Student Athlete Eligibility & Transfer Specialist

Penn State University • Benner Township, PA

2d

About The Position

The Morgan Academic Center seeks a Student Athlete Eligibility & Transfer Specialist who works closely with university registrar staff, compliance, coaches, admission liaison, and academic support personnel to facilitate student–athlete success and maintain the integrity of athletic records. This role ensures that student–athlete academic documentation is accurate, secure, and in full compliance with institutional, conference, and NCAA regulations. This position requires on-site presence during key periods of the academic calendar. Specifically, the first two weeks and the last two weeks of each semester (fall, spring, and summer) are critical. Additional on-campus attendance may be needed throughout the semester for meetings, trainings, and other business-related activities.

Requirements

• Ability to analyze a student-athlete’s degree program using the Penn State Degree Audit Reports (PeopleSoft)
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and according to FERPA guidelines
• Skilled in working independently and following through on duties with minimal supervision
• Ability to effectively counsel and advise student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and staff with questions and concerns related to academic eligibility questions and concerns
• Ability to interact diplomatically with individuals of various social, cultural, economic, and educational backgrounds
• Outstanding communication skills both oral and written, including skill in writing memos/reports and using correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Working knowledge of intercollegiate athletics and student-athlete demands
• Ability to establish and interact collaboratively and effectively with other staff, student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and the Penn State community in a highly pressured environment
• Outstanding listening, analytical, and problem-solving skills in working with Morgan Academic Center Athletics Compliance Office staff
• Ability to operate Windows-based PC using Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
• Master's Degree
• 6+ years of relevant experience

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in higher education, sports administration, or related area
• Advanced knowledge of Penn State’s university, general education, and major curriculum
• Experience working directly with student–athletes or within a collegiate athletic department
• Familiarity with software such as LSDBi, PeopleSoft, or ARMS

Responsibilities

• Student-Athlete Records Management Collaborate with the Registrar's Office and Morgan Academic Center advisers to maintain accurate and up-to-date eligibility records and information for all student-athletes
• Oversee the secure storage and confidentiality of athletics records in compliance with FERPA and institutional policies
• Coordinate university systems (ARMS, Retain, LionPATH) to monitor student-athlete enrollment, eligibility, and academic progress; identified registration/hold issues to MAC Advisors to ensure NCAA and institutional compliance
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of student-athlete data across ARMS, Retain, and LionPATH; track resolution of eligibility, registration, and degree-audit issues to maintain institutional and NCAA compliance
• Eligibility & Certification Evaluate and articulate transfer credits to determine eligibility for incoming and continuing student-athletes
• Coordinate and review transfer credit evaluation process
• Serve as liaison between university advising units and the Morgan Academic Center to complete continuing eligibility evaluations
• Coordinate and verify student-athlete eligibility requirements including NCAA, Big Ten and NCAA academic benchmarks
• Prepare and submit required NCAA, conference, and institutional reports
• Training and Collaboration The creation/implementation of a training program to educate institutional personnel regarding their role in NCAA eligibility and compliance
• Responsible for leading institutional committee in review of all prospective student-athlete academic credentials
• Develop strong working relationships with the Campus College advisors, Morgan Academic, Compliance, and Registrar office staff members
• Monitoring course and degree audit substitutions and approvals, change of majors relating to progress toward degree requirements, and graduation
• Scheduling & Registration Support Coordinate priority registration and class scheduling for student-athletes by collaborating with MAC advisers, academic advisors, and the Registrar's Office
• Work with MAC advisers, academic departments, and the Registrar's Office to resolve registration and scheduling conflicts
• Policy & Process Oversight Develop and maintain department policies for athletic recordkeeping
• Provide training and guidance to staff and coaches on registration and eligibility procedures
• Data Analysis & Reporting Track and report on academic progress rates, graduation success rates, and other key metrics
• Assist in monitoring and submitting the NCAA Academic Performance Program (APP), which includes both the Academic Progress Rate (APR) and Graduation Success Rate (GSR)
• Produces data reports and information systems to prepare and verify APR, GSR, and other compliance submissions
• Collects, manages, and verifies enrollment forms from outside institutions to confirm student-athlete enrollment and maintain accurate records
• Assist the Compliance Office by providing data to assist with submission of NCAA and Big Ten waiver submissions (e.g., medical absence, PTD)
• Academic Morgan Academic Center with B1G Ten, NCAA and other academic award verification criteria

Benefits

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being.
• In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time.
• One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.

What This Job Offers

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