Director/ UCP VIII

Office of National Scholarships

The Division of Enrichment Programs is seeking a director of the Office of National Scholarships, beginning July 6, 2008.  The position is a ¾ time, permanent position.

The Office of National Scholarships (ONS) enables highly-qualified undergraduate students from the University of Connecticut to become serious candidates for prestigious national and international scholarships and maximizes the likelihood that University of Connecticut students are awarded these scholarships. The office identifies, recruits, screens, and prepares exceptional undergraduate students to compete for prestigious national scholarships. The ONS coordinates the work of numerous faculty members who identify and advise students and serve on selection, screening and interview committees.  The ONS extends its reach to hundreds of potential undergraduate candidates through its website, frequent workshops, sponsored classes and working intensively with a smaller number of students on applications and interview preparation. The ONS raises the visibility of national scholarships such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Gates, Goldwater, and Truman among the University community.

Job Description
The Program Director of ONS is responsible for administration and program management and is expected to act independently within the goals and objectives of the program and the guidelines established. The ONS Director will:

• Plan and implement all ONS services and activities and supervise the delivery of program content.
• Direct the day-to-day operation and administration of the program, in accordance with program goals and objectives.
• Select, supervise and evaluate professional, classified and student staff; determine work assignments and schedules to meet program needs.
• Perform office management duties for the program; direct the work-flow and supervise necessary administrative paperwork, records, and filing, including fiscal, personnel, and student records.
• Make budget recommendations and managed approved budget; approve expenditures, and prepare budget reports and projections.
• Plan, organize, and administer workshops, training programs and courses, in accordance with program goals. Maintain an active and well-publicized schedule of workshops on specific scholarships, the scholarship process, and preparing effective applications.
• Serve as a resource to students, staff, and others on matters relating to national scholarships, including policies and procedures for each supported scholarship. Develop policies and procedures for the ONS office.
• Develop programs to identify excellent candidates for such scholarships early in the students’ careers. 
• Develop programs to assist interested students in preparing for national scholarship competition.
• Assist candidates for scholarship competitions in identifying and funding enriching summer research, travel and service opportunities.
• Assist students in matching their backgrounds, skills and interests with the requirements of specific scholarship programs.
• Support student writing of personal statements and other application materials.
• Arrange application reviews for all applicants.
• Engage in public relations and promotional activities for the program.
• Prepare, maintain, and update extensive website on national scholarships, advice for developing strong applications, and features on scholarship winners.
• Raise awareness among high-achieving students at the University of the availability of national scholarships.
• Recruit faculty members to work with individual students in their areas to obtain necessary experience and to prepare high-quality applications.
• Organize faculty teams to coach applicants in mock interview situations.
• Develop programs to celebrate students selected to apply for prestigious scholarships.
• Collect and analyze program data and participate in evaluating program effectiveness; compile data to generate reports; identify problems and make changes or recommend major changes.
• Develop relationships with the official representatives of various national scholarship programs to ensure that UConn’s program reflects best national practices.
• Play an active role at the national level through participation in conferences, presenting papers, and networking with other national scholarship professionals.
• Perform related duties as required.

Qualifications for the Position

Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in an academic discipline in the liberal arts and sciences and four to five years relevant experience; or masters degree and two to four years of relevant experience. A doctorate is preferred. The candidate should have knowledge of national scholarships and experience in working with high-achieving students. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, the ability to identify and resolve problems, excellent organizational and administrative skills, the ability to plan and deliver workshops and course and curricula appropriate to the program, and the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, administrators as well as external agencies/groups and the public.

How to Apply

Applications and inquiries should be made to: Office of National Scholarships Director Search Committee, Honors Program, University of Connecticut, Unit 2147, Storrs, CT 06269 or honors@uconn.edu. The closing date for all applications is March 31, 2008.

Application should consist of a letter of application, a current CV, and contact information for three professional references.  The University of Connecticut is committed to diversity among its students, faculty and staff.  Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.

02/08