Student Engagement and Community Specialist (MSAI)

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Morningside
• Salary Range: $74,000 - $80,000

Position Summary

Columbia Engineering is seeking a service-oriented, proactive professional to join the team as the Student Engagement and Community Specialist for the Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence (MSAI) program and the Engineering Student Affairs (ESA) Office. The incumbent will support the academic success, sense of belonging, and overall student experience of MSAI students throughout the entire student lifecycle—from admission through graduation and into the alumni community.

The Student Engagement and Community Specialist will cultivate a vibrant and inclusive MSAI community by collaborating with faculty, staff, student leaders, alumni, and industry partners to develop and deliver high-impact academic, social, professional, and co-curricular programming. The incumbent will lead initiatives that foster student engagement, build community, and enhance the overall student experience for prospective, admitted, and current MSAI students while strengthening connections with alumni and employer partners.

In addition, the Specialist will provide school-wide student affairs, administrative, and operational support serving Columbia Engineering's academic departments, programs, and functional teams, including: Academic Administration and Enrollment Services, Graduate Career Placement, Graduate Student Affairs, Graduate Student Life, Graduate Wellness and Support Services, and Professional Development and Leadership.

Responsibilities

(50%)

Oversee a full suite of events (academic, social, career, and co-curricular) for prospective, admitted, and current MSAI students.

●           Plan, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive portfolio of academic, social, professional, career, alumni, and co-curricular events that foster engagement among prospective, admitted, current, and graduating MSAI students.

●           Lead the planning and delivery of a comprehensive MSAI new student orientation, including program development, scheduling, speaker coordination, communications, materials, and event logistics.

●           Coordinate group advising sessions, student town halls, and other forums that promote communication, community building, and student success.

●           Provide individualized advising and support by meeting with students one-on-one, responding to inquiries, and connecting students with appropriate campus resources.

●           Monitor students' academic progress, proactively identify students who may be experiencing academic or personal challenges, and coordinate timely interventions and referrals to promote student success and retention.

●           Review degree audits and graduation clearances to ensure students have satisfied all program and University degree requirements.

●           Develop and implement strategic yield initiatives for admitted students, including personalized communications, webinars, virtual and on-campus events, and other engagement activities designed to increase enrollment.

●           Foster a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive program culture by actively soliciting, analyzing, and responding to student feedback to continuously enhance the MSAI student experience.

●           Collaborate with Engineering faculty, departments, and academic administrators to support course scheduling, classroom logistics, enrollment management, and other academic operations while minimizing scheduling conflicts and maximizing curricular opportunities for students.

●           Coordinate with partner schools offering MSAI concentrations in the program to support course scheduling, classroom logistics, enrollment management, and other academic operations while minimizing scheduling conflicts and maximizing curricular opportunities for students.

(10%)

Support recruitment and enrollment efforts for the MSAI program by serving as a knowledgeable and enthusiastic representative of Columbia Engineering.

●           Meet individually with prospective students to discuss the MSAI program, answer questions, and provide timely, personalized follow-up communications throughout the admissions process.

●           Partner with Columbia Engineering Graduate Admissions, faculty leadership, and program staff to develop and implement recruitment and yield strategies that attract a diverse and highly qualified applicant pool.

●           Coordinate and execute admitted-student yield initiatives, including personalized communications, webinars, virtual and on-campus events, class visits, and other engagement activities designed to convert admitted students into enrolled students.

●           Analyze recruitment and yield outcomes and recommend strategies to enhance prospective student engagement, improve enrollment conversion, and strengthen the overall admissions experience.

(20%)

Support the academic mission of Columbia Engineering.

●           Coordinate and execute academic, professional, social, and co-curricular events that support students across all Columbia Engineering graduate programs, including Dual Degree programs, MBAxMS, the Global Engineering Track (GET), and Advanced Master's Research (AMR).

●           Collaborate with program leadership, faculty, and campus partners to deliver high-quality programming that fosters student engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a strong sense of community.

●           Assist with the coordination and processing of enrollment-related transactions, including Registration Adjustment Forms (RAFs), Leave of Absence requests, and other academic and enrollment-related documentation.

●           Support the implementation and delivery of the Professional Development and Leadership course, as well as graduate career placement initiatives that prepare students for professional success.

(15%)

Contribute to signature Columbia Engineering student affairs initiatives and events.

●           Plan and execute signature events and initiatives, including Welcome Day, Graduate Engineers Connect, graduation ceremonies, and other school-wide programs that enhance the student experience and foster community among engineering students.

●           Plan and execute school-wide student onboarding efforts, including admissions yield activities, new student orientation, and advising programs designed to promote student engagement and success from enrollment through graduation.

(5%)

Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent is required; graduate-level work is preferred.

A minimum of 2-4 years of related experience is required.

Understand student and academic affairs opportunities and challenges affecting constituents, comprising a diverse population, both domestic and international.

Ability to represent the Program and School professionally at recruitment, yield, and orientation events.

Strong technical competency is required; demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of student services database software and online resources, and the willingness and enthusiasm to respond to students’ needs in an increasingly technologically dynamic society.

Proficiency with Google suite of products, MS Office (Excel with pivot tables, VLOOKUP), PowerPoint, publishing software, social media, etc. Ability to analyze and work with a large volume of student, course, and other types of data.

The ability to interpret and apply standards and to communicate complex policies and procedures to students, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders.

Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently while accepting responsibility and accountability for assignments within a team environment.

Must be willing to work on occasional evenings and weekends, on an as-needed basis, especially during recruitment, yield, orientation, and when a student crisis arises.

Possess excellent interpersonal and administrative skills. Ability to work independently and under pressure, with a high level of attention to detail.

Candidate must exercise good judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility, with a student-wellness mindset.

Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision.

Must be able to communicate effectively and tactfully with staff, faculty, students, employers, and alumni in small and large group settings.

A positive, mission-oriented, and forward-thinking attitude, along with a sense of humor, is a must.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.