Job Description

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Job Category:

Academic Staff

Employment Type:

Terminal (Fixed Term)

Job Profile:

Academic Program Specialist

Job Duties:

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a public, land-grant institution that exemplifies the "Wisconsin Idea" that the resources of the university should benefit all the citizens of the state. The Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) provides and supports high-quality continuing education, outreach, service and scholarship related to personal enrichment and professional development. The Prison Education Initiative (PEI) is housed within DCS and supports UWs statewide in delivering degree and microcredential programs to students incarcerated in Wisconsin state prisons.

This position will coordinate delivery of associate degree programs at Taycheedah and Oshkosh Correctional Institutions. The primary work site is these two correctional institutions - the schedule will typically require two partial days (approximately 4 hours each day) at each institution, for a total of four partial days. This may vary throughout each semester and/or over time. The other hours will be from home, at UW-Madison (once a month for meetings), or at UW-Green Bay (up to once a month for meetings).

This position will work closely with Dept of Corrections (DOC) staff, PEI staff, instructors, students, and student-support units across UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay to ensure delivery of high-quality in-person degree programs at Taycheedah and Oshkosh Correctional Institutions. This work will require a combination of administrative expertise, organizational & communication skills, and adaptable interpersonal skills. Tasks will involve coordination of all logistics related to delivering the UW-Green Bay Associate of Arts & Sciences degree at both institutions. In Fall 2025, we are offering 3-4 classes at each site, with cohorts of 10-15 students. These numbers could grow over time. All work will be done in close collaboration with DOC staff at each institution. These tasks may include, but are not limited to: student recruitment and enrollment, scheduling courses, facilitating access to the prisons for instructors and UW staff, supporting instructors in their course delivery, supporting tutoring/lab times for students (including providing some general tutoring support), and helping students overcome barriers to success. It will also include collaboration with UW-Green Bay and the PEI to support students through the financial aid process, and to support student advising. This position will cooperate with many campus units at both UW-Madison and UW-Green Bay, including enrollment, registrar, financial aid, career services, and advising.

This position is a two year, fixed-term terminal position. Options to convert this position to renewable are dependent on continuation of funding and program support. Final appointment is subject to the approval of DOC to regularly enter the facility and perform work.

This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location. Specifically, it will require work inside Oshkosh and Taycheedah Correctional four partial days per week. The remainder of the time may be from home, or attending meetings at UW campuses as needed.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• Identifies program, needs, contributes to the development of unit workflows, schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, events, and interviews
• Coordinates program components and evaluates program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement
• May supervise the day to day activities of one or more academic programs and resolves issues exercising discretion to meet unit goals.
• Utilizes independent judgement regarding development, implementation, promotion, and evaluation for one or more academic programs, initiatives, or events
• Supports students in applying for admission and financial aid and accessing educational resources
  
  

Department:

Continuing Studies, Prison Education Initiative

Compensation:

Minimum: $50,000 ANNUAL

Required Qualifications:

• Excellent problem solving and independent decision-making skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Adaptable interpersonal skills
• Proficiency working in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook) and Google Docs/Sheets
• At least one year of experience supporting or managing an academic program
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working for or closely with Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC)
• Experience providing services to incarcerated people
• Experience working with adult learners from different backgrounds
  
  

Education:

Bachelor's Degree preferred

How to Apply:

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply Now" button. You will be asked to upload a resume, cover letter, and list of three professional/supervisor references as a part of the application process. References will not be contacted without prior notice. Please ensure your resume and cover letter address how you meet the minimum/preferred qualifications for the position.

Contact Information:

Zachary Yafai

HR Business Partner

zyafai@wisc.edu

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, click here.

To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you.

Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department.

Job Tags

Part time, Fixed term contract, Work at office, Immediate start, Remote work,

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