Jobs at UMass Dartmouth

REPORTS TO: Associate Provost for Graduate Studies (APGS)

SUPERVISES: Student employees

SUMMARY PURPOSE OF POSITION: Directs the activities of the Office of Graduate Studies providing enrollment services to continuing and graduating students; provides comprehensive and correct information on the university's graduate academic programs; assists in monitoring program quality; reviews students’ projects, theses, and dissertations; oversees the process for awarding graduate assistantships; develops and maintains a comprehensive reporting function. In the area of graduate program recruitment, manages the expansions of accelerated baccalaureate to master’s programs, and the implementation of articulation and joint program agreements.

EXAMPLES OF PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensures effective collaboration of Graduate Studies Office with Colleges and Departments on issues pertaining to enrollment, progression, and ultimate graduation.
• Maintains comprehensive and accurate information regarding the university's graduate academic programs for use in advising students, explaining the program on and off campus, keeping publications and web communications current, and assisting the APGS in monitoring program quality.
• Works with academic programs and Graduate Program Directors to ensure the accuracy of degree requirements in the program webpages, the Graduate Catalog, and Degree Audit.
• Reviews transcripts and assists in certifying students who have completed all degree/certificate requirements.
• Reviews student records for possible academic sanctions and makes recommendations to the APGS.
• Manages various graduate studies processes including readmission and degree transition.
• Manages enrollment and progression of students enrolled in accelerated baccalaureate to master’s programs.
• Manages student requests for I-20 extension, CPT, and OPT.
• Continues the development of the Office of Graduate Studies as a "one-stop shop" for helping graduate students with enrollment, registration, progression, assistantships, and issues and problems.
• Assists Graduate Program Directors, Assistant/Associate Deans, and the APGS in monitoring students' progression towards achievement of their degrees.
• Oversees the reviews of students’ projects, theses, and dissertations for compliance with format requirements, guides students in making corrections, and approves these works for library submission. Collaborates with Library Services staff to conduct information sessions on thesis/dissertation requirements.
• Oversees the process for awarding graduate assistantships, assisting students and graduate program faculty and administrators to ensure good practice compliance in the awarding of assistantships and explaining assistantship regulations and benefits.
• Researches, identifies and disseminates information regarding potential funding sources and opportunities for graduate students such as NSF-GRFP to appropriate individuals; i.e., students, Graduate Program Directors, Department Chairpersons, faculty advisors, etc.
• Develops and maintains a comprehensive reporting function for: graduate admissions, enrollment, and progression; assistantship awards; costs and waivers; and planning. Collaborates with the Offices of the Registrar, CITS, and Institutional Research to develop reports and trends analyses.
• As part of the retention plan, provides support to individual graduate programs. Advises Graduate Program Directors and staff on correct policies and procedures pertaining to Graduate Studies issues.
• Manages the editorial process for the graduate catalogue and for campus-wide graduate publications.
• As part of the retention plan, develops and maintains current and accurate communications for current students and faculty and administrators,
• Works with various offices to maintain the accuracy of program webpages.
• Monitors thesis and dissertation defenses to ensure compliance with Graduate Studies policies.
• Other related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• EDUCATION: Master's degree.
• EXPERIENCE: Significant experience (over 5 years) in higher education, administering and managing services pertaining to graduate programs.
• OTHER: Flexible schedule and off-campus travel as required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in using the PeopleSoft student information system and working knowledge of SLATE
• Familiarity with graduate student programming and requirements
• Familiarity with international student programming and requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Excellent interaction, communication, and management skills and ability to exercise judgment and leadership in working with students, faculty, and staff
• Knowledgeable about current practices in higher education
• Ability to work independently under general guidance
• Ability to use software packages including, word processing, spreadsheets and databases and to work with a comprehensive student information system and to produce analyses and reports

NOTE: Other job-related duties and responsibilities may be assigned and/or the job description changed periodically to reflect changing organization needs.