Thompson Scholar Program Coordinator

Job Title:

Full or Part Time:

Hours:

Exempt:

Supervisory Org:

Job Description:

JOB SUMMARY:  Saginaw Valley State University is firmly driven by its student-centered mission of transforming lives through education. Since 2016, SVSU has partnered with the Robert and Ellen Thompson Foundation, which believes in the same power of education, and generously provides life-changing support to benefit students and families in the form of the Robert and Ellen Thompson Working Families Scholarship. While the financial support provided by the scholarship program is significant, the Scholarship is more than financial aid. It is a program that provides additional support and opportunities to students and requires accountability on the part of the student and the university to achieve academic success and to give back to the community in the form of volunteer service.

The Thompson Scholar Program Coordinator plays an exciting and critical role in providing success coaching, event planning, reporting, leadership, and communication for the Thompson Scholars program and the scholars themselves. Alongside partners in Student Success, Admissions, Financial Aid, Academic Advising, and other areas, the coordinator will help ensure strong student retention, graduation rates, program engagement, and community service contributions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Proactively contact incoming and current SVSU Thompson Scholars to provide support and advice that ensures their overall success within the Thompson Scholars Program. Provide support and resources to help students succeed academically, financially, and socially.
• Be accessible and responsive to Thompson Scholar needs, questions, and requests.
• Attend events and conferences with students and Thompson Foundation as needed. 
• Anticipate and act on issues that may arise that could threaten student success in the Program.
• Organize and promote events for Thompson Scholars that build community and support the pillars of the Thompson Scholar program.
• Communicate with the Thompson Foundation in a professional and prompt manner.
• Manage accurate and timely reporting to the Thompson Foundation.
• Support the scholarship application, review and selection process.
• Manage communication with parents, families, and alumni of the Thompson Scholar program.
• Understand and administer the Thompson Scholar program requirements including student warning, probation, and appeal processes.
• Mentor and direct the work of the executive student board of the Thompson Scholar Organization.
• Ensure monthly reporting of Thompson Scholar program events, highlights, and news (including monthly newsletter) are shared with students, university leadership, and the Thompson Foundation.
• Assist in Registrar Office functions, including beginning of and end of term processes, graduation audit review, transfer course equivalency preparation, and other functions when needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED:

General supervision is received from the University Registrar and the Vice President for Enrollment Management.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED:

None

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Relevant experience in a higher education environment (Registrar, Student Services, Counseling, Advising, Admissions, etc.)
• Detail-oriented and organized.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
• Experience and ability to positively interact with all members of the campus community
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without accommodations.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT & EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS:

• Duties are generally performed inside and not exposed to adverse conditions.
• All work associated with this role must be performed within the state of Michigan.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and throughout their employment. The university does not provide employment visa sponsorship now or in the future for this job classification.  Since SVSU does not participate in E-Verify, candidates for employment are not eligible for STEM OPT extensions.

The above reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the essential functions of the job. It shall not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements that may be inherent in the job.  It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision.  The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not be held to exclude other duties not mentioned that are of similar kind or level of difficulty.

About SVSU:

Saginaw Valley State University is a comprehensive university with more than 100 programs of study for its roughly 7,000 students. Located on a suburban campus in Michigan’s Great Lakes Bay Region, SVSU is committed to a supportive and empowering environment for students, faculty and staff. SVSU was recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for 9 consecutive years (2016-2024).
SVSU emphasizes undergraduate teaching and learning, and community-based research. SVSU earned the Community Engagement classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, a distinction achieved by only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities. By their senior year, 84 percent of students have engaged with community employers and agencies in internships, field placements or some other component of their academic preparation.
SVSU is establishing itself as a leader in STEAM education for the Great Lakes Bay Region, partnering with businesses, foundations and school districts to improve students’ performance in math, science and the arts at the middle school, high school and university levels.  SVSU is constructing the first university research facility on Lake Huron to improve public health and the economy in the Saginaw Bay watershed.
 
More than 70 percent of SVSU freshmen live on campus in student housing that has been rated No. 1 among public universities in the U.S. (2018-2025). SVSU fields 20 varsity sports at the NCAA Division II level. The average class size is 23 students. For more information, please visit our website, http://www.svsu.edu.