Academic Program Specialist

Job Description Summary

Work closely with a team of Academic Program Specialists to provide degree audit, articulation, and client services to Chapman constituents. Communicate and interact with students and departments to explain and clarify academic policies and standards relating to degree progression, record evaluations and transferability of course work.

Degree Audit Functions

• Process updates and revisions for individual student academic program requirements related to approved waivers, substitutions and petitions.
• Process additions or changes to declared degree, major, minor and GE requirements.
• Analyze student records for efficient use of GE coursework.
• Maintain accurate documentation of any program changes in both a physical and digital environment.
• Assist in the development and maintenance of all academic programs within the Degree Audit (Academic Advising) module.
• Assist in the testing and troubleshooting of enhancements and problem issues related to Degree Audit functionality.
• Assist in final degree processing/commencement processing and proceedings.
• Review potential graduates for remaining requirements and process manual clearance for students missing non-course requirements e.g. comprehensive exams, demonstration of mastery, etc.
• Verify the completion of all degree requirements and marks record for degree conferral processing.
• Maintain current knowledge of all university degree programs and academic policies.

Articulation and Transfer Credit Evaluation Functions

• Based on Chapman transfer policies and procedures and academic guidelines, evaluate and interpret student records from other institutions to determine transferability of course work for general education and major requirements where allowed.
• Evaluate special population transfer credit for AP, IB, A-level, CLEP, DSST, and international. Communicate with academic departments and officials regarding credit transferability and the approval of general education and major requirements when required.
• Apply advanced understanding of undergraduate degree requirements and program evaluation required for the approval and application of transfer credit.
• Advise and assist professional staff and students with transfer credit issues and related policies.
• Assist in the study abroad process through review of study abroad credit for applicable level and GE content.
• Coordinate with departments and GE Committee course approvals for assigned programs.
• Use Campus Solutions processes to communicate updates/changes to student records.
• Use basic queries in Campus Solutions to identify student records for processing or updates related to transfer credit.
• Utilize various resources to research external credit including TES, Transferology, transfer admission planner, ASSIST.org, AACRAO Edge, online catalogs, Global Gateway.

Client Services Functions

• Assist front line staff in providing information to students related to academic programs.
• Communicate with Academic Advisors regarding related student issues and clarification of university policy.
• Coordinate with department and program chairs blanket revisions to existing programs and communicate changes to the Assistant/Associate Registrars.
• Notify other APS and Frontline staff of any program changes that affect their work processes.
• Communicate and interact with students and departments to explain and clarify academic policies and standards.

• Bachelor’s degree and experience with academic records evaluations in an educational environment.
• Demonstrated knowledge of degree audit and articulation processes and procedures.
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills to determine admission requirements, petition process and graduation criteria.
• Ability to learn and apply complex academic policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience showing ability to work with projects demanding high degree of detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated time management skills with ability to organize and prioritize a high volume, detail oriented workload under the pressure of deadlines with constant interruptions.
• Ability to work independently and possess problem solving skills and initiative to implement new ideas, as well as demonstrated ability to respond to changing priorities, interpretation and application of policies and procedures.
• Ability to use standard office equipment.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office Suite applications.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to interact with diverse constituents and explain complex information in an understandable manner.
• Strong technical skills to learn and use enterprise systems, such as People Soft (Campus Solutions).
• Ability to work well as a team member.

• Experience in transfer equivalency determination and articulation. Experience with UC and CSU transfer patterns and certifications.
• Experience with automated Degree Audit program, preferably the Campus Solutions Academic Advising Module.
• Experience with MS Teams.

Chapman…