Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator

Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator

• Job :
• Location:
  
  Fairfax, VA
• Location:
  
  Fairfax, VA
• Classification:
  Classified Staff
• Opening on:
  Sep 18 2026
• Job Type: Full-Time
• Work Schedule:
  
  Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk)
• Workplace Type:
  Hybrid Eligible
• Sponsorship Eligibility:
  Not eligible for visa sponsorship
• Pay Band: 04
• Salary:
  Salary commensurate with education and experience
• Criminal Background Check:
  Yes
• Department:
  Academic Affairs
• Classification:
  Education Support Spec 3
• Job Category:
  Classified Staff

Part of the Office of the Provost, under the Academic Affairs Division, the Graduate Division elevates Mason graduate education by augmenting the work of the academic units by increasing the impact of graduate students and programs, fostering a collaborative culture of academic excellence, and contributing to the research productivity and the workforce development appropriate to an R1 institution.

The Senior Graduate Academic Affairs Coordinator provides high-level support to the Graduate Division and its key constituent groups by managing graduate academic policies and procedures, coordinating student exception and appeal processes, and contributing to the development and enhancement of graduate academic workflows. This position reports to Senior Director of Graduate Academic Affairs and Initiatives.

Graduate Student Academic and Admission Actions:

• Lead the review and processing of graduate student requests for exceptions to academic and admissions policies, as well as academic appeals, ensuring alignment with institutional policies and guidelines;
• For complex exception cases, manage the full exception to policy process: review initial submissions using internal systems, identify and request additional documentation, conduct critical analysis based on policy criteria, and draft a comprehensive summary with recommendations for supervisory review and discussion. Prepare and deliver oral briefings, draft final decisions, and ensure timely communication with student, faculty, and staff, and maintain proper records of management;
• Manage the graduate student appeals process involving faculty review committees: conduct thorough review of student submissions, prepare and distribute materials, brief committee members on key issues, facilitate communication between stakeholders, and ensure timely resolution and notification of outcomes to students and stakeholders;
• Serve as the primary resource for inquiries related to academic exceptions and appeals, ensuring timely, accurate responses;
• Oversee internal record management processes so they are carried out in compliance with accreditation and university procedures and lead any needed enhancements;
• Manage graduate student leave of absence requests, including review of submissions, follow-up for additional documentation, eligibility evaluation based on academic policy, engagement with students and stakeholders as needed, and communication of outcomes using established workflows;
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all student records and sensitive information in accordance with university policy; and
• Utilize available data to support the supervisor in assessing implementation of new policies and procedures, and in identifying trends and gaps in policy exception requests.

Graduate Policy and Procedures:

• Contribute to the development of new and enhanced graduate student academic and admissions policies through review, issue identification, and assist in gathering input from stakeholders;
• Collaborate with graduate partners to ensure creation, implementation, and communication of procedures and processes that enhance the graduate student experience and assist in ensuring units' compliance with existing graduate university, academic, and admission policies through analysis of available data and university engagement; and
• Work with the Graduate Division Operations team to identify and provide information relating to requirements, updates, and maintenance needs that ensure accurate graduate academic and admissions policy and procedures information is presented on relevant webpages.

Communication and Outreach:

• Assist with the development and implementation of relevant policies and procedures and the management of communication with all graduate policies and procedures;
• Contribute towards presentations and training related to graduate education of new faculty and staff through written and verbal communication;
• Serve as a primary liaison for academic units and…