Position Summary Information
| Classification Title |
University Program Specialist |
| Working Title |
Biology Majors Student Success Specialist |
| Location |
Boone, NC |
| Job Category |
2 |
| Position Number |
086761 |
| Not Eligible for Visa Sponsorship |
VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. All candidates must be eligible to work and live in the U.S |
| Department |
Biology - 250100 |
| Primary Purpose of Position |
- Managing the Biology Peer Mentors:
- recruitment/hiring of Biology Peer Mentors each semester
- organizing trainings for Biology Peer Mentors
- managing shared drives and databases for resources and information exchange with Biology Peer Mentors
- Developing assessment tools for students, Biolog Peer Mentors and faculty to gauge the success of the program
- Student satisfaction and sense of belonging
- Mentor satisfaction, suggestions for continued development of the program
- Faculty satisfaction based on preparedness of advisees for pre-registration advising meetings
- Persistence of students in the major
- Time to graduation
- 4-, 5-, and 6-year completion rates
- Research using institutional databases (IRAP) to address critical barriers to student success. For example:
- Timely access to courses within the majors (roadblock?)
DFW rates in required courses with the majors- Timely access to cognate courses (roadblocks in chem, math, physics)
DFW of BIO majors in cognate courses- Roadblocks or other barriers specific to transfer students
- Roadblocks or other barriers for students who do not take intro courses at APP
- Program Specialist would also be involved in developing ideas for solutions to address roadblocks/pitfalls to student success revealed by the institutional data research
- Serve as an integral part of the departmental Assessment committee, both in data collection and content development.
Associated administrative/business functions:
- Travel to conferences and for research activities is essential to the success and retention of students in our program. Therefore, the Program Specialist would assist students and their faculty mentors in the travel approval and reimbursement process.
- Van certification/approval
Additional duties - time permitting
- Hiring/onboarding of student employees (undergrad and grad)
- Hiring onboarding of NST staff
- Bimonthly payroll for student and NST employees
|
| Minimum Qualifications |
Bachelor's degree and one year of experience related to the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. |
| License/Certification Required |
|
| Essential Job Functions |
The duties & responsibilities of the Biology Majors Student Success Specialist role include:
- coordinating travel authorizations and reimbursements for the department
- assisting with P-Card entry
- providing general departmental purchasing and reimbursements
- serving as website administrator
- executing data entry of assessment information
- serving as liaison with the chair for AP&P proposals
- assisting Chair with social media
- assisting student and non-student temp employees with paperwork and time sheet entry
- maintenance of internship inventory
- other duties as assigned
|
| Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required for this Position |
- Experience/advanced coursework in assessment or data analytics, communications & promotion of programs, information analysis, management of student employees, knowledge of programs of study in biology.
- Computer skills including, but not limited to, data management, spreadsheet management, photo editing and website building, knowledge of university based systems such as Yo-Mart, Banner, Drupal, and social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.
- Knowledge of university policies and procedures regarding purchasing, reimbursements, publicity, travel, payroll, graduate and undergraduate guidelines, and motor pool.
|
| Preferred Qualifications |
Prefer computer skills including, but not limited to:
- data management, spreadsheet management, assessment management, photo editing and website building
- knowledge of university based systems such as P-Card,Yo-Mart, Banner and Drupal; and knowledge of University policies and procedures regarding purchasing and reimbursements.
|
| Required Functional Competencies to Successfully Perform Job Duties. |
Information/Records Administration: Coordinates varied records processing activities requiring the application and some interpretation of agency procedures, policies, laws, and regulations. Reviews information for completeness and accuracy using multiple guidelines. Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the area of specialization, the program, process, and/or organizational operation. May be the content/process resource.
Program Knowledge: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of the area of specialization, the program, process, and/or organizational operation. May be the content/process resource.
Communication-Verbal: Presents ideas in a clear, concise, organized manner. Explains and interprets programs, policies and procedures to meet the specific needs of staff and clients. Advises program staff/clients in all matters related to program operations. |
| Type of Position |
Permanent Full-Time |
| Staff/Non-Faculty |
Staff/Non-Faculty |
| Appointment Type |
1.0 |
| Work Schedule/Hours |
8:00 pm-5:00 pm; Monday - Friday |
| Number of Hours Per Week |
40 |
| Number of Months Per Year |
12 |
| Mandatory Staff |
No |
| Physical Demands of Position |
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. |
| Overall Competency Level |
Contributing |
| Salary Grade Equivalency |
GN07 |
| Salary Range |
|
| Anticipated Hiring Range |
$36,381 - $46,643 |
Pay will be commensurate with applicant competencies, budget, equity and market considerations.
Posting Details Information
| Posting Date |
02/06/2026 |
| Closing Date |
02/22/2026 |
| Competency Level Statement |
If no applicants apply who meet the required competencies, then management may consider other applicants at a lower competency level. |
| Special Instructions to Applicants |
Please attach required documents:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- List a minimum of 3 professional references in the application
|
| Search Chair Name |
Gloria Rhoney |
| Search Chair Email |
rhoneygj@appstate.edu |
| Applicant Pool Preference |
External (Post on the Web) |
Departmental Information
| Quick Link |
https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/53204 |
| Posting Number |
201502939P |
|
Appalachian State University
$36,381 - $46,643
Feb 06, 2026