Degree Compliance Specialist

Inside Higher Ed; Fairfax (VA); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution is looking for a Degree Compliance Specialist in Fairfax, VA. The role includes processing academic records, verifying graduation eligibility, and ensuring compliance with degree requirements. Candidates should have a Bachelor's degree and strong customer service skills. The position offers a hybrid work schedule and the chance to contribute to education support. Applications are accepted until September 3, 2025.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with degree evaluation and/or student information system software.
• Be detail-oriented with logic to solve problems.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to employ logic to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to process large volumes of work with high accuracy.
• Be detail-oriented.

Responsibilities

• Process complex academic records transactions for degree audits.
• Ensure timely graduation processing and accuracy of transcripts.
• Provide high-quality customer service while adhering to policies.
• Ensure accurate graduation information on transcripts.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of all academic programs and BAM requirements.
• Identify academic requirements of degree programs as catalog years change.
• Provide high-quality customer service within FERPA and policies; do not provide academic advisement.
• Respond to calls and emails from department representatives and students; provide cross-functional support.

Skills

Customer service experience

Excellent oral and written communication skills

Detail-oriented

Demonstrated problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Ellucian Banner

Degree Works

Degree evaluation software

Job description

Overview

Join to apply for the Degree Compliance Specialist role at Inside Higher Ed.

Opening on: Aug 19, 2025 • Fairfax, VA • Classified Staff • Department: Division of Enrollment Management • Classification: Education Support Spec 3 • Job Category: Classified Staff • Job Type: Full-Time • Work Schedule: Full-time (1.0 FTE, 40 hrs/wk) • Workplace Type: Hybrid Eligible • Sponsorship Eligibility: Not eligible for visa sponsorship • Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience • Criminal Background Check: Yes

About The Department

The Office of the University Registrar will actively support and lead change while serving as a strategic partner to those the Office serves, focusing on the ways to become more efficient, effective, and improving services to University constituents.

About The Position

This position is one of five-degree compliance specialists for the university responsible for reviewing and maintaining accurate degree evaluations. The position also requires performing automated and manual degree compliance reviews. The essence of the position is to accurately review students for graduation, to automate degree requirement checking for university academic programs, and to provide excellent customer service to the campus community. Provide additional and secondary support in administering NCAA compliance and process support.

Responsibilities

• Process complex academic records transactions that will have a special effect on the degree audit, including, but not limited to BAM transition forms; part-time/full-time certification of master’s and PhD students; plans of study; and advancement to candidacy.
• Ensure that graduation processing is not delayed or jeopardized by inaccurate handling of these transactions, and that the transactions are clear to other staff and students.
• Help manage post-degree processes, including resolving issues impacting graduation for students in their last semester, running reports of students who do not pass their degree evaluation, and contacting and coordinating with the department advisor, chair, or student.
• Help ensure that graduation processes are run in an accurate and timely manner, with all eligible students graduated and ineligible students not.
• Ensure that graduation information on students’ transcripts is accurate.
• Develop and maintain a highly detailed knowledge of all academic programs at the university; maintain expertise on BAM requirements and university policies affecting degree requirements.
• Accurately identify the academic requirements of Mason’s degree programs, especially as catalog years change.
• Provide high-quality customer service while staying within FERPA and academic policies; do not provide academic advisement.
• Respond promptly to calls and e-mails from department representatives; meet with students when necessary; provide cross-functional support inside the Registrar’s Office; respond to student emails and other requests; maintain a proactive customer service stance by anticipating issues.
• Be available for referrals when appropriate and direct questions to the appropriate supervisor.
• Assist in providing unified service to students from the Registrar’s Office; assist with degree compliance reports, diploma orders, NCAA support, and special projects as they arise; and perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Customer service experience, especially with an assertive clientele.
• Experience with degree evaluation and/or student information system software.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to employ logic to solve problems.
• Demonstrated ability to process large volumes of work, while maintaining a high level of accuracy.
• Be detail-oriented.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with the Ellucian Banner student information system.
• Experience with academic programs and their requirements.
• Experience utilizing degree evaluation software, particularly Degree Works, is strongly preferred.
• Work or other experience that required logic in dealing with complexity.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with conflicting priorities.

Instructions To Applicants

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Degree Compliance Specialist at the Mason job site. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Cover Letter/Letter of Intent with Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: August 19, 2025

For Full Consideration, Apply by: September 3, 2025

Open Until Filled: Yes

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