Academic/Eligibility Certification Specialist

Delaware State University; Dover (DE); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Delaware State University is actively seeking an Academic Certification Specialist to oversee the eligibility and transfer evaluation process for student-athletes. The role reports to the Director of Academic Services for Student Athletes and works with coaches, registrars, and academic departments to ensure compliance with NCAA/MEAC rules.

The position requires strong analytical abilities, data management skills, and the ability to communicate complex regulations clearly.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred.
• Two to five years of compliance experience in Division I athletics.
• Working knowledge of Arms Database.

Responsibilities

• Oversee ongoing eligibility and monitor enrollment status.
• Interpret NCAA/MEAC regulations and advise stakeholders.
• Prepare eligibility checklists for MEAC and conferences.
• Conduct trainings on athletic, academic, and certification topics.
• Assist with DegreeWorks transfer evaluation and admissions processes.

Skills

NCAA Eligibility Rules

Compliance Monitoring

Data Management

Training Materials

Communication Skills

Cross-functional Teams

Attention to Detail

NCAA/MEAC Knowledge

DegreeWorks/Banner Knowledge

Regulatory Interpretation

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Master's Degree preferred

2–5 years compliance experience in Division I athletics

Arms Database Knowledge

Tools

Arms Database

Banner

DegreeWorks

Job description

Delaware State University seeks to hire an Academic Certification Specialistas a part of the Academic Support Services for Student Athletes. This position will work under the supervision of the Director of Academic Services for Student Athletes and in collaboration with the students, coaches, staff, registrar, academic departments, and academic advisement. The Academic Certification Specialistis expected to advance and manage all aspects of the academic certification process and transfer evaluation. This person is expected to have demonstrate knowledge of NCAA Division I Eligibility Rules & Regulations and is expected to provide acute support and oversight. This person will meet performance measures and deliverables in accordance with National Collegiate Athletic Association, Mid- Eastern Athletic Conference, and Delaware State Universitypolicies and procedures.

The following are the functions essential to performing this job:

1. Oversee continuing eligibility of student-athletes & daily monitoring of full-time enrollment status ofstudent-athletes.
2. Ongoing Interpretation & Regulatory adherence to compliance to NCAA, MEAC, and other associated conferences eligibility requirements and advise student-athletes, academic staff, and coaches of thoseexpectations.
3. Prepare and ensure accuracy of eligibility checklists to be submitted to MEAC & other associated conferencesoffice
4. Conduct and/or assist with periodic trainings regarding athletic, academic and/or certification for coaches, faculty andstaff.
5. Assist with communication to coaches regarding team eligibility, assist with annual data collection, verification, and reporting of APR/GSR data as required by theNCAA
6. Monitoring, maintaining & updating of our centralized data tool designed to update Coaches on PSA admission status, registration for NSO, documentation submission, scholarship information, etc. & Assess eligibility of incomingtransfer student-athletes based on NCAA, MEAC, and other associated conferences, institutional policies, andprocedures.
7. Evaluate & research prior institution transcript to determine course substitution orcourse equivalences;ongoing communication with Primary Advisor & Department Chairs to determine theoutcome.
8. Assist in Admission-evaluate prospective student athletes and/or all prospective students academic background, processall admission applications and make decision on admissions based on DSU officialcriteria
9. AssistinDegreeworks/Registraroffice-transferevaluation,transfer&creditprocess,graduationevaluationforallstudents and/or assist in day-to-day responsibilities of academic recordmaintenance.
10. Regularly attend certification meetings with the Registrar to verify Progress Toward Degree, Credit Attainment &Course applicability per the Academic CertificationProcess.
11. Serve as liaison with the Office of Strategic Enrollment, Department of Collegiate Athletics, Faculty& Faculty Athletic Representative, Associate Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes, Athletic Academic Advisors & the National Collegiate Athletic Association regarding student-athletematters.
12. Attend monthly Chairpersons meeting with eachCollege
13. Orchestrate & Coordinate the compilation of required NCAA documentation; student files and NCAA datareview
14. Assist in the development of documentation, processes, and training materials intended to improve staff expertise and knowledge of the certificationprocess.
15. Other duties as assigned

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The individual in this job must possess these skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation using some other combination of skills and abilities:

1. Thorough knowledge and understanding of NCAA Division I Eligibility Rules &Regulations.
2. Strong critical thinking, and problem-solving skills; judgment and decision-makingability.
3. Strong ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with campus departments, and external agencies(NCAA).
4. Ability to apply knowledge of NCAA policies & procedures to individual & teamsituations.
5. Strong ability to anticipate a potential problem,write recommendations, present information, and implementplans.
6. Strong ability to develop and design training materials intended to improve staff expertise andknowledge.
7. Proven ability to assess and orchestrate the compilation of required NCAA documentation, student files and NCAAdata review.
8. Proven ability to collect, input, and update data within Compliance Assistant & Degreeworks
9. Ability to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of certification processes and to make recommendations forprocess improvement.
10. Strong interpersonal and communicationsskills
11. Demonstrated ability to work as part of ateam
12. Excellent verbal and written communicationsskills
13. Working knowledge of current NCAA Applications (i.e. EC, transfer portal,CA)
14. Working knowledge of student information systems (i.e.Banner)
15. Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA and MEACrules.
16. Strong attention to detail and accuracy in workproduct
17. Demonstrated commitment to high professional ethicalstandards.
18. Demonstrated ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced officesetting
19. Ability to organize and prioritize work and meet deadlines

Education:

1. Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree (preferred) in Student Personnel, Organizational Leadership, Psychology, Counseling, Higher Education Administration, College Student Development, Education and/or Athletic Counselingpreferred or related degree.
2. Successful experience: Two (2) to five (5) years of compliance experience in a Division I athleticsprogram.
3. Working knowledge of Arms Database

The criteria for evaluation in this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Must possess a strong commitment to the mission and vision of DSU and UniversityCollege.
2. Excellent customer/student serviceskills.
3. Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and handling multiplepriorities.
4. Mustpossessapassionforsupportingtheacademicsuccessofstudentsthroughdevelopinganeducational environment conducive forlearning.
5. Requires scheduling and providing evening and some weekend office hours asneeded.
6. Must possess superior customer/student serviceskills.

Note: The University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties as provided in policy and negotiated agreements.