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Pennsylvania State University

Academic Programs Coordinator

🇺🇸 University Park, Pennsylvania 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $41K - $65K 💻 Administrator 🗓️ October 5th, 2026

Edtech.com's Summary

Pennsylvania State University is hiring an Academic Programs Coordinator to run day-to-day academic operations for the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department in the College of Health and Human Development. The coordinator works across the undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs and serves as the link between graduate students, faculty, and the Fox Graduate School. Course scheduling, graduate student records, and admissions committee support make up the core of the work.

Highlights
  • Serve as liaison between graduate students, faculty, and the Fox Graduate School on Departmental and University regulations.
  • Enter and retrieve data in LionPATH for admissions, registration, overload petitions, drop/add, audits, and transcripts.
  • Schedule undergraduate and graduate courses, final exams, and textbook submissions with the Professors-in-Charge and Department Head.
  • Maintain graduate student files, including assistantships, fellowships, clinical practica clearances, and graduation approvals.
  • Support the Graduate Admissions Committee through application systems such as GRADS and CSDCAS, prospective student visits, and decision letters.
  • Process honorariums for externship supervisors, clinic bank deposits, and assistantship and fellowship awards.
  • Require a GED or high school diploma and 2+ years of relevant experience at the Intermediate level, or an associate degree and 4+ years at the Senior level.
  • Prefer experience with SIMBA, GRADS, GRATS, WorkLion, iTwo, and LionPATH.
  • Offer a salary range of $40,608 to $64,668 across all grades, plus medical, dental, vision, retirement, paid time off, and a 75 percent tuition discount.
  • Complete PA State Police, PA Child Abuse History, and FBI fingerprint background checks.

Academic Programs Coordinator Full Description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants. 
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POSITION SPECIFICS​
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Department in the College of Health and Human Development seeks an experienced and customer-service driven individual to serve as Academic Program Coordinator for the Department. This position will work across all academic programs, including undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs. This position will interact with students and faculty across the department, liaisons in the Fox Graduate School, and faculty and staff from other departments/units across the university system.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
  • Serve as the liaison between graduate students, faculty, and the Fox Graduate School. Through this, the successful candidate will keep faculty and students informed of Departmental and University regulations.
  • Enter and retrieve information from LionPATH for admissions, course registration, petitioning for overload, drop/add, instructional information, audits, transcripts, and related activities.
  • Act as the primary course scheduler for undergraduate and graduate courses, including:
    • planning and entering course layouts for future semesters in collaboration with the Professors-in-Charge (PICs), advisers, and Department Head;
    • scheduling final exams;
    • submitting textbook information;
    • evaluating course controls; and
    • preparing course evaluations (SEEQs).
  • Maintain graduate student files, including:
    • processing of assistantship and fellowships;
    • terms of offer and labor distributions for students;
    • maintain and record clearances required prior to initiation of clinical practica;
    • approval for graduation;
    • scheduling final, qualifying, comprehensive, and dissertation exams; and
    • other documentation related to qualification for clinical certification
  • Serve as primary staff support for the Graduate PIC and, as warranted, for the Undergraduate PIC, including, but not limited to, composing routine correspondence, letters, memos, annual reports, and preparing minutes from faculty meetings.
  • Serve as primary staff support for the Graduate Admissions Committee for sending information and responding to questions regarding the CSD program, monitoring materials received from prospective students, maintaining information on application systems (e.g., GRADS, Communication Sciences and Disorders Centralized Application System (CSDCAS)), coordinating prospective student visits, sending decision letters, and using spreadsheets to compile information on applicants for review.
  • Process limited financial documents including honorariums for externship supervisors, clinic bank deposits, and assistantship/fellowship awards.
  • Provide back-up administrative support for the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic.

QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates should demonstrate the following skills, experience, and qualities to be successful in this position:
  • Candidates for consideration will exhibit excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills, and demonstrate conscientious attention to detail and organization.
  • The successful candidate must have a strong commitment to equity, respect and inclusion, be highly motivated, exhibit a high level of professionalism, and exhibit exceptional customer service skills.
  • Consistent high quality and thorough work is critical.
  • Must be able to work with minimal supervision and exhibit discretion and independent judgment.
  • This position requires the use of both university systems and CSD-specific systems, so the successful candidate must be adept at learning new systems and processes.
  • This position requires in-depth knowledge about The Fox Graduate School and graduate student records.
  • Experience with systems including SIMBA, GRADS, GRATS, WorkLion, iTwo, and LionPATH is preferred.
  • The successful candidate must be able to meet and comply with all applicable health and safety requirements in the Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic and other work settings.
 
MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONSIf filled as Academic Program Coordinator - Senior Support, this position 
requires:Associate Degree4+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptedRequired Certifications:NoneIf filled as Academic Program Coordinator - Intermediate Support, this position requires:General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School (HS)2+ years of relevant experience; Relevant education accepted in lieu of experienceRequired Certifications:None
 
APPLICATION MATERIALS
Please submit a cover letter and resume indicating your interest in the position and relevant experiences. Review of applicants will begin immediately until filled. 

LOCATION
The College of Health and Human Development is supportive of flexible work arrangements when aligned with the ability to meet the needs of the unit and the essential duties of the position. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.
 
BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCESThis position requires the following clearances in addition to applicable background checks: PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.
 Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.
 
SALARY & BENEFITSThe salary range for this position, including all possible grades, is $40,608.00 - $64,668.00.
 
Salary Structure - Information on Penn State's salary structure
 
Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children. For more detailed information, please visit our Benefits Page.
CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS
Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here.
EEO IS THE LAW
Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.