Program Specialist 2, Residency

Highline College•Highline College 2400 S 240th St Des Moines, WA

12h•Onsite

About The Position

The Program Specialist 2 – Residency is primarily responsible for reviewing and determining students’ eligibility for residency classifications in accordance with Washington State residency requirements, college policies, and established procedures. This position also evaluates high school completion and equivalency for federal financial aid purposes and supports general Admissions and Enrollment Services functions. The position requires interpreting and applying complex state residency requirements, federal Title IV financial aid regulations, immigration classifications, and college policies; evaluating sensitive and complex documentation; and communicating requirements and decisions with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. The Residency Specialist provides direct guidance to students throughout the review process and serves as a resource to Admissions and Enrollment Services staff on residency requirements and eligibility determinations. The position also provides customer service and general admissions support to students through in-person interactions, phone calls, email, and virtual meetings, and may develop and deliver presentations and informational resources for students and the campus community. The Admissions Department, a unit within Enrollment Services, facilitates general admissions, selective admissions for Registered Nursing, residency for tuition purposes, and student record updates. The department creates and maintains student records and supports students as they navigate admissions and the steps to get started at Highline College. The team provides customer service through in-person and virtual services, email, and phone. The person in this position will be an active member of the Admissions and Enrollment Services team and will support other functional areas of admissions and enrollment services as needed.

Requirements

Two years of full-time administrative or program support experience with an emphasis on program coordination, records processing, data management, and/or customer service; OR An equivalent combination of education and experience.
Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulations, with strong attention to detail and sound judgment when reviewing sensitive or confidential information.
Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiently use Microsoft/Google office products.
Work independently with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency.
Work and interact effectively with colleagues, staff, students, administrators and others of various cultural, social-economic backgrounds and abilities.
Adhere to project timelines and details with strong organizational skills.
Work as a strong team player.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree.
Experience in higher education, particularly community college admissions, enrollment services, or related student services.
Experience with ctcLink/PeopleSoft or a similar student information system.
Knowledge of Washington State residency requirements and/or federal Title IV regulations.
Experience with international transcript or credential evaluation and familiarity with resources such as AACRAO EDGE or WES.
Fluency in a language other than English.

Responsibilities

Review and process residency applications and reclassification requests by interpreting and applying Washington State residency requirements, institutional policies, and established procedures.
Apply established residency guidelines and criteria to independently evaluate supporting documentation and determine eligibility for resident tuition classification, including factors related to domicile, dependency, and immigration status; consult with the Associate Director of Admissions on complex or unusual cases.
Serve as a primary point of contact for students throughout the residency review process, providing clear, timely, and culturally responsive guidance and communicating additional documentation requirements as needed.
Support the development and maintenance of student communications, templates, instructions, and informational resources, and conduct proactive outreach to students who may require residency review.
Provide guidance, support, and training to Admissions and Enrollment Services staff regarding residency requirements, processes, and documentation.
Maintain accurate and comprehensive residency records and prepare reports to support departmental and institutional needs.
Participate in statewide residency groups, meetings, and professional development activities, and collaborate with residency professionals at other Washington colleges to stay informed of regulatory changes and best practices.
Create, review, update, and maintain student records in the college's student information system and other applicable systems.
Process and support admissions and enrollment functions, including general admissions, selective admissions, student record updates, manual record processing, and backup support for enrollment services functions.
Respond to inquiries from students, staff, faculty, and community members regarding admissions, enrollment steps, student record updates, and residency through email, phone, in-person interactions, and virtual meetings.
Collaborate with Advising, Enrollment Services, and other campus partners to identify and respond to student needs and support students in navigating enrollment processes.
Represent Admissions and Enrollment Services at campus events, meetings, committees, training, and cross-training activities.
Contribute to the review and improvement of policies, procedures, communications, and business processes in support of departmental and college goals and perform other administrative functions necessary to support department operations.
Evaluate U.S. and international high school transcripts, credentials, and other educational documents to determine high school completion or U.S. high school equivalency for federal financial aid purposes.
Research and verify international academic credentials using knowledge of country-specific education systems and recognized reference resources, such as WES and AACRAO EDGE.
Review academic documents for authenticity, identify potentially fraudulent, altered, or inconsistent records, and follow established institutional procedures for documenting and reporting concerns.
Communicate with students regarding evaluation requirements, missing or additional documentation, and evaluation outcomes, and serve as a primary point of contact for students needing assistance with international high school credentials.
Complete evaluations accurately and within established timelines to support financial aid processing and applicable federal requirements.
Collaborate with the Associate Director of Admissions on complex or unusual credentials to ensure consistent and accurate evaluations.