Senior Program Specialist, Department of Counseling

Senior Program Specialist, Department of Counseling

Salary Range:
Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU: SMU's more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and over 80 countries to take advantage of the University's small classes, meaningful research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. SMU serves approximately 7,000 undergraduates and 5,000 graduate students through eight degree-granting schools:
Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences, Cox School of Business, Lyle School of Engineering, Meadows School of the Arts, Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Dedman School of Law, Perkins School of Theology and Moody School of Graduate and Advanced Studies. SMU is data driven, and its powerful supercomputing ecosystem – paired with entrepreneurial drive – creates an unrivaled environment for the University to deliver research excellence.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical, enterprising leaders in their professions and communities. SMU's relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation's fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for global impact.

SMU is nonsectarian in its teaching and committed to academic freedom and open inquiry.

About the Department: SMU's CACREP-accredited M.S. in Counseling program provides the comprehensive training and culturally sensitive skills necessary for future counselors to empower individuals and families to achieve psychological growth and mental well-being.

About the Position:
This role is an on-campus, in-person position. The Senior Program Specialist provides support to the Department Chair, Program Director, and all faculty, staff and students in the Department of Counseling. The role assists the Chair & Director in every administrative and operational aspect of running the program from academic course planning and scheduling; instructor/adjunct assignments; faculty load documentation and compensation;

and budget and scholarship administration. The position manages day to day operations to ensure that all aspects of the program are working together efficiently and effectively.

Essential Functions:

• Support Chair and Program Director.
• Submit all compensation documentation and required forms for adjunct faculty.
• Support Chair with data collection and analysis related to CACREP accreditation and program evaluation efforts.
• Admission/Recruitment - Organize informational sessions for prospective applicants 4 times a month. Oversee admissions and review and process all admission applications for Fall, Spring and Summer, assign to faculty for review and invite top applicants to interview. Organize and help facilitate several interview sessions (PONI Day) each semester.
• Manage student orientation, group advising, enrollment and withdrawals, as well as provide reports and communications to Chair, Program Director, and advisors concerning both anticipated class needs and results of enrollment (enrollment numbers, revenue, class sizes).
• Support annual faculty orientation and on-boarding of new adjunct faculty.
• Organize and coordinate student conferrals 3 times per year - communicate with students regarding requirements, enable online ACG's and ceremony selection, ensure students have met all requirements for their chosen conferral date, coordinate with Clinic and Internship Directors to monitor student progress through Practicum/Internship classes and toward graduation requirements.
• Oversee functions related to preparing for classes at the beginning of each semester including compensation and VIQ submissions, and oversee functions related to finalizing classes at the end of each of five terms (communication to all instructors in advance of finals; ensures grades are submitted in a timely manner, ensures required paperwork is submitted for grades of Incomplete, ensures grades of Incomplete are assigned appropriately, and completed before deadline.
• Closely…