students, utilizing appropriate channels (email, online platforms, etc.) to ensure they are well-informed and have access to the resources they need. Communicate regularly with the Graduate Faculty Advisor, departmental faculty, regarding the student's program of study, enduring all parties are informed of student progress and any potential challenges.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree and two years of experience; or a high school diploma or equivalent and six years of experience.
(Note: a combination of post high school education and experience equal to six years.)
This position requires successful completion of a criminal history background check.

Responsibilities

Serves as primary point of contact for departmental academic affairs for all MPA, Combined Pathways, certificate, and non-degree seeking students.
Provides guidance and support to students on a range of academic matters, including course selection, degree requirements, and program planning.
Manages student registration and enrollment.
Initiates and manages the completion of forms from the Graduate School, Registrar's Office, and COSSPP (College of Social Science and Public Policy) related to students' progress in the program.
Assists with maintaining the MPA Graduate Student Handbook, MPA Canvas Course, and student listserv.
Keeps Graduate Student Tracking database up to date and tracks student progression towards completion.
Works with the Office of Academic Affairs to clear students for graduation.
Receives guidance and meets deadlines as directed by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Tracks students progress, plans course sequencing and schedules, advises on academic policies (including probation/SAP appeals), navigates state-funded vs. non-state-funded course options.
Manages advising booking page and advising-related resources and forms, including Program of Study, PAD electives list, pre-approved non-PAD electives list, non-PAD approval form, typical course rotation schedule, course substitution forms.
Completes Satisfactory Academic Progress appeals.
Monitors and Manages student registration and enrollment tasks, processes transfer credit equivalencies, attends and plans major promotional events, assists students in searching and applying for scholarships, trains OPS employees, and takes on other responsibilities as needed and as directed by department or program leadership.
Supervises administrative Graduate Assistants.
Supports NASPAA (the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration) accreditation review cycle.
Maintains administrator access to the Askew School for minor updates.
Assists with graduate student admissions, including recruitment, marketing the graduate program to prospective students, answering inquiries from prospective students, timely processing and tracking applications.
Works with the Graduate Admissions Office to coordinate application materials for prospective students.
Ensures students meet residency requirements, including Florida residency for US applicants.
Coordinate with IT staff to update and manage the website for graduate recruitment.
Runs new graduate student orientation.
Initiates regular contact with MPA students, utilizing a variety of communication methods (email, phone, video conferencing).
Timely, accurate, and student-centered response to student inquires/requests (via email, phone, or other platforms).
Maintains detailed records of all communication with students, including email correspondence, notes from phone conversations, and summaries of video conference meetings.
Proactively communicates important program updates, deadlines, policy changes, and other relevant information to students, utilizing appropriate channels (email, online platforms, etc.) to ensure they are well-informed and have access to the resources they need.
Communicate regularly with the Graduate Faculty Advisor, departmental faculty, regarding the student's program of study, enduring all parties are informed of student progress and any potential challenges.