Student Services Specialist-Graduate School Administration

Student Services Specialist-Graduate School Administration

About the Office of the Graduate School Registrar and Student Services

The Office of the Graduate School Registrar and Student Services plays a vital role in supporting a diverse range of students and academic fields. Committed to fostering an inclusive environment, the office ensures that students from all backgrounds receive the guidance and resources they need to thrive. It operates in a fast-paced and dynamic setting, which allows staff to continuously engage with new challenges and opportunities. Through close collaboration with faculty, fields, and other administrative offices, the team promotes a culture of teamwork and innovation, contributing to a seamless and enriching graduate experience. Enrollment representatives within Cornell's colleges, schools, and units regularly collaborate and partner with the Enrollment Division to accomplish the University's enrollment goals.

The Opportunity

The Graduate School Registrar and Student Services team is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Student Services Specialist to provide comprehensive support to graduate students, graduate field administrators, and directors of graduate studies across over 100 graduate fields. This role serves as the central point of contact for graduate student services, managing enrollment inquiries, degree requirement guidance, records management, and interactions with various university offices to resolve student issues. The ideal candidate will bring a high level of professionalism, confidentiality, and strong organizational skills to the role.

Key Responsibilities:

Student Services and Support:

• Serve as the primary contact for graduate students and field administrators, responding to inquiries regarding enrollment, degree requirements, and requests for extensions.
• Assist students with enrollment processes, including handling electronic add/drop forms and loading student data into research courses, posting grades at the end of each term.
• Provide guidance and interpretation of the Graduate School Code of Legislation in coordination with the College Registrar, advising on committee selection, milestones, leaves, withdrawals, and other requirements.
• Work with university offices to assist students in resolving visa status issues, insurance, and billing concerns.

Records Management:

• Maintain and secure permanent student records with a high degree of confidentiality and in compliance with FERPA and other data privacy regulations.
• Update and manage student records using the PeopleSoft system, ensuring data integrity and security.
• Coordinate the annual Student Progress Review (SPR) process, troubleshoot issues, and track completions.

Customer Service and Front Office Coordination:

• Manage front desk operations, handle incoming student traffic, and prioritize work to ensure efficient service delivery.
• Respond to student, faculty, and field inquiries via phone, email, and in-person interactions, escalating complex cases as needed.
• Maintain and update the Graduate School Student Services website and draft communications for newsletters and announcements.

This is a full-time (39 hours/week) endowed position that is based in Ithaca, NY. This position follows a 4:1 campus-to-home hybrid work arrangement after a period of orientation and training. This hybrid work arrangement is subject to change at any time. Work hours are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday through Friday.

What You Need

We are looking for a team member who is customer-service oriented, adaptable, and technology proficient. Additionally, you will:

• Hold an Associate's degree and at least 4 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrate knowledge of the specific needs of graduate student populations, particularly international students.
• Have experience using discretion and exercising sound judgment, applying policies and procedures consistently, and working with confidential information.
• Be committed to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Be passionate about working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, anti-racism, and wellbeing.
• Cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include:

• Bachelor's degree or 4 years of experience
• Student or customer service experience preferred.
• Experience working in a higher education environment.
• Proficiency with desktop and Cornell's mainframe computer systems, such as PeopleSoft, ImageNow, and NextGen.
• Proficiency with WordPress website platform.
• Experience working as part of a team.

A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement. Employees typically perform this role
  remotely 1 day per week and on-campus 4 days per week. The university reserves the right to modify, suspend, revoke or terminate the hybrid work arrangement at any time.
• Employees who work remotely may receive multiple W-2 Forms depending on their work location. The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholding for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside of New York State.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and diversity initiatives.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: https://hr.cornell.edu/benefits-pay.
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: https://hr.cornell.edu/jobs/your-total-rewards.
• Our leave provisions include three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1.
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Familiarize yourself with Cornell's COVID-19 workplace guidance as well as the university's COVID-19 services and information.

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Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

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• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

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Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.