Academic Programs Coordinator-AAP Department of City and Regional Planning

Academic Programs Coordinator-AAP Department of City and Regional Planning

The Opportunity

The Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) is seeking a dynamic and organized Academic Programs Coordinator to play a key role in supporting our academic mission. This position is an integral part of our administrative team and serves as the primary administrative contact for all CRP students, supporting six graduate degree programs and one undergraduate program.

Working under the general direction of the Department Manager—and in close collaboration with faculty leaders and the Lead Graduate Program Associate—you will ensure the effective delivery of academic services and contribute meaningfully to a positive student experience.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as the go-to resource for CRP students and faculty, providing timely information and guidance on academic processes, procedures, and deadlines.

• Navigate and maintain college and university databases to track student progress and administer academic programs.

• Assist students in resolving academic issues and concerns with professionalism and care.

• Coordinate the full-cycle admissions process for all CRP graduate programs, from application intake to admission decisions.

• Administer student assistantship assignments, financial aid allocations, and departmental awards.

• Manage graduate aid and prize/award budgets.

• Create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of the CRP community.

This is a full-time (40 hours/week) endowed position that is based in Ithaca, NY and fully on-site. Work hours are 8am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday.   

About the Department of City and Regional Planning

The Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) provides a dynamic, rigorous, and supportive context for addressing the most timely planning questions of our time: from social and environmental justice to equity and access to essential services and infrastructures; from climate change adaptation to land use, zoning, and sustainable transportation and housing.

The department of CRP is the home of leading programs in planning, historic preservation planning, and urban and regional studies and is comprised of approximately 20 core faculty, 120 undergraduate students, 150 graduate students, and 4 staff members.

What We Need

We are seeking a team member who is organized, collaborative, adept at communication, and willing to work independently when needed. Additionally, you will: 

• Hold an Associate’s degree with 2-4 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Be a great communicator, with strong leadership, organizational, analytical, and creative problem-solving skills

• Be able to establish and maintain excellent relationships with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds

• Demonstrate sound judgment within their sphere of influence, and to take empowered action when there are unknowns

• Demonstrate capability of working independently and in collaboration with others, and to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members

• Be a top-notch problem-solver who wants to use these skills to help others

• Adjust priorities as needed

• Be organized, proactive, and carefully attentive to detail

• Have expertise with typical business software, including demonstrated capacity to use Word, Excel, and Outlook (or similar tools)

• Learn new programs and tools quickly, and to adapt to changing processes and procedures gracefully

• Have experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing

If you possess these experiences and skills this may be the role for you! There are a few other qualifications we would view as incredibly helpful in this role, to include: 

• Bachelor’s degree and/or additional experience working in an academic setting. Experience working directly with students a significant plus.

• Experience working with databases (e.g., Airtable, Smartsheet) and with Cornell-specific financial management tools (e.g., Kuali Financial System) and transactional processes.

A cover letter and resume are required for further consideration for this position.

Rewards and Benefits

• This position is based in Ithaca, New York and is fully on-site.

• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, sustainability, and dive