Program Specialist

About the Position

The Program Specialist 2 is a member of a dynamic team focused on student success and in increasing the number of certified educators in the State of Washington. This position plays a significant role in supporting students (undergrad, graduate, endorsement-only) once admitted into their program of study. Undergrad students are admitted on an annual basis, graduate students are admitted every other year, and endorsement-only students are admitted on an ongoing quarterly basis.

This position serves as the sole on‑site staff member and is responsible for coordinating all student service and faculty support aspects of Woodring College of Education's Multilingual Education Community Programs offered at Western's site location in Renton, WA.

The Program Specialist will work in collaboration with Academic Program Directors who lead the on‑site programs, with the transfer student success specialist who manages the admissions for all multilingual education programming across multiple sites, and with the multilingual education outreach manager. Strong communication skills as well as the ability to work both as a member of a team and independently are critical to this position.

Additionally, this position will assist with tasks specific to Multilingual Education programming across multiple sites, including the Bilingual Teaching Fellows Program located in Everett.

This is an 11‑month, 40 hour/week, cyclic position. The position is based at the Puget Sound ESD in Renton. Students and faculty are on site Monday through Thursday; the Program Specialist is expected to work on site Monday through Thursday with possible opportunity for remote work on Fridays. Anticipated work hours are Monday‑Thursday, 9:00‑6:00;
Friday hours are variable. Tasks pertaining to other site locations will be conducted from the Renton location. Cyclic leave to be taken during August and December. Additional evening work may be required as well as occasional travel to other Western site locations and regional partner districts and colleges.

• Serve as the sole on‑site staff support for all students enrolled in the teacher education programs at the WWU Renton site
• Organize quarterly course scheduling information for students, including collecting text/material requirements, special directions from instructors, and quarterly calendars; communicate schedule and registration information with students; ensure students are properly registered
• Administer processes related to course overrides, non‑matriculated student registrations, and cross‑campus registrations; communicate with respective departments at main campus in submission of student forms
• Monitor student accounts for financial and other holds preventing registration; communicate with Academic Program Directors regarding registration status as needed
• Routinely monitor reports to ensure students are maintaining program, College, and University‑level requirements, including GPA, clearances, outstanding DTA/GUR completion, pre‑requisites and mandatory trainings; communicate findings with Academic Program Directors and advise students as appropriate
• Manage all processes related to student graduation, including communicating application processes with students and entering/monitoring details into Western’s degree evaluation system
• Manage, in collaboration with the University’s Certification Office, student clearances; advise students on State policies specific to these requirements
• In collaboration with the program directors, develop unique plans of study for students who are out‑of‑sequence or following a part‑time schedule; coordinate quarterly schedules with students, and ensure students properly register for courses based on their plans of study
• Connect students with appropriate support services offered through main campus (financial aid, student business office, health center, etc.)
• Communicate with students regarding awarded grants/loans and related requirements as applicable
• Process and submit e‑forms for students who are receiving grant tuition funding; track forms to ensure processed within established timelines
• Maintain…