Career Center

• Provides primary program support for approx. 50 graduate students in the Political Science Ph.D. program. Serves as Graduate Program Coordinator for the Political Psychology graduate minor.
• Advises prospective and current graduate students on program requirements, milestones, and planning strategies, including admissions and the application process; transitions from other programs and/or readmission to the program; campus visits and relocation; registration; funding options (fellowships and assistantships); non-resident tuition waivers; and health insurance. Advises graduate students on the job market on requirements for and impact of degree completion.
• Advises international graduate students on specific needs related to the application process and after admission, including visa status and referrals to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office; travel; specialized English and classroom training; full-time enrollment status letters; CPT/OPT options.
• Refers graduate students to mental health resources on campus as needed.
• Monitors graduate student progress, including via the Graduate Planning & Audit System (GPAS). Initiates contact with students and faculty, bringing concerns to the attention of students, DGS, and faculty advisors as appropriate. Works with DGS, faculty advisors, administrator, and/or chair of the department to recommend solutions to academic and programmatic difficulties as necessary.
• Generates and distributes permission numbers for graduate seminars. Enters graduate grades as needed. Reminds faculty regarding incompletes.
• Maintains graduate student records and permanent files. Responds to program inquiries, including policy and procedure questions.
• Designs advising procedures that continue to improve and ensure consistency in the advising function. Coordinates advising efforts with the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), the Graduate School, and other University units as necessary. Is active with the appropriate CLA and Graduate School advising networks.

• Serves as a resource for faculty, staff, and students on graduate program policy, including applicable CLA- and Graduate School-level policies. Coordinates policy evaluation and review as needed, including consultation with students, faculty, departmental administration, and the Graduate School. Initiates and prepares analyses and recommendations on new policy or changes in policy, and participates in developing department-level policies and procedures regarding graduate students.
• Responds to requests for program information, data, and/or reports. Maintains data on all aspects of the graduate program, including but not limited to applicants, current and former students, graduate student placement, and funding commitments. Functions as a liaison with relevant academic departments, programs, and units.
• Manages graduate program admissions process, coordinating with Director of Admissions, DGS, Graduate Work Committee (GWC), and administrator. Coordinates with staff to plan campus visits and the annual Graduate Student Recruitment Day.
• Coordinates the annual progress review (Spring Review) of all graduate students.
• Assists the Director of Placement and graduate students on the job market as requested, including disseminating information regarding job opportunities and helping to plan relevant events.
• Initiates and facilitates processes for graduate student competitions and/or awards, ensuring documentation of the decision-making process for competitive departmental fellowships (for audit purposes).
• Manages payroll appointment processes for graduate teaching, research, and fellowship appointments. Includes CLA Workflow HR - Hiring entry and ensuring I-9 employment eligibility verification. Initiates, researches, and oversees resolution of problems. Coordinates with other staff members as necessary.
• Oversees Scholarship Automation process for applicable graduate fellowships. Processes departmental tuition waivers and health insurance authorizations for applicable graduate students
• Submits Grad School Committee Member affiliate appointments for processing, including renewals. Updates the Graduate School’s Faculty Role List database as needed for new faculty, DGS, and/or tenure-status changes in both the Political Science Ph.D. program and the Political Psychology graduate minor.
• In collaboration with the Communications Associate, ensures accuracy and clarity of up-to-date information on the department's graduate program web and intranet page(s).
• Oversee the graduate program general expenses budget.
• Monitors and meets applicable deadlines. Identifies data collection and operational problems and develops solutions as appropriate. Independently troubleshoots and manages the day-to-day operations of the graduate advising office.

• Works with DGS to manage the graduate program, including:
  • Calendar prompting. Representing DGS as necessary on committees outside the department.
  • Establishing agendas for, participating on, and providing staff support for GWC.
  • P lanning, designing, and presenting the Fall Orientation program and materials for new graduate students.
  • Maintaining Political Science graduate student database, including multiyear funding commitments, progress to degree, pre/ABD status, etc.
  • P roviding projections for the composition of the department’s TA pool, as requested by department administration.
  • Meeting regularly with the DGS and the Graduate Student Life Committee (GSLC), to address graduate student questions and/or concerns regarding the program.
  • Initiating, managing, and supporting department-wide initiatives and projects relating to the graduate program.
• Identifies, recommends, and/or develops recruitment strategies for increasing applicants from underrepresented groups and improving the diversity of the graduate program. Oversees the planning and execution of the department’s annual graduate student diversity recruitment event. Reviews best practices of other programs across the University and elsewhere to bring to the department’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee for consideration.
• Annually reviews and updates the Department of Political Science Graduate Student Handbook.

Other (5%)

• Attends and participates in department staff meetings and strategic planning. Coordinates work with other department staff as necessary.
• Attends meetings and participates in the work of the Graduate Program Coordinator (GPC) Network .
• Other departmental duties and responsibilities as assigned and/or required.

• BA/BS degree, or a combination of related education and work experience to equal four years.

• Two years of experience working in a higher education setting. Experience with supporting and/or advising graduate students, program coordination, and project management.
• Demonstrated commitment to promoting a culture that respects and advances diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Impressive organizational, time-management, decision-making, and problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including a proven ability to analyze and communicate complex issues from multiple frames of reference and perspectives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and a proven ability to develop and maintain positive professional relationships with a diverse community of faculty, staff, students, and administrators. Self-directed, curious, proactive, and with a positive attitude.
• Ability to work independently and as a dependable team member, successfully managing a substantial workload that includes multiple commitments, competing priorities, and ambiguity.
• Strong computer skills to include Microsoft Office, Google applications, Zoom, and database management.
• Experience with UMN / CLA systems: GPAS, APLUS, Slate, CLA Workflow HR - Hiring, Reporting Center, and PeopleSoft.