The Graduate Program Coordinator has operational responsibility for monitoring academic progress and maintaining academic records for the Department of Historys graduate program, our interdisciplinary program, Anthro-History, and joint programs in Ancient History and Womens and Gender Studies. This position is also responsible for troubleshooting any problems graduate students may have in relation to academic progress. The Coordinator works closely with the Director of Graduate Studies to provide support for the graduate program in History and serves as the first point of contact for all prospective and current graduate student inquiries. The History Department depends on our staff to work successfully in a team environment as well as work independently with minimal supervision.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Directly reporting to the Student Services Manager, the Graduate Coordinator oversees the graduate admissions (300-325 annually) process. The Graduate Coordinator is the first point of contact for applicants for both the History and Anthro-History programs; triaging inquiries, ensuring applications are complete, and monitoring the admissions information on the History and Anthro-History websites. This position provides support to the admissions committees. This includes managing the application evaluation process, providing reports as needed, and maintaining admissions statistics. Additional responsibilities include entering admission decisions and running admission evaluation queries in Wolverine Access and communicating with applicants throughout the decision process.
15% Manage Graduate Recruitment: coordinate, along with the relevant History staff, travel, lodging, and event planning for students during visit weekend; prepare packets for each visitor; organize individual appointments for each visitor with several faculty and current graduate students; monitor budget and expenditures.
20% Maintain Graduate Student Records: audit and maintain student files; track and monitor students progress to degree; interpret policies and advise students regarding Rackham and departmental requirements; assist students with problems concerning registration, records and other matters; assist off-site students through email and/or Zoom; assist students and faculty with scheduling departmental exams and defenses; provide students with letters for off-campus research and/or introduction; maintain department alumni database.
65% Provide Support Services to the Graduate Program:
- Assist the Student Services Manager and the Director of Graduate Studies with special initiatives.
- Manage student progress milestones (screening, prelims, prospectus defense, and dissertation defense) and correspondence; design and revise databases, forms, and spreadsheets.
- Answer all inquiries from prospective students regarding the graduate program.
- Update admissions information and the graduate student handbook.
- Communicate with student services staff for the joint/history programs concerning student progress and admissions activities.
- Coordinate orientation activities for incoming graduate students.
- Coordinate the PhD Graduation Ceremony
- Compile data for program surveys and in the preparation of annual student reviews.
- Plan and supervise the work of student employees when they are working in the graduate area.
- Maintain email groups and mailboxes.
- Edit the graduate program and student profiles on the departments website and update/design recruiting and reference materials related to the graduate program.
- Interpret University, College, Rackham, and Departmental policies for faculty, staff, students, and student applicants.
- Other related duties as necessary.
- It is expected that the Graduate Coordinator will participate in annual and monthly trainings/meetings to stay current on University and College policies and best practices, such as the Rackham Graduate Coordinator Forum and LGrad (LSA Graduate Staff) meetings. As a member of our student services team, they must be willing to assist in any area of student services if needed.