Item 9.D-October 10, 2014
ADMINISTRATIVE FACULTY POSITION DESCRIPTION QUESTIONNAIRE
To expedite and facilitate the PDQ review process, please send the PDQ and Org Chart electronically to
marshag@unr.edu for discussion and for initial review before routing PDQ for approval signatures.
Questions - call UNR Faculty HR at 682-6114
INSTRUCTIONS: See http://www.unr.edu/hr/compensation-and-evaluation for complete instructions.
Incumbent(s) Name (if applicable):
Position #(s): 16908
Current Title: Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Current Range: 3
(JCC: )
Department: Academic Opportunity & Support Programs
College/Division: Enrollment Services
/ Student Services
Account #(s): 1320-105-2-53
Action Proposed: (check all that apply)
( ) New position: Proposed Range:
Proposed Title:
( ) Title Change, Proposed Title:
( ) Proposed Reassignment from Range
to Range
(X) Revised PDQ only (no change in range or title)
( ) Line of Progression (show titles below)
Range:
JCC (Current
or new HR
assigned):
I certify that the statements in this description are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.
____________________________________________________________
Employee’s Signature
__________________
Date
I/we have reviewed the statements in this form and they accurately reflect the job assignments.
____________________________________________________________
Immediate Supervisor’s Signature Rita Escher, Dir, Acad & Opp Spt Svcs
__________________
Date
____________________________________________________________
Director/Chair/Dean
Melisa Choroszy, Assoc Vice Pres, Enroll Svcs
__________________
Date
Approved for Salary Placement Committee review
____________________________________________________________
Pres / Vice Pres / Vice Prov Signature Shannon Ellis
Vice President, Student Services
__________________
Date
Action Approved by the Provost/President (Completed by Faculty HR):
77761 Range:
3
Pos #(s): 16908
JCC:
EEO: 3A
Eff: 10/1/2014
Approved Title: Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Employee signs on “final” stamped approved PDQ and sends to HR for personnel file.
Employee Signature:_______________________________________________ __________________
Date
Printed Name: ____________________________________________________
Rev: 10/1/2012
Position Description - Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Page 2
1. Summary Statement: State the major function(s) of the position and its role in the
university. Attach an organizational chart with positions, ranges, and names for the division
which reflects the position in it as well as those supervised in the department. (This section is
used for advertisement of the position.)
The Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program, reports directly to the McNair Scholars Program
Director in the Academic and Opportunity Support Programs office at the University of Nevada, Reno
(UNR) and supervises the activities of other program staff members. The individual develops
curriculum and instructs educational workshops for scholars to enhance entry into top graduate
programs in the nation. The position identifies each student's academic needs and prepares an
Individual Education Plan. The incumbent is responsible for delivery of services to scholars including
recruitment, intake/follow-up interviews, evaluation, instruction, tutoring, tracking and coordinating
implementation of the research and graduate school preparation plans, and other services as required
by the grant proposal. The Assistant Director is responsible for personnel administration, financial
management, and budget development. The individual has a visible role in promoting opportunities for
undergraduate research at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) including collaboration with
academic faculty, deans, and vice-presidents and presenting project information to the campus
community. The Assistant Director reports to a Director who commits 25% time to the McNair
Program. The Assistant Director, therefore, has significant responsibility for the success of the
program in meeting its U.S. Department of Education (USDE) federally funded objectives and
monitoring its federal budget.
2. List the major responsibilities, including percentage of time devoted to each. Provide
enough detail to enable a person outside the department to understand the job (percentage
first with heading and then bulleted information).
35% - Recruitment and Facilitation
 Assist with the recruitment and selection of numerous project participants and academic
faculty research mentors
 Maintain frequent communication with faculty mentors to provide information, solicit feedback
on student progress, and address concerns and issues on the part of faculty and/or students
30% - Summer Research & Seminar Coordination
 Coordinate the summer research internships for McNair Scholars including housing,
curriculum development for seminars, coordinating credit bearing research class, and
collaboration with individual faculty research mentors to establish student research schedules
and expectations.
 Coordinate monthly seminars including recruitment and orientation of seminar presenters
10% - Assessment
 Define learning outcomes for all segments of the academic support program
 Measure success of academic program activities to achieve learning outcomes
 Report formative and summative assessment results to the director at established intervals
during each program year
 Modify activities as needed to meet learning outcomes and program objectives
10% - Supervision
 Recruit, train, and supervise graduate mentors and a technology assistant
 Supervise full-time classified staff
 Collaborate with the TRIO Scholars Academic Coordinator to recruit, train and supervise peer
mentors for the McNair Program
Position Description - Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Page 3
10% - Student Travel and Stipends
 Coordinate all details of travel for participants to attend conferences and present research
posters or papers and/or participate in professional conferences
5% - Budget Management
 Manage budget for the academic support component of the federal grant including research
stipends and participant travel, and academic support
3. Describe the level of freedom to take action and make decisions with or without
supervision and how the results of the work performed impact the department, division and/or
the university as a whole.
