Program Assistant for Student Engagement & Program Operations (34033)

Position Information

Posting Detail Information

Working Position Title Program Assistant for Student Engagement & Program Operations (34033) Classification Program Assistant - CUSTOM CLASSIFICATION Position Number 00034033 Open Date 11/13/2026 Close Date 11/26/2026 Priority Review Date Employee Class Staff Full-Time/Part Time Full-Time FTE 1.00 Position Status Regular FLSA Exempt Job code 5001 Union Representation Union Union Code AFC - AFSCME C, Local #1890 Unit/Department Huskie Academic Support Center College/Unit Undergraduate Affairs Division Academic Division Location FO 260 Link to Department Website or Custom Search Page https://www.niu.edu/academic-support/

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Position Summary, Requirements, and Qualifications

Overview

The Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC) offers comprehensive academic services and resources, including Supplemental Instruction, Peer Tutoring sessions, University Writing Center, and Academic Coaching.

Position Summary

The Program Assistant for Student Engagement and Program Operations supports the Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC) by coordinating student engagement, outreach, program operations, and student employee administrative processes. This position helps students navigate academic support services while supporting program quality, data collection, and assessment efforts to improve service delivery and student engagement.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Program Operations & Student Employee Support

• Coordinates routine operational and administrative activities supporting HASC programs and services.
• Coordinates logistical and administrative needs associated with Momentum, mentoring, workshops, group programming, and other HASC student-success initiatives.
• Maintains program schedules, calendars, room reservations, and other logistical information necessary for effective program delivery.
• Provides administrative support for the hiring and onboarding of HASC student employees and graduate assistants.
• Coordinates student employee records, schedules, payroll and timekeeping processes, and other required employment documentation.
• Monitors completion of routine student employee administrative and training requirements and follows up regarding missing or incomplete requirements.
• Assists professional staff with scheduling student employee trainings, meetings, observations, and other employee-development activities.
• Serves as a resource to student employees regarding routine HASC procedures, schedules, and administrative processes.
• Identifies routine operational issues and communicates concerns or emerging needs to appropriate HASC professional staff.

Student Engagement, Navigation, & Outreach

• Serves as a primary point of contact for students seeking academic support through the Huskie Academic Success Center (HASC).
• Engage with students to identify their academic support needs and connect students with appropriate HASC services, programs, and university resources.
• Provides information to students regarding academic coaching, tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, undergraduate writing support, mentoring, Momentum, and other HASC programs.
• Assist students with navigating appointment scheduling, program participation, and other processes necessary to access academic support.
• Provides proactive follow-up to students who have been referred to HASC or have expressed interest in academic support services.
• Develops and implements Navigate campaigns and other approved communication strategies in collaboration with HASC professional staff.
• Monitors student response to outreach efforts and communicates participation patterns or students requiring additional follow-up to appropriate professional staff.
• Supports a welcoming and student-centered environment that encourages students to engage with HASC services.

Program Quality, Data, & Assessment Support

• Supports implementation of established quality-assurance processes across HASC programs and services.
• Coordinates student employee observation schedules and maintains records to ensure student employees are observed according to established HASC expectations.
• Conducts routine observations of student employees using established HASC observation protocols and documents feedback related to service delivery and program expectations.
• Communicates individual concerns identified through observations to the appropriate Assistant Director for follow-up, coaching, or additional training.
• Monitors completion of required session reports, student employee documentation, and other established program-quality requirements.
• Collects, organizes, reviews, and maintains routine data related to HASC participation, utilization, student engagement, and program delivery and assists with data mining, trends, and patterns.
• Flags emerging patterns, student needs, or concerns for review by appropriate professional staff.
• Assists with the preparation of program reports, dashboards, and summaries for HASC leadership.
• Supports the collection and organization of student feedback, program assessments, and other information used to evaluate HASC services.

Communications & Administrative Support

• Maintains and updates routine program materials and student-facing information to ensure accurate communication of HASC services.
• Supports HASC participation in orientations, resource fairs, outreach events, and other student-engagement activities.
• Assists with preparation of materials for student employee trainings, program meetings, assessment activities, workshops, and other HASC programming.
• Provides shared administrative and operational support across HASC programs during periods of high student demand.
• Assists HASC professional staff with center-wide projects, events, and administrative activities as needed.

Other Related Duties

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Required Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Bachelor's degree.
• Based on position requirements, additional education, training, and/or work experience in the area of specialization inherent to the position, may be required.

See Required Specialty Factors Below:

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs) (Civil Service)

• Knowledge of general office practices and procedures
• Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects
• Skill in oral and written communication
• Ability to work effectively with staff, the public, and outside constituency groups
• Ability to organize and multi-task
• Ability to supervise and knowledge of administrative concepts and methods.
• Ability to utilize various computer software packages
• Ability to work independently and exercise judgment in order to be able to analyze and investigate a variety of questions or problems

Specialty Factors (Civil Service)

• Experience with data analysis.
• Experience in marketing/outreach.

Preferred Qualifications (Civil Service)

• Master's degree in a field related to Student Personnel work, Higher Education, Counseling, Social Work.

