Student Affairs Assistant

Updated: over 2 years ago
Location: New York City, NEW YORK
Deadline: Morningside ;

  • Job Type: Support Staff - Union
  • Bargaining Unit: Local 2110
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: 35
  • Salary Range: $50,171

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Advising, the incumbent is responsible for providing excellent customer service and administrative support, as well as serve as the first point of contact for visitors to the Student Affairs Office which includes Admissions, Student Life, Student Services, Advising, and Career Development. This includes scheduling rooms, tracking inventory for supplies and proactively ordering as well as fulfilling supply requests for team members, signing for packages and deliveries ensuring they were sent to the appropriate department and are forwarded to the appropriate individual within the office in a timely manner. The incumbent will respond to a high volume of inquiries from prospective applicants, current students and alumni on the phone, via e-mail and in person regarding admissions requirements, current student support services and policies, and various other information related to the numerous and varied programs offered by the School of Professional Studies (SPS). This includes proactively connecting current students to their assigned advisor, making appointments for the student if the advisor is unavailable, answering basic questions related to general university and campus knowledge and helping all visitors use the walk-in system. This position will also inform prospective applicants about upcoming information sessions and recruiting events, looking up applicant information in appropriate systems to determine the status of an application and accurately communicate the remaining materials required to complete an application for all programs offered by the school. The Student Affairs Assistant will also be responsible for directing applicants and current students to the appropriate department and person.


Responsibilities

  • Provide front desk coverage - attentive and friendly to walk in visitors to the office, answering detailed questions about all of the programs and student services offered by the School (e.g., the preparation required for each program, the policies and procedures involved in applying for each program, registration policies and deadlines, payment and withdrawal schedules, etc.), referring visitors to advising, admissions  and student affairs officers when appropriate
  • Proactively asks prospective and current students contacting the office via telephone, email or in person appropriate questions to accurately identify and connect them with the correct office and team member
  • Convey routine information on Columbia University policies and procedures, address problems for prospects and current students, answer telephones involving screening or high volume, and screen and/or direct visitors
  • Assist in the maintenance of inventory and ordering of supplies and materials for the Division of Student Affairs 
  • Provide data entry support to Advising and other Student Affairs departments when needed 
  • Responsible for the scheduling and maintenance of all meeting and conference rooms located within the office 
  • Assist in the scheduling of meetings and events which may include reserving rooms, ensuring adequate technology, and catering 
  • Pick-up and distribute office mail; and perform other related duties as assigned
  • Provide support at on-campus/near campus events that occur after normal business hours
  • Additional projects and duties as needed or assigned

Minimum Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent; some college preferred
  • Two years related experience

Other Requirements

  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills required
  • Capacity to provide accurate information on a wide variety of programs and/or procedures required
  • Capacity to respond in an efficient and professional manner to a high volume of telephone, in-person and/or e-mail inquiries required 
  • Strong customer-service orientation, demonstrated ability to work in a busy office environment, ability to manage multiple tasks, and willingness to pitch in when necessary required
  • Computer literacy including word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail, and internet proficiency required
  • Some evening hours may be required during peak periods and for Information Sessions

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.