Level of Freedom:
The Assistant Director develops curriculum and instructs educational workshops for scholars to
enhance entry into top graduate programs in the nation. The incumbent is responsible for delivery of
numerous program services to scholars and coordinates implementation of the research and graduate
school preparation plans and other services as required by the grant proposal. The Assistant Director
collects assessment data that becomes part of the annual report to the USDE. The position makes
independent decisions on content and updating of materials for the workshops and in the personnel
and financial management and budget development of the grant. The Assistant Director consults with
the Director on long-term strategic planning of the program, changes and implementation, and
identifying new opportunities for funding.
Impact:
Decisions of the Assistant Director impact the recruitment, selection, development, and retention of
McNair participants. The decisions and judgments made by the Assistant Director impact the
graduation rates of UNR underrepresented students as well as the rates at which underrepresented
students enter graduate school. The decisions and judgments made by the Assistant Director impact
the perception of UNR’s commitment to diversity by local, regional, and national communities. The
success of program participants adds to the diversification of the graduate school and the campus
community. Failure to make accurate reports will result in loss of the grant. Fraudulent activity could
result in the loss of all institutional Title IV funds. At the very least, such activity would result in a
federal site visit or audit of Title IV programs at the University.
4. Describe the knowledge, skills (to include cognitive requirement and verbal and written
communication), and abilities (to include task complexity, problem solving, creativity and
innovation) essential to successful performance of this job (in bullet format).
Knowledge of:
 Student development theory and best practices
 Barriers to entering graduate school for underrepresented students
 Issues facing project eligible students
 Curriculum development
 Access and opportunity support services program
 Program assessment and reporting to university, State and/or Federal agencies
 Budget management
 Academic advising/counseling, assessment, and college student development
 Higher education rules and regulations relating to admissions, progress toward degrees, and
graduation requirements
Position Description - Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program


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General university administrative policies and procedures, especially those related to graduate
students
Higher education retention and persistence programs
Skills:
 Proficiency in use of a personal computer and current software applications including but not
limited to Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and email)
 Human resources supervision/management
 Excellent oral and written communication skills to include presentation skills
 Interpersonal and human relations
 Effective time and multiple task management and organizational skills (projects, meetings,
conferences, workshops)
Ability to:
 Recruit, train and supervise staff
 Advise postsecondary students
 Assess program effectiveness
 Show diplomacy in sensitive situations
 Maintain professional business and work ethics and standards
 Establish rapport and interact with a diverse population of traditional and nontraditional age
college students, co-workers and support staff
 Work collaboratively with a wide variety of service providers
 Work independently to achieve specified outcomes
 Provide academic and personal advising to students
 Manage, prioritize, and complete multiple projects/tasks in an efficient and timely manner while
maintaining focus on organizational goals
5. Describe the type of personal contacts encountered in performing the duties of the job.
Explain the nature and purpose of these contacts: i.e., to provide services, to resolve
problems, to negotiate.
Internal
Academic faculty, Deans, Vice
presidents
Administrative and academic
faculty
Administrative units and
academic departments
Academic Skills Tutor
Coordinator
Campus community
UNR Information Technology
support personnel
Residential Life and Housing
and Enrollment Services
External
University Graduate Schools
Reason for Contact
To recruit research mentors; to develop positive relationships in
order to identify volunteer mentors for program participants; to
establish workshops and seminars and identify the kind of
academic support needed to assist participants to enter and be
successful in graduate school
To recruit seminar presenters
To identify participants for project
To make referrals and receive information regarding participant
progress in tutoring
To communicate and provide information about project
To interface with them on behalf of the project
To provide housing and class credits for summer research
program
Reason for Contact
To communicate with staff to coordinate campus visits
Position Description - Assistant Director, McNair Scholars Program
Page 5
6. Indicate the minimum qualifications which are necessary in filling this position should it
become vacant. Please keep in mind the duties/responsibilities of the position rather than the
qualifications of the incumbent.
a.
Minimum educational level, including appropriate field, if any.
Master’s Degree from a regionally accredited institution with emphasis in education,
counseling, student development or a related field
b.
Minimum type and amount of work experience, in addition to the above required
education necessary for a person entering this position.
Master’s Degree and three years of professional experience to include working in
student development at the postsecondary level; coordinating support programs for
postsecondary students; working with first generation, low-income students and
students of color in a postsecondary setting
Preferred Licenses or Certifications: None
c.
Indicate any license or certificate required for this position.
None