Academic Program Coordinator

Position Summary The Academic Program Coordinator provides primary point of contact for the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition graduate student programs (Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Food Science and in Human Nutrition, Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Dietetics, Master of Science in Food Regulatory Affairs). This position coordinates graduate admissions, student services, academic administration, and program operations while helping guide students throughout their academic journey. The coordinator partners closely with faculty, university offices, and departmental leadership to administer graduate programs in accordance with university policies and ensure students receive exceptional support. As a member of the department's administrative team, this position organizes/coordinates program events and collaborates a cross-functional area to support shared operations, continuity, and continuous improvement. Core duties and responsibilities include: - Graduate Student Program (75%): - Serves as a primary resource for master's and doctoral students while coordinating graduate student services and academic administration. Including: Support to Graduate Program Director, department Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC), attending relevant Graduate School and CANR graduate coordinator meetings, Staff advisor for the FSHN Grad Student Organization. - Coordinates annual student reviews, comprehensive examinations, dissertation proposal defenses, dissertation defenses, and graduation requirements, ensuring students and faculty are supported throughout the process. - Provides support for all aspects of the graduate student program; Coordinates graduate recruitment: managing the application process, preparing and arranging acceptance/rejection correspondence to applicants, guiding prospective students from pre-application through enrollment. Coordinates and participates in assistantship and scholarship application and selection process, degree audit and milestones within SIS for program requirements - Serves as a primary point of contact for prospective, admitted, and incoming students, providing guidance on admissions, funding, enrollment, and program requirements. - Coordinates financial support for graduate students' programs through various funding sources. - Coordinates graduate assistant appointments and assistantship actions, maintains graduate funding records, and processes fellowships, awards, and conference and research funding. - Serves as a liaison with students, faculty, staff, parents, alumni, and other important constituents to answer questions on behalf of the graduate programs. - Advises students, faculty, and staff on graduate policies, procedures, registration, degree requirements, university travel requirements, and program deadlines. - Coordinates the operational administration of the department's graduate programs to support efficient program delivery and student success. - Maintain appropriate records for graduate student files, funds awarded, conference and research fellowships. - Maintains confidential student records, monitors degree progress, completes degree audits and GradPlan reviews, and processes academic forms and course overrides. - Collaborate with the Business Manager, faculty, and administrative staff to support graduate funding, operational processes, shared documentation, and departmental initiatives. Program Events (15%): Collaborates with the Graduate Seminar Committee to plan/coordinate/run annual fall Seminar Series - Arranges department travel for speakers and coordinates host responsibilities Plan/Coordinate/maintains oversight and executes the G. Malcolm Trout annual lecture, grad