Senior Program Coordinator

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Occupational Summary

The Senior Program Coordinator (DUSA) for the Chemistry Undergraduate Studies is responsible for providing programmatic support to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) group. This includes assisting with the daily operations of the undergraduate Chemistry program, coordinating faculty, staff, and student engagement, and advising on program policies and events. Key duties involve data analysis to monitor program effectiveness, coordinating events like graduation ceremonies and orientation for new majors, and administering diversity and inclusion initiatives. Additionally, the coordinator manages undergraduate teaching assistant (TA) assignments process working.

Worked Performed  

Programmatic Support

• Assist the DUS group with all aspects of the day-to-day operations of Chemistry’s extensive undergraduate program, which is large in terms of both the number of Chemistry Majors and Minors and in terms of the undergraduate enrollment volume and variety of service courses taught by faculty.
• Make operational and programmatic decisions that have a significant impact on the successful achievement of the undergraduate Chemistry program’s strategies and objectives in consultation with the DUS group. Coordinate and advise Chemistry faculty, staff, and students regarding program policy, events, and deadlines.
• Plan, coordinate, and administer activities in the DUS group with an emphasis on implementing and refining procedures, processes, services, and systems.
• Act as liaison between undergraduate students and the Director of Undergraduate Studies.
• Advise the Directors of Undergraduate Studies on program effectiveness based upon running queries and performing data analyses using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. These techniques will be applied to pre/post surveys of undergraduate majors, mid-semester surveys of students in service courses, and SISS data. Investigate trends and recommend and implement modifications to improve program effectiveness.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate official clearance of Graduate with Distinction projects by undergraduate Chemistry majors in concert with the overseeing Primary Investigators, the DUS group, and the University Registrar.
• Record academic and personnel data for all undergraduate Chemistry majors. Maintain cumulative data summary of all past undergraduate Chemistry majors and minors, including academic and personnel data needed for large training grant reporting.
• Assist with processing of summer fellowship and academic year undergraduate training grant program applications, including a data summary on all applicants for the consideration of the selection committee, preparation of offer letters, and similar activities.

• Administer orientation for new majors in the department of Chemistry to include conceptualizing, preparing, and organizing “Chemistry Major Orientation Week” activities and events for new Chemistry Majors.
• Administer diversity and inclusion events for Chemistry majors and prospective majors.
• Coordinate the administrative process for undergraduate TA assignments for fall, spring and summer semesters; work with faculty and instructional staff to facilitate timely undergraduate TA hiring and assignment decisions.
• Direct the assignment of graduate student TA’s in exam grading and proctoring duties.
• Advise faculty regarding their meetings with incoming and returning undergraduate students regarding course registration. Monitor for compliance with departmental and university regulations.
• Coordinate events such as the Chemistry Department graduation ceremonies and public relations/outreach activities with the Chemistry instructional staff (disciplinary experts).

Financial Duties

• Administer the payroll biweekly personnel working in the Department of Chemistry, including hiring, salary changes, code changes, termination, etc.
• Monitor the Undergraduate Budget and Undergraduate Payroll and maintain accurate financial re