Residence Specialist

UWMSN University of Wisconsin Madison; United States; On-site; USD 63,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS)

Job summary

University of Wisconsin–Madison seeks a Residence Specialist to review residency claims and determine tuition residency status under state law. You will advise students and families on requirements and support the residency determination process, serving as a trusted resource across campus.

The role supports the Nonresident Tuition Appeals Committee, assists with process improvements, and collaborates with colleagues to ensure consistent, equitable application of laws while delivering

Qualifications

• Two or more years working experience in higher education.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy, organization, critical thinking, and analysis.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to individual circumstances.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a high-volume environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across diverse audiences.
• Ability to navigate confidential information with discretion.
• Strong technological aptitude and willingness to learn new software.

Responsibilities

• Review residency status for tuition purposes under Wisconsin law.
• Educate and advise students, families, faculty, staff, and the public on residency requirements.
• Coordinate residency appeal processes for the Nonresident Tuition Appeals Committee.
• Maintain communications and improve administrative systems to enhance service delivery.
• Prepare compliance reports and share with leadership.
• Collaborate with other compliance experts to review procedures and recommend changes.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Written and verbal communication

Technological aptitude

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Bachelor's Degree Preferred

Tools

Student Information Systems (SIS)

Job description

Job Category: Academic Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Compliance Specialist III

Job Summary: The Residence Specialist will join a dynamic and supportive team within the Office of the Registrar, working collaboratively with team members to provide exceptional service to students and families. In this role, the successful candidate will develop expertise in interpreting and applying complex laws, policies, and regulations governing residency for tuition purposes under Wisconsin's Residency for Tuition Law. The Residence Specialist is responsible for reviewing residency claims, determining tuition residency status, and advising students and families on the requirements for establishing and maintaining resident tuition classification. The position serves as a key resource throughout the residency determination process, providing guidance to students and campus partners while ensuring consistent and equitable application of state law. The Residence Specialist also supports the lead Residence Specialist in coordinating appeals reviewed by the Nonresident Tuition Appeals Committee. While prior experience with a Student Information System (SIS) or residency-specific software is not required, the ideal candidate will be comfortable working with databases and other technology, possess strong analytical and problem-solving skills, and demonstrate a commitment to continuous process improvement. This position reports to the Assistant University Registrar for Enrollment & Residency in the Office of the Registrar. The Office of the Registrar, a part of the Division of Enrollment Management, collaborates and engages with the campus community to ensure we effectively and efficiently meet the needs of faculty, staff, and students by continuously supporting the teaching and learning mission of the University of Wisconsin–Madison and embracing the Wisconsin Idea.

Key responsibilities for this role include:

• Reviewing and determining residency status for tuition purposes in accordance with Wisconsin's Residency for Tuition Law.
• Educating and advising students, families, faculty, staff, attorneys, and members of the public on residency requirements, policies, and the application of state law.
• Providing administrative and operational support for the Nonresident Tuition Appeals Committee, including the coordination of residency appeal processes.
• Maintaining and enhancing communications, business processes, and administrative systems to improve service delivery, efficiency, and the overall student experience.

Key Job Responsibilities:

• 5% Unique Responsibility: Meet the documented Office of the Registrar standards including but not limited to: standards in customer service, participation, communications, professional development, and testing of processes/systems. Perform other duties as assigned.
• 5% Unique Responsibility: Demonstrates commitment to the University’s mission statement, particularly to be sensitive and responsive to those groups which have been underserved by higher education. Participation in related learning activities is expected
• 60%: Audits and serves as a subject matter expert and point of contact for potentially affected units and affiliated organizations, ensuring appropriate notices are issued relating to compliance
• 15%: Assists leadership with developing and publishing compliance reports in accordance with established laws and regulations
• 15%: Collaborates with other institutional compliance subject matter experts to review procedures and make change recommendations to leadership

Department:

The Division of Enrollment Management (DEM) believes in our ability to contribute towards an ecosystem of innovation. Through this relentless desire for bold ideas, DEM leads a comprehensive strategic enrollment approach to attract, enroll, support, and graduate the most talented students. We foster equitable and seamless experiences, value research in practice, engage in responsible stewardship, provide inclusive support, collaborate, and increase access to higher education to accomplish our goals. With students firmly at the center of our actions, decisions, processes, and services, our work helps to deliver the impact of UW-Madison as a world-class institution that enriches communities across the globe. The Division is comprised of a dedicated team of over 400 team members and includes the Office of Admissions and Recruitment, the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Office of the Registrar, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management. DEM invests in the professional growth of our team members and is committed to the highest standard of service for students, colleagues, visitors, and other partners.

Compensation:

Minimum annual salary for this position is $70,000. Actual salary will depend on the selected candidate's qualifications at time of hire. This position is eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including generous paid time off, competitively priced health/dental/vision/life insurance, tax-advantaged savings accounts, and participation in the nationally recognized Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pension fund. Review the benefits summary for more information.

Required Qualifications:

• Two or more years working experience in higher education
• Strong attention to detail and demonstrated skills in accuracy, organization, critical thinking, and analysis
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply complex laws, regulations, policies, and procedures to individual circumstances and cases
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities, meet established deadlines, and maintain accuracy in a high-volume work environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to navigate sensitive and challenging conversations with individuals using professionalism and sound judgment
• Demonstrated ability to appropriately handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion and in accordance with applicable policies and requirements
• Strong technological aptitude and a data-informed approach to work, with the ability and willingness to learn and effectively use new software, systems, and technology

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with student information systems and other technology or systems used to collect, evaluate, and analyze residency requirements
• Knowledge of and experience interpreting and applying laws, regulations, policies, and procedures related to residency determination in a higher education setting, preferably at a large, complex institution, or comparable experience applying complex regulatory requirements to individual cases
• Demonstrated experience in administrative process design and improvement

Education:

Bachelor's Degree Preferred.

Contact Information:

Ann Bradshaw, HR Associate Director [e-mail] Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgrounds and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website. To request a disability or pregnancy-related accommodation for any step in the hiring process (e.g., application, interview, pre-employment testing, etc.), please contact the Divisional Disability Representative (DDR) in the division you are applying to. Please make your request as soon as possible to help the university respond most effectively to you. Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment. The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7). The Annual Security and Fire Safety Report contains current campus safety and disciplinary policies, crime statistics for the previous 3 calendar years, and on-campus student housing fire safety policies and fire statistics for the previous 3 calendar years. UW-Madison will provide a paper copy upon request; please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department. Work with purpose, make an impact, and grow your career. The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to equity, inclusion and employee well-being as we proudly work to improve the lives of people in Wisconsin and beyond. UW–Madison offers a wide range of professions that cover various interests and skill levels. We employ everything from accountants to arborists, chefs to custodians, editors to electricians, graphic designers to groundskeepers, HR associates to HVAC technicians, librarians to locksmiths, mechanics to medical assistants, painters to police officers, web designers to welders, and absolutely everything in between! No matter what you are looking for professionally, chances are you will not only find it but will thrive at it while working at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.