Academic Specialist, Physician Assistant Studies

Position Title:

Academic Specialist, Physician Assistant Studies

Time Type:

Full time

Position Summary and Qualifications:

The Academic Specialist provides essential academic and administrative support for the Physician Assistant (PA) program. This role helps maintain high academic standards by coordinating curriculum delivery, supporting faculty, tracking student performance, assisting with continuous quality improvement (CQI) and accreditation processes, and supporting the admissions process. This position supports the Program Director, Director of Academic Education, and Director of Experiential Education.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Assist with course creation and scheduling in the SJU scheduling systems, including day/time assignments, admissions, enrollment management, instructor assignments, and course and section inventory.

• Manage student progression including data, periodic degree audits, DegreeWorks exceptions/overrides, transfer credits, academic standing, program-specific progression letters, and graduation application and clearance.

• Coordinate faculty advising and student academic success program.

• Assist students with registration, curriculum checklist questions, university policies and procedures, and profile management in the Nest.

• Provide administrative support for experiential education

  • Coordinate clinical affiliation agreements and ensure documentation is current and compliant.

  • Maintain an updated database of clinical sites, schedules, and student placements.

  • Communicate rotation assignments, site requirements, and expectations to students in a timely and professional manner.

  • Ensure students meet all pre-clinical requirements (e.g., immunizations, background checks, drug screens, certifications).

  • Maintain confidential student records and ensure FERPA compliance.

  • Maintain documentation in accordance with ARC-PA standards and assist with data collection for accreditation reports and self-studies.

  • Support the evaluation of clinical sites, preceptors, and student performance during rotations.

• Assist with catalog and website updates related to the Physician Assistant studies.

• Maintain class rosters, including email listservs and appropriate attributes and concentrations, for both pre-PA and professional PA students.

• Work in collaboration with the SHP Director of Data Analysis and Assessment to collect and analyze student performance data to support program outcomes management and accreditation reports creation.

• Support program compliance with ARC-PA standards and PANCE blueprint alignment.

• Facilitate onboarding into the professional phase of all programs, including welcome letters, arranging for IDs/parking passes, answering questions, liaising between programs, and students.

• Serve as a liaison to the undergraduate program to answer questions related to admissions.

• Perform other duties, as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required (Education, Health Sciences, Data Science or related field preferred).

• 2-3 years of experience in higher education, academic support, or program coordination.

• Strong organizational, communication, and data management skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and Learning Management System (Canvas).

• Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students.

• Proficiency in basic data manipulation.

Preferred

• Master’s degree.

• Experience with higher education systems such as Banner, CourseDog, EXAAT, DegreeWorks.

• Familiarity with higher education admissions and student services issues

• Experience working in an inclusive environment

• Excellent organizational and training skills

• Excellent verbal/written communication skills

• Excellent problem-solving skills

• Skills in the development, implementation, and execution of programs.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

• Participation in university functions, such as open house and admitted student day, is generally scheduled on weekends and/or evenings

Saint Joseph’s University is a private, Catholic, Jesuit institution and we expect members of our community to be knowledgeable about – and to make a positive contribution to – our mission. Saint Joseph’s University is an equal opportunity employer that seeks to recruit, develop and retain a talented and diverse workforce. The University is committed to the diversity of its faculty and staff so that our students, our disciplines and our community as a whole can benefit from the multiple perspectives it offers. The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. EOE

Saint Joseph’s University prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its programs and activities, including admission and employment, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. To contact the Title IX Coordinator, e-mail titleix@sju.edu, visit Campion Student Center suite 243, or call 610-660-1145. To learn more about the University’s Title IX policies, the process for filing a report or formal complaint of sex discrimination, sexual harassment, or other form of sexual misconduct, and the University’s response to reports and/or formal complaints, please visit www.sju.edu/titleix . Inquiries may also be directed to the Federal agency responsible for enforcing Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights .

Pay Transparency & Benefits Overview

Please click to read more about the university’s approach to pay and benefits transparency. Adjunct instructor compensation can be found in the article. Otherwise, an estimated pay range is listed below. This position’s estimated pay range is:

$55,575.00 – $61,800.00