Program Specialist 2, Residency

Highline Community College; Des Moines (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Highline College is seeking a Program Specialist 2 – Residency to review residency applications, determine eligibility for resident tuition, and evaluate high school credentials for financial aid purposes. The role supports Admissions and Enrollment Services and serves as a resource to staff and students across the campus.

The position requires interpreting complex residency rules, communicating requirements clearly, and maintaining accurate records.

Qualifications

• Two years of full‑time administrative or program support experience.
• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• Knowledge of Washington residency requirements and federal Title IV regulations is preferred.
• Experience with international transcript/credential evaluation is a plus.
• Fluency in a language other than English is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review residency applications and determine eligibility for resident tuition classifications.
• Process admissions and enrollment functions, maintain student records, and provide timely information to students and staff.
• Evaluate high school transcripts for completion or equivalency for financial aid purposes.
• Collaborate with Admissions, Advising, and other campus partners to support student needs and enrollment processes.
• Represent Admissions and Enrollment Services at campus events and in cross‑training activities.

Skills

Program coordination

Data management

Customer service

Communication

Administrative support

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

Posting open until filled. Priority consideration for applications received by September 7, 2026.

The Program Specialist 2 – Residency is primarily responsible for reviewing and determining students’ eligibility for residency classifications in accordance with Washington State residency requirements, college policies, and established procedures. This position also evaluates high school completion and equivalency for federal financial aid purposes and supports general Admissions and Enrollment Services functions.

The position requires interpreting and applying complex state residency requirements, federal Title IV financial aid regulations, immigration classifications, and college policies; evaluating sensitive and complex documentation; and communicating requirements and decisions with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism. The Residency Specialist provides direct guidance to students throughout the review process and serves as a resource to Admissions and Enrollment Services staff on residency requirements and eligibility determinations.

The position also provides customer service and general admissions support to students through in‑person interactions, phone calls, email, and virtual meetings, and may develop and deliver presentations and informational resources for students and the campus community.

The Admissions Department, a unit within Enrollment Services, facilitates general admissions, selective admissions for Registered Nursing, residency for tuition purposes, and student record updates. The department creates and maintains student records and supports students as they navigate admissions and the steps to get started at Highline College. The team provides customer service through in‑person and virtual services, email, and phone.

The person in this position will be an active member of the Admissions and Enrollment Services team and will support other functional areas of admissions and enrollment services as needed.

This position is a classified full‑time, represented position and is eligible for overtime.

Salary Information

The above salary range reflects the starting step of Range 42 (Step C) and ending step (Step M) salary for this classified position and includes a 5% King County compensation provision. As a new classified employee, based on annual increments, it will take 5 years to reach Step L on the salary schedule, 11 years to reach step M on the salary schedule. This does not reflect any contractual changes; legislative mandated salary increases or Cost of Living Increases (COLA’s) that may be approved in the future.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Admissions, this position will:

Residency Determination – Approximately 40%

• Review and process residency applications and reclassification requests by interpreting and applying Washington State residency requirements, institutional policies, and established procedures;
• Apply established residency guidelines and criteria to independently evaluate supporting documentation and determine eligibility for resident tuition classification, including factors related to domicile, dependency, and immigration status; consult with the Associate Director of Admissions on complex or unusual cases;
• Serve as a primary point of contact for students throughout the residency review process, providing clear, timely, and culturally responsive guidance and communicating additional documentation requirements as needed;
• Support the development and maintenance of student communications, templates, instructions, and informational resources, and conduct proactive outreach to students who may require residency review;
• Provide guidance, support, and training to Admissions and Enrollment Services staff regarding residency requirements, processes, and documentation;
• Maintain accurate and comprehensive residency records and prepare reports to support departmental and institutional needs;
• Participate in statewide residency groups, meetings, and professional development activities, and collaborate with residency professionals at other Washington colleges to stay informed of regulatory changes and best practices.

Admissions and Enrollment Services – Approximately 40%

• Create, review, update, and maintain student records in the college's student information system and other applicable systems;
• Process and support admissions and enrollment functions, including general admissions, selective admissions, student record updates, manual record processing, and backup support for enrollment services functions;
• Respond to inquiries from students, staff, faculty, and community members regarding admissions, enrollment steps, student record updates, and residency through email, phone, in‑person interactions, and virtual meetings;
• Collaborate with Advising, Enrollment Services, and other campus partners to identify and respond to student needs and support students in navigating enrollment processes;
• Represent Admissions and Enrollment Services at campus events, meetings, committees, training, and cross‑training activities;
• Contribute to the review and improvement of policies, procedures, communications, and business processes in support of departmental and college goals and perform other administrative functions necessary to support department operations;
• Other tasks as assigned.

High School Completion Validation – Approximately 20%

• Evaluate U.S. and international high school transcripts, credentials, and other educational documents to determine high school completion or U.S. high school equivalency for federal financial aid purposes;
• Research and verify international academic credentials using knowledge of country‑specific education systems and recognized reference resources, such as WES and AACRAO EDGE;
• Review academic documents for authenticity, identify potentially fraudulent, altered, or inconsistent records, and follow established institutional procedures for documenting and reporting concerns;
• Communicate with students regarding evaluation requirements, missing or additional documentation, and evaluation outcomes, and serve as a primary point of contact for students needing assistance with international high school credentials;
• Complete evaluations accurately and within established timelines to support financial aid processing and applicable federal requirements;
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Admissions on complex or unusual credentials to ensure consistent and accurate evaluations.

Core Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulations, with strong attention to detail and sound judgment when reviewing sensitive or confidential information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast‑paced environment.

Ability to

• Communicate effectively, both written and verbally;
• Proficiently use Microsoft/Google office products;
• Work independently with a high degree of accuracy and efficiency;
• Work and interact effectively with colleagues, staff, students, administrators and others of various cultural, social‑economic backgrounds and abilities;
• Adhere to project timelines and details with strong organizational skills;
• Work as a strong team player.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of full‑time administrative or program support experience with an emphasis on program coordination, records processing, data management, and/or customer service;

OR

• An equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Experience in higher education, particularly community college admissions, enrollment services, or related student services.
• Experience with ctcLink/PeopleSoft or a similar student information system.
• Knowledge of Washington State residency requirements and/or federal Title IV regulations.
• Experience with international transcript or credential evaluation and familiarity with resources such as AACRAO EDGE or WES.
• Fluency in a language other than English.

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.

The College

Founded in 1961, Highline College was the first community college to be established in King County and is one of 34 community and technical colleges. More than 350,000 alumni have graduated from Highline over the years. Nestled between Seattle and Tacoma, we are located on the traditional village sites of the Muckleshoot, Puyallup and many other Coast Salish tribes.

Highline prioritizes access for all students, staff, and faculty, which is evident in our Mission, Vision, and Values. We are proud Highline strives to improve access to Education for our student community. Those who come to our college bring unique personal experiences, beliefs, and perspectives and make us better. We strive to provide and highlight resources to support our students, staff, and faculty by fostering a equal opportunity focused workplace that reflects the communities we serve.

Mission and Vision

As an essential part of our mission and vision, diversity, equity and inclusion are promoted and fostered in all aspects of college life.

Conditions of Employment

• National Criminal Background Check may be required;
• This position is covered under the Washington Public Employees Association (WPEA) bargaining agreement.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Highline College is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We strongly encourage applicants to apply without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legal protected status.

Reasonable Accommodations

The College complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Applicants needing accommodations in the application process in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources office at (206) 592‑3812. Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may dial 711 to place a call through Washington Relay, the state's free telecommunication access service.

Title IX Policy

Highline College complies with Title IX regulations. For details on our policies, see our website https://humanresources.highline.edu/faculty-and-staff/policies/title-ix/

The College appointing authorities reserve the right and may exercise the option to make an employment decision prior to the conclusion of the recruitment process.