Student Services Assistant, ILR Graduate Office

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care options

Retirement contributions

Wellness programs

Employee discounts

Job summary

Cornell University’s ILR School seeks a Student Services Assistant IV to support graduate admissions, student services, events, and day-to-day operations on campus in Ithaca, NY.

You will be the first point of contact for students and visitors, help with applications, scheduling, and records, and collaborate across departments to ensure a welcoming, efficient experience.

This onsite role offers hourly pay, a strong benefits package, and opportunities to contribute to a dynamic academic community.

Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree with 2–4 years of office or service experience.
• Ability to cultivate inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organization, and discretion with confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary contact for applicants and prospective students across ILR graduate programs.
• Respond to admissions inquiries, deadlines, and program offerings.
• Review applications for completeness and follow up on missing materials.
• Support admissions processes, tracking, and status updates.
• Coordinate recruitment activities, open houses, and campus events.
• Maintain confidentiality and compliance with university policies.

Skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Customer service

Organization

Microsoft Office

Education

Associate’s Degree

Job description

About The ILR School

Since our founding in 1945, the ILR School has advanced labor, employment, and management studies nationally and internationally through teaching, research, and outreach. As the leading institution for the social sciences of work, we examine both organizational effectiveness and the human experience in the workplace, addressing the critical global challenges of our time. Our expertise spans emerging workforce issues including arbitration and dispute resolution, collective bargaining, global labor supply chains, fair pay and equity at work, workplace safety, HR analytics, climate change and green jobs, compensation, and artificial intelligence and the future of work. Our students learn about labor-management relations, conflict resolution, labor law and policy, economics, human resource management, and organizational behavior through our undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.

The Opportunity

Are you passionate about helping students succeed? Do you enjoy building relationships, solving problems, and keeping complex operations running smoothly?

The ILR Graduate Programs Office is seeking a highly organized, service-oriented, and collaborative Student Services Assistant to support graduate students, prospective students, faculty, and staff across a broad range of program administration and student support functions. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at balancing multiple priorities, embraces opportunities to learn and grow, and takes pride in creating a welcoming, supportive, and positive experience for others.

As a key member of our Graduate Programs team, you will serve as one of the first points of contact for students and visitors, helping to shape the experience of prospective applicants, admitted students, and current graduate students. You will support admissions, student services, events, academic programs, and day-to-day office operations while working closely with colleagues across the university.

If you are proactive, detail-oriented, adaptable, and committed to excellent customer service, we encourage you to apply with your resume and cover letter!

What You'll Do

Support Graduate Admissions and Recruitment:

• Serving as a primary point of contact for applicants and prospective students across ILR graduate programs
• Responding to inquiries regarding admissions requirements, deadlines, application processes, and program offerings
• Reviewing applications for completeness and following up regarding missing materials
• Completing admissions system processes, including application tracking, reviewer assignments, and status updates
• Assisting with recruitment activities, open houses, student visits, graduate fairs, and yield events
• Monitoring application progress and providing admissions updates to the Graduate Programs team
• Supporting compliance with university policies related to admissions, privacy, and student records

Deliver Outstanding Student Services

• Serving as the primary contact for student, faculty, staff, alumni, visitor, and vendor inquiries
• Assisting students with academic and administrative processes, including forms, degree planning, course waivers, and independent study requests
• Coordinating appointments, meetings, agendas, and team communications
• Coordinating processes related to student spaces such as locker assignments, mail distribution, and space ordering needs
• Maintaining office systems, listservs, shared inboxes, Canvas sites, and student records
• Handling confidential information with discretion and professionalism

Coordinate Programs And Events

• Coordinating logistics for orientations, residential sessions, commencement activities, student events, professional development programs, and campus visits
• Coordinating event scheduling, room reservations, catering, materials, and vendor coordination
• Communicating program and event information through multiple channels
• Supporting student appointment and hiring processes
• Processing purchases, reimbursements, purchasing transactions, contracts, and related documentation
• Managing relationships with office vendors and service providers
• Contributing to special projects and initiatives as needed

Professional Development And Continuous Improvement

• Stay informed about best practices in student services, graduate admissions, and student engagement
• Learn and adapt to new technologies, systems, and university processes
• Participate in professional development opportunities and required compliance training

What We Need

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Associate’s Degree with 2-4 years of relevant experience in an office or service setting; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
• Excellent professional office skills, including:
• written and verbal communication,
• interpersonal and customer service,
• organization,
• Microsoft Suite (Outlook, Outlook Calendar, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and others),
• meeting expected deadlines, exercising discretion and making judgments independently of direct supervision,
• management of highly sensitive, confidential material,
• attention to detail in order to plan, organize, and coordinate a high volume of projects, events, and special assignments.
• Must be available to work Memorial Day weekend to participate in, and support, commencement activities, as well as a commencement each July, also occurring on a weekend.

It Would Be a Bonus if You Have Any of the Following

• Bachelor’s degree
• Event planning or project coordination experience.
• Prior experience in a high-traffic academic setting working with students and faculty.
• Prior experience working with web-based editing tools for website management.
• Knowledge of and- experience working with- social media platforms.
• Prior experience working with Salesforce and CollegeNet or other customer relationships management (CRM) system
• Familiarity with managing small scale budgets (such as event budgets), financial accounts, financial transition forms such as voucher, travel reimbursements, and financial reports.
• Knowledge of- or strong confidence in learning- Cornell on-line systems: KFS Dashboards, I Want Doc, Purchase Order, e-SHOP, Concur, PeopleSoft, and 25Live.
• Demonstrated history and continued commitment to Cornell University’s ideals and "Staff Skills for Success".

Important Notes About Applying

• A cover letter and resume outlining your interest and how your experience and goals align with the potential for mutual success in the role are required for consideration.
• This position is fully onsite and located on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, NY.
• There is no relocation assistance available for this position.
• There is no visa sponsorship available for this position.

Rewards And Benefits

• This position is fully onsite and located on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, NY.
• Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.
• Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.
• Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell
• Cornell's impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children's Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell
• Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell:

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

University Job Title

Student Services Asst IV

Job Family

Student Services

Level

D

Pay Rate Type

Hourly

Pay Range

$26.09 - $30.32

Remote Option Availability

Onsite

Company

Contract College

Contact Name

Brad Stock

Contact Email

[e-mail]

Non-Union Positions

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Employment Assistance

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting or email [e-mail].

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell Office of Civil Rights at voice [phone], or email at [e-mail].

Applicants that do not have internet access are encouraged to visit your local library, or local Department of Labor. You may also request an appointment to use a dedicated workstation in the Office of Talent Attraction and Recruitment, at the Ithaca campus, by emailing [e-mail].

EEO Statement

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of '... any person ... any study.' No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual's genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Cornell University embraces diversity in its workforce and seeks job candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff of all identities and backgrounds. We hire based on merit, and encourage people from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply. Consistent with federal law, Cornell engages in affirmative action in employment for qualified protected veterans as defined in the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) and qualified individuals with disabilities under Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

2026-11-05