Minimum Required Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Additional Requirements (SPS)

N/A

Preferred Qualifications (SPS)

N/A

Physical demands/requirements

• Regular office related duties
• Ability to perform sedentary work involving sitting the majority of the time.
• Ability to effectively communicate on a daily basis.
• Ability to work for extended periods at computer workstation.
• Occasional lifting and moving items weighing up to 25 lbs.
• May include minimal travel
• Hybrid remote work is possible.
• Availability to work some evenings and weekends.

Appointment and Compensation Details

Appointment and Compensation Details

Anticipated Appointment Start Date 01/01/2027 Anticipated Appointment End Date Percent of Staff Year 1.00 Standard Hours Per Week 37.50 Working Hours 8:00- 4:30 M-F some evening and weekend during certain times of the year Salary $42,000.00/annually; NIU offers a robust benefits package. Hourly or Semi-monthly Pay Rate/Range $1,750.00/semi-monthly Earn Type Salary

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedure

Application Procedures:

• Fully complete the Education and Work History sections of the application. Be specific on your entire work history, including employment dates and duties for all positions held. Applicable part-time work experience will be considered toward qualifying for this position; however, it will be converted to a full-time equivalency to determine combined length of experience. Important: Please upload any unofficial transcript(s) and/or documentation that verifies any education, experience, and/or training you have received.

• If eligible for Veteran's Preference Points, DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256 paperwork reflecting an Honorable Discharge MUST be uploaded to this application to receive the maximum eligible points on the Civil Service examination.

• After the posting has closed, your submission will be reviewed to determine if you meet the minimum qualifications for the classification, including any specialty factors associated with this position. If you meet the minimum required qualifications for this position, you will receive a score based on your education and experience, and your name will be placed on the active employment register.

• Please monitor your e-mail for further information regarding your application. Emails will be generated from jobs@niu.edu and CivilServiceTesting@niu.edu. Please add these emails to your address book to ensure timely delivery of any future communication.

• Illinois residency required within 180 days of the hire date.

Credentials Assessment Examination:

• The examination for this position is a Credentials Assessment and is based on your application materials as submitted for this posting. A Credential Assessment is a rating by the Human Resources Office of an applicant's/employee's education, experience, and special credentials/qualifications (licenses, etc.). Applicants are required to upload documentation to verify the minimum qualifications for this position has been met.
• Required documentation noted in the posting, such as a driver's license, licensures, or certifications MUST be uploaded with your application materials.
• After assessment of all qualified applicants has been completed for this position, the names with the top three (3) scores will be referred to the hiring department for interview.

Additional Details:

• Click on Program Assistant for more information including salary ranges, typical duties, minimum acceptable qualifications, and testing requirements.

• Applicants who may assume they do not meet the exact minimum qualifications are still invited to apply. Within the application documents, applicants should be sure to explain how their credentials and related qualifications address the requested minimum requirements.

• Please click on Human Resource Services - Benefits for detailed information about Northern Illinois University's benefits package.

• Employment is contingent upon your passing a criminal background investigation. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Special Instructions Quick Link to Applicant https://employment.niu.edu/postings/98527 Is Background Check Required? Yes EEO Statement Summary

In accordance with applicable statutes and regulations, NIU is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, religion, age, disability (physical and mental), marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (identity and expression), political affiliation, or any other factor unrelated to professional qualifications, and will comply with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations and orders pertaining to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and affirmative action.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Director of Civil Rights Office, Title IX Coordinator

Health Services 2nd floor

CivilRights@niu.edu

815-753-0455

Visa Policy

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire.

ADA Accommodation

NIU remains committed to ensuring that its recruitment and application procedures include full opportunities for applicants with disabilities. Employment opportunities will not be denied to anyone because of the need to make accommodations for a person's disability during either the application or interview process. An applicant who believes they require an accommodation to participate in the employment process due to a disability may request that accommodation through the Accommodation Request Form. For further assistance, please contact the office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) at ada@niu.edu.

Safety Information

NIU provides annual reports on campus security and fire safety.

Read the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

Contact the Ethics and Compliance Office at 815-753-9364 for a hard copy.

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter
• List of at least 3 Professional References

Optional Documents

• Military Discharge Documents ONLY (DD214/DD215/NGB22/DD256)
• Transcripts (unofficial with official required at hire)
• Other

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• • Are you currently a citizen or resident of the State of Illinois?

• Yes

• No

• • What is the highest level of education attained?

• GED

• High School Diploma

• Associates Degree

• Bachelors Degree

• Masters Degree

• PHD

• Have you attached transcripts to support the degree(s) you are submitting for consideration with this posting?

• Yes

• No

• Not Applicable

• • How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?

• 0-1

• 1-3

• 3-5

• 5-7

• 7+

• • Please provide the name of the employer and the dates of employment where you gained this experience. Please note that this information must be verified on an NIU application and/or résumé. ("See Résumé" is not an acceptable response.)

(Open Ended Question)

• • If applicable, have you attached a copy of your DD214, DD215, NGB22, or DD256 for consideration of Veterans Preference Points? The copy submitted should reflect the status of discharge in order to be considered.
• Yes
• No
• Not Applicable