"Senior Assistant Registrar for Student Systems and Information Services - Division of Finance"

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Job Description Summary

The Student Systems and Information Services team is integral to the Office of the University Registrar (OUR). The team provides system support, data analysis, and reporting for OUR, offices across campus, and external organizations. Led by the Associate University Registrar for Student Systems and Information Services, the team provides problem and issue resolution for a variety of systems and data sets, participates in system and technology projects by providing business-specific knowledge and requirements, investigating and testing technology solutions, and leading and participating in implementations. The team frequently collaborates with staff in school registrar offices, compliance offices, Bursar, Financial Aid, Admissions, Pennant Operations team, and Information Systems and Computing.

The Senior Assistant Registrar for Student Systems and Information Services manages the coordination of support requests received for the Student Systems and Information Services team, gathers requirements for enhancement requests to be considered for prioritization by the Pennant Records Governance Board, establishes and maintains a decision matrix to optimize student data access, and assists in the development, documentation, and communication of timelines for student system operations and configurations. As part of the Office of University Registrar's leadership team, this position provides technical and analytical support to the Office with a particular emphasis on data integrity, reporting, best practices, process improvement, and ticket system management. This role is responsible for providing assurance that all student information systems are properly maintained and disseminated in compliance with related university, state, federal regulations and policies, and accrediting standards. The Senior Assistant Registrar for Student Systems and Information Services is a highly visible role, responsible for collaborating and sharing information with many constituents.

The Senior Assistant University Registrar for Student Systems and Information Services must have experience with an ERP Student module and how it supports academic records and the mission of the University. The Senior Assistant University Registrar must understand the dependencies between all modules within Banner, such as Admissions, Student Financials, Financial Aid, and the student data warehouse. An understanding of the relationship between Banner and other Pennant student records systems is critical.

In the Division of Finance, we recognize diversity and inclusion is paramount to a positive and thriving work environment; it is a business imperative. We are committed to actively fostering diversity, inclusion and cultural competency throughout our operational efforts in the Division of Finance. This role will be critical in supporting those efforts and demonstrating behaviors and competencies that reflect Penn's values.

We take pride in the myriad ways that diversity enriches our curriculum, and the cultural and social life of our campus. Penn's commitment to achieving eminence through diversity is ultimately a commitment to creating a more vibrant university so that our graduates will be both stimulated and empowered to shape a better world.

Job Responsibilities

Business Process Improvement

• Contribute to the development of Pennant Student Records by collaborating with campus partners to collect and document requirements related to enhancement requests for consideration by the Pennant Student Records Governance Board.
• Participate in the investigation and implementation of software solutions and tools. Conduct prototyping, testing, analysis, and business process development.
• Identify problems and issues related to existing systems.
• Assist in efforts to analyze, test, and implement fixes and enhancements.
• Work to streamline, improve, and document all new and current process and procedures.

Student Data Reporting

• Maintains internal/external reporting schedule and data sets.
• Properly use various data systems and enterprise-wide tools to collect and analyze required reports both internal and external for regulatory requirements.
• Generate and provide ad hoc reports as requested to support institutional strategic and