Student Affairs Generalist

Penn State University; State College (Centre County); On-site; USD 28,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Penn State University is seeking a part-time Student Affairs Generalist to provide flexible, cross-functional support across the Student Affairs division. This role will help with short-term projects, seasonal peaks, staff vacancies, and emerging initiatives to foster a student-centered campus environment.

The position is approximately 20 hours per week, open-ended and project-based, with assignments shifting based on divisional priorities and staffing needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered.
• 1+ years of relevant experience in higher education, student services, or a related support role.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning, coordination, and implementation of programs and events.
• Support outreach efforts related to early-alert interventions, referrals, and general (non-crisis) student inquiries.
• Help with documentation, scheduling, and case-file organization for student conduct or advocacy processes.
• Help plan and staff campus programming, tabling events, or awareness campaigns.
• Assist with data entry, tracking, and basic reporting to support retention, student success, or other divisional initiatives.
• Take on other short-term or seasonal projects as assigned by divisional leadership.

Skills

Strong organization

Collaboration

Communication

Event coordination

Records management

Discretion & confidentiality

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS

Penn State Student Affairs seeks a part-time Student Affairs Generalist to support divisional initiatives. The Student Affairs Generalist (Part-Time) provides flexible, cross-functional support to the Student Affairs division. Rather than supporting a single program area, this role is deployed to assist wherever capacity is needed: covering short-term projects, seasonal peaks, staff vacancies, or emerging initiatives. This position will report to the Senior Director of Administration and Chief of Staff for Student Affairs and work under the collaborative direction of divisional staff to complete discrete projects and tasks that support a student-centered campus environment.

This is a part-time, flexible, project-based position (approximately 20 hours/week) supporting the Division's broad student affairs functions on an as-needed basis. This role is designed to fill operational and programmatic gaps across student engagement, student success, accountability and care, health and wellness, and administration. The schedule and specific project assignments will shift based on divisional priorities, seasonal demands, and staffing needs, making this an ideal role for someone who thrives with variety and can move fluidly between short-term projects and ongoing support tasks.

Assignment length and hours may be adjusted based on ongoing divisional need; this is intended as an open-ended, recurring part-time role rather than a single fixed-term project.

Representative Duties

• Assist with planning, coordination, and implementation of programs and events
• Support outreach efforts related to early-alert interventions, referrals, and general (non-crisis) student inquiries
• Assist with documentation, scheduling, and case-file organization for student conduct or advocacy processes
• Help plan and staff campus programming, tabling events, or awareness campaigns
• Assist with data entry, tracking, and basic reporting to support retention, student success, or other divisional initiatives
• Take on other short-term or seasonal projects as assigned by divisional leadership

Note: Assignments will vary by project and current divisional needs. A given work period may include tasks from several of the areas below rather than all of them.

This role does not carry primary responsibility for crisis intervention, clinical case management, or independent decision-making on sensitive student matters. Those remain with the unit staff and leadership. The Generalist provides support and coordination around these functions where needed and as appropriate.

Given the flexible, project-based, nature of this role, the following skills are critical:

• Strong organization and time management; able to shift between projects quickly
• Collaboration and communication across diverse teams and offices
• Basic event/program coordination
• Records management and attention to detail
• Comfort with ambiguity and changing priorities
• Discretion and confidentiality with sensitive student information

Qualifications

• Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (student affairs, education, psychology, social work, or related) preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience considered
• Minimum Experience: 1+ years of relevant experience in higher education, student services, or a related support role; internship or graduate assistantship experience considered

Compensation

Hourly rate for this job will be based on the successful candidate. Anticipated range is $20-$25/hour.

BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES

• PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the rep