Columbia University logo

Columbia University

Associate Registrar, Academic Programs (Hybrid)

🇺🇸 Hybrid - New York, New York 🕑 Full-Time 💰 $100K - $115K 💻 Administrator 🗓️ August 24th, 2026
SQL

Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Associate Registrar. This role oversees the degree conferral process, manages academic records and degree progress, supervises staff processing student withdrawals, and ensures compliance with institutional policies and relevant regulations. The Associate Registrar collaborates with university departments and external vendors to maintain academic integrity and accurate reporting.

Highlights
  • Manage and supervise the team handling degree clearance, withdrawals, and reporting.
  • Track and audit student progress toward degree for multiple university commencements.
  • Ensure compliance with academic policies and regulations governing degree conferral.
  • Collaborate closely with the Provost and maintain the accuracy of student records in the SIS.
  • Manage contracts with third-party vendors for diploma production.
  • Oversee reporting requirements for the Department of Education, state, and accrediting agencies.
  • Directly supervise the staff responsible for processing student withdrawals, ensuring compliance and accuracy.
  • Bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years related experience required; advanced degree preferred.
  • Preferred skills include SQL proficiency and knowledge of Student Information Systems.
  • Salary range: $100,000-$115,000.

Associate Registrar, Academic Programs (Hybrid) Full Description

Position Summary
Reporting to the Deputy University Registrar, the Associate Registrar is responsible for the management, implementation and establishment of the strategic direction of the degree conferral process. Responsibilities include overseeing the systems and processes of academic records, the conferral of degrees and academic awards as well as providing direct supervisory oversight of the staff member responsible for entering student withdrawals into the SIS while ensuring the overall academic integrity of the institution.

Responsibilities
  • Manages the team who will have day-to-day responsibilities for multiple operational areas, including degree clearance and progress toward the degree, withdrawals, and related reporting and analysis
  • Track, audit, and communicate degree requirements and progress toward degree for students for the September, October, February, May, and June University Commencements
  • Ensure the integrity of the institution in application of academic policy and the conferral of academic degrees and awards
  • Works closely with the Provost to ensure the accuracy of degree and student programs in the student information system
  • Manages contractual relationship with third-party vendors for the creation of electronic and print diplomas
  • Ensures student and university records are maintained and appropriately in compliance with federal and state laws, as well as any other applicable regulations
  • Lead and partner with peers amongst the University on the online degree clearance process, including best practices amongst peer institutions
  • Oversee reporting for the Department of Education, New York State, Middle States and various agencies on a quarterly, monthly and ad-hoc basis
  • Ensures existence of written documentation of all applicable policies, procedures, and practices. Monitors and ensures compliance with University, federal, state, and departmental policies, procedures, and regulations
  • Builds and develops collaborative relationships with key University colleagues, academic, administrative, and financial departments throughout the Morningside campus community
  • Participates in related task forces with the responsibility of reviewing and implementing improvements and modifications for seamless service delivery
  • Directly supervises the employee responsible for entering student withdrawals into the SIS, ensuring accurate processing, streamlined workflows, and strict regulatory compliance for student withdrawals. Serves as the primary supervisory contact to ensure all withdrawal protocols meet University standards and yield clean annual audit results
  • Interface effectively with other Registrar staff who play a role in Withdrawal processing and consult as needed with colleagues in Student Financial Services to ensure that established policies and procedures are always being observed and carried out in a punctilious manner.
  • Shared responsibility for data generation and reporting, especially relating to the operational areas of Academic Programs, Withdrawals, and Degree Clearance.
  • Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested

Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree and at least five years related experience required

Preferred Qualifications
Advanced degree preferred.
Higher education experience, experience within a Registrar, Bursar, or other large, complex organizations preferred.
Proficiency in SQL preferred.
Student Information System knowledge is highly desirable.

Other Requirements
  • Excellent customer service orientation and skills, and a demonstrated ability to work in a high pressured, fast paced, changing environment.
  • Strong work initiative skills are essential qualities. Strong communication and team-building skills required.
  • Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks under short and changing deadlines is essential.
  • Demonstrated analytical and organizational skills are required.
  • Candidate must possess strong written and oral communication skills.
  • Candidate must have the ability to work independently as well as in a collaborative manner.
  • High level of decision-making ability and judgment are required.
  • Proven ability to supervise, train and develop a staff capable of meeting and exceeding their goals & objectives.
  • Must have the ability to create, implement and update policies and procedures.
  • Proficient computer and database skills required.
  • The successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of staff and management, including a diverse group of University administrations, both internally and externally, is flexible in nature, with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team.
  • Must be a strategic thinker, with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  • Must possess a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

Salary Range: $100,000-$115,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran
Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.