Edtech.com's Summary

Columbia University is hiring an Executive Director and Registrar to lead the Office of Registration Services at Columbia Law School, reporting to the Associate Dean of Students and Registration Services. The Registrar oversees academic policy implementation, registration operations, recordkeeping, exam administration, and graduation clearance, while ensuring strict regulatory compliance with ABA standards, NYS Bar requirements, and FERPA. This full-time, on-site role is based in New York, NY, paying $160,000-$175,000 per year.

Lead biannual registration, course lottery allocation, cross-registration with Columbia Business School and SIPA, and add/drop processes.
Manage course setup and scheduling, overseeing classroom assignments via EMS and course uploads into Columbia's SIS and Vergil platform.
Reconcile student enrollment data between BORIS/LawNet and University SIS engines for billing, residency, and degree audits.
Serve as the Law School's primary authority on ABA Standards compliance, including credit-hour verification and annual questionnaire filings.
Direct certification of student character, fitness, and degree completion for state bar examiners, with primary oversight of NY State Bar filings.
Oversee year-round exam administration for J.D., ELL.M., and LL.M. programs, including anonymous grading and accommodation workflows with Disability Services.
Direct collection of faculty grades, grade curve enforcement, and final graduation clearance and diploma audits.
Manage daily office operations, budget administration, and a team of direct reports within Registration Services.
Partner with CUIT and Law School IT to audit, modernize, and automate registration technologies (BORIS, LawNet, Vergil).
Bachelor's degree and 7-9 years of progressive registrar or academic administration experience required; advanced degree (Master's or J.D.) and law school experience strongly preferred.

Executive Director and Registrar Full Description

Position Summary
Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students and Registration Services, the Executive Director and Registrar serves as the lead administrator for the Office of Registration Services (ORS) at Columbia Law School. The Registrar leads a dedicated team of higher education professionals responsible for academic policy implementation, registration operations, recordkeeping, exam administration, grade tracking, graduation clearance, and strict regulatory compliance, including ABA standards, NYS Bar requirements, and FERPA. Working closely with the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, the Office of Student Services, the Office of Graduate Degree Programs, and other Law School and University partners, the Registrar ensures data integrity across institutional databases while driving digital transformation to enhance student-facing and administrative workflows.

Responsibilities
Academic Operations & Registration Management (30%)

Lead biannual registration, course lottery allocations, cross-registration (including Columbia Business School, SIPA, and the Columbia/NYU Exchange Program), and add/drop processes.
Manage course setup and scheduling with the Vice Dean of Academic Affairs, overseeing classroom assignments via EMS and bulk course uploads into Columbia's Student Information System (SIS) and Vergil platform.
Reconcile student enrollment data between internal systems (BORIS/LawNet) and University SIS engines for billing, residency tracking, and degree audits.
Consult with the University registrar's office and law school stakeholders to draft academic year, pre-registration, and add/drop calendars.
Respond to reporting inquiries and ensure records are accurately transmitted to the University Registrar.

Compliance, Bar Admission & External Reporting (25%)

Serve as the Law School's primary authority on ABA Standards compliance, including credit hour verification, distance learning limits, and annual questionnaire filings.
Direct certification of student character, fitness, certificate of attendance, and degree completion for state bar examiners, with primary oversight of New York State Bar filings.
Facilitate data collection and reporting for ABA Student & Bar Passage Questionnaires and internal institutional research.

Exam Administration, Grading & Degree Clearance (20%)

Oversee year-round examination administration for J.D., ELL.M., and LL.M. programs, ensuring system integrity, anonymous grading protocols, and accommodation workflows with the Office of Disability Services.
Direct timely collection of faculty grades, grade curve enforcement, and issuance of honors and academic awards.
Oversee final J.D., ELL.M., LL.M., and J.S.D. graduation clearance and diploma audits.

Departmental Leadership & Strategic Systems (15%)

Manage daily office operations, set departmental goals, and handle budget administration.
Manage, mentor, and evaluate a team of direct reports within Registration Services.
Partner with CUIT and Law School IT to audit, modernize, and automate registration technologies (BORIS, LawNet, Vergil).
Collaborate with Student Services, Financial Aid, Admissions, and Career Services to support seamless student services.
Serve on ex-officio administrative and curriculum committees to evaluate policy feasibility and academic calendar development.

Departmental Support & Other Duties (10%)

Lead cross-office collaboration during high-volume periods (registration, exams, orientation, and graduation).
Perform other related duties as assigned to maintain institutional priorities.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (Master's, J.D., or equivalent) strongly preferred.
Minimum of 7 to 9 years of progressive management and supervisory experience in a higher education registrar's office or academic administration environment (law school setting preferred).

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated knowledge of Student Information Systems (SIS, Banner, or equivalent), registration allocation engines, and exam management platforms (e.g., Exam4, ExamSoft).
Deep understanding of ABA accreditation requirements, state bar certification rules, and FERPA regulations.
Exceptional attention to detail and strong communication skills, with the ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced environment managing competing deadlines.
Ability to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive workplace. Some evening and weekend work required during peak operational cycles.

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Edtech.com's Summary

Executive Director and Registrar Full Description

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