Position Function:
The Program Coordinator serves as the primary architect of the holistic student experience within a given academic unit in the College of Architecture, Art, and Design (CAAD). This position will guide students from recruitment through graduation and into their first professional position. This role transcends traditional academic advising by integrating student recruitment, academic planning, industry engagement and professional development, and career placement into a single, student-centered practice. The program coordinator will work collaboratively with department heads, faculty, curriculum committees, industry advisory boards, and career services to ensure that CAAD graduates are academically prepared, professionally skilled, and career ready. Position responsibilities are listed below.
Salary Grade: 14
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Department Profile:
The Department of Building Construction Science in the College of Architecture, Art, and Design utilizes a core curriculum of four different six-credit, project based studios that integrate multiple construction content areas coordinated to advance integrated design/construction education. Through its innovative approach to interdisciplinary education in the environment, the Building Construction Science Program produces collaborative-minded construction professionals - critical thinkers who rigorously engage new challenges in the rapidly changing construction and building environment.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Recruitment and Pre-enrollment Engagement
• Partner with the academic unit and college leadership, Office of Admissions to develop and execute targeted recruitment strategies for prospective students.
• Serve as a point of contact for prospective student inquiries, providing guidance on admissions requirements, portfolio preparation (if applicable), scholarship opportunities, and financial planning.
• Provide input to CAAD Communication team to develop and maintain recruitment materials—including digital content, program guides, and social media assets—that communicate current curriculum strengths and emerging industry pathways.
• Represent the academic unit and CAAD at regional and national recruitment events, high school visits, portfolio days, and college fairs; articulate the distinct value proposition of the academic program and the college.
• Conduct personalized campus tours for prospective students and families, highlighting studio culture/ experiential learning, facilities, and career outcomes specific to the academic program.
2. Academic Advising and Student Success
• Advise undergraduate students (except freshmen and sophomores) on degree requirements, course sequencing, prerequisite planning, and academic progress toward timely degree completion.
• Monitor and track student academic performance using early alert systems; proactively intervene with students who show signs of academic difficulty.
• Provide support and referrals for students experiencing academic, mental, or behavioral challenges, connecting them with appropriate university resources.
• Maintain accurate and confidential academic records for all advisees in accordance with FERPA and university policy.
• Assist with orientation, preregistration, and registration procedures.
• Confer with academic unit leadership relative to academic records, credits, policy, and program requirements.
• Evaluates transcripts from other educational institutions to determine which courses meet requirements for specific curricula.
• Validate completion of degree requirements for graduating seniors.
• Answer email inquiries sent by prospective and current students.
• Process student forms including change of major, class overrides, and add/drop.
• Assist the academic unit head in class scheduling, and scholarships.
• Assist the academic unit head in their communication with the registrar, faculty, and students on issues related to academic advising.
3. Curriculum Intelligence and Program Development
• Serve as a liaison between the advising function, departmental curriculum committees and CAAD leadership, providing data-driven insights on enrollment trends, course demand, bottleneck courses, and student progression patterns.
• Compile and analyze semester-over-semester data on student retention, time-to-degree, and graduation rates to inform CAAD leadership.
• Assist as needed with curriculum review and accreditation preparation processes (NAAB & ACCE) by contributing advising data and student outcome metrics.
• Monitor peer and aspirant institutions’ curricular innovations and communicate emerging academic program trends to department heads and the dean.
• Assist with exit surveys and interviews of graduating seniors.
• Based on guidance from CAAD leadership, track and report on the alignment between current CAAD curricula and evolving industry competency expectations, identifying gaps or opportunities for new concentrations, minors, or certificate programs.
4. Industry Engagement and Career Readiness Preparation
• Engage with industry advisory boards under the guidance of CAAD and academic unit leadership to gather intelligence on hiring trends, skill expectations, and emerging practice areas. Participate in relevant advisory board sessions to provide updates on advising and receive input.
• Develop and maintain relationships with regional and national employers, design firms, construction companies, cultural institutions, and studios to create internship, co-op, and employment pipelines for CAAD students.
• Organize professional development workshops for students on topics including portfolio preparation, résumé writing, interview skills, professional licensure pathways, networking, and workplace readiness.
• Coordinate with the university Career Center to host CAAD-specific career fairs, employer panels, studio visits, and alumni networking events.
• Curate and distribute a recurring digest of industry news, job postings, co-op/fellowship/residency opportunities, and competition announcements to CAAD students.
• Analyze first-destination survey data and alumni employment outcomes to track placement rates and inform program improvement.
5. Student Engagement and Co-curricular Development
• Promote undergraduate research and creative scholarship opportunities, connecting students with faculty mentors.
• Support students in identifying and applying for nationally competitive scholarships, fellowships, study-abroad programs, and graduate school opportunities.
6. Data Gathering, Communication, and Administrative Support
• Prepare regular reports on advising caseload metrics, student success indicators, recruitment funnel performance, retention rates and career placement outcomes for academic unit and college leadership.
• Maintain proficiency in university student information systems (e.g., Banner, DegreeWorks, Slate) and advising platforms; recommend technology improvements to enhance the student advising experience.
• Assist in scheduling courses, managing classroom assignments, and coordinating with the registrar on catalog updates and degree program modifications.
• Perform related duties as assigned by the dean, associate dean or academic unit leadership.
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelors degree in a related field.
Two years professional experience
Preferred Qualifications:
An advance or terminal degree
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies.
2. Ability to efficiently and effectively work in a fast-paced environment with multiple responsibilities.
3. Ability to prioritize workload and foster a willingness to continuously learn and grow professionally to excel at one's highest capacity.
4. Demonstrated problem solving skills to create solutions and manage conflict.
5. Ability to work in a team environment while fostering respect among co-workers.
6. Highly developed analytical skills with attention to detail.
7. Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively (verbal and written).
8. Ability to coordinate priorities and meet multiple daily deadlines.
9. Ability to compile data, create and make meaningful presentations to large groups.
10. Ability to exercise sound judgment and handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion and according to FERPA guidelines.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
1. Work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment.
2. No or very limited exposure to physical risk.
3. No or very limited physical effort is required.
Instructions for Applying:
All applicants must apply online at http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu and attach a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, and the complete contact information for at least three professional references.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.
