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A post-secondary education administrator oversees student activities, faculty research, and academics at colleges and universities. However, their duties may vary depending on the area of the college they manage, such as the office of the registrar, admission, or student life. Postsecondary education administrators help students in several ways such as completing admissions applications and registering for classes. They work in colleges, universities, community colleges, and technical and trade schools on a full-time basis.
Watch a video to learn what a post-secondary education administrator does:
How to Become a Postsecondary Education Administrator
A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required for an entry-level position of a postsecondary education administrator along with experience in a college administrative setting or related field. However, a master’s degree or higher is often preferred. These degrees may be in social work, marketing, or accounting.
Deans and provosts usually have doctorates in the field in which they taught and may transition into administration. Employers look for candidates with experience in a college administrative setting. Some postsecondary education administrators work in a registrar’s office or as a resident assistant while in college in order to get their experience.
Job Description of a Postsecondary Education Administrator
Postsecondary education administrators may work in admissions or in the registrar’s office, therefore their duties may vary. The duties in admissions would include determining how many students to accept to the school and to meet with the prospective students to encourage them to apply. They review applicants and analyze data about the applicants and admitted students. Many admissions counselor’s travel to specific regions of the country to speak to students and high school counselors. He or she may work with the financial department helping students with tuition and creating packages of federal and financial aid.
The duties of those working in the registrar’s office are to maintain student and course records. These administrators schedule and register students for classes, as well as the time and space of classes. They ensure graduation requirements are met and plan commencement ceremonies. He or she prepares transcripts and diplomas for students and maintains the academic records for the institution.
Postsecondary education administrators that work in student affairs have the duties of several co-curricular school functions like student activities and athletics. They help students with housing concerns, finding roommates, personal problems, and academics. They communicate with the student’s parents or guardians and create, support, and assess non-academic programs for the students.
Postsecondary Education Administrator
Postsecondary education administrators oversee student services, academics, and faculty research at colleges and universities. Their job duties vary depending on the size of the school, and the area of the college they manage. In admissions offices, administrators review college applications, conduct interviews with potential students, and decide whether to admit them to the school. Admissions counselors are typically assigned a region of the country and travel there to speak to high school counselors and students.
In registrars’ offices, education administrators and their staff register students for classes, ensure they meet academic requirements, and maintain institutional records. Before the school year begins, registrars prepare course schedules, and as the year winds down, they also help plan graduation ceremonies. postsecondary education administrators may oversee student athletics, academic and personal advising, residential life, or other areas.
Student affairs staff may advise student clubs, and train student workers, including residential advisors. Provosts and academic deans help develop academic policies, hire faculty, and manage budgets. Postsecondary education administrators work full time, year-round, for both private and public colleges and universities. Postsecondary education administrators typically need at least a master’s degree, although smaller colleges or community colleges may hire candidates with only a bachelor’s. Provosts and deans usually need a Ph.D. Many positions also require several years of experience in a college administrative setting.
Article Citations
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Postsecondary Education Administrators.
National Center for O*NET Development. 11-9033.00. O*NET OnLine.
The career video is in the public domain from the U. S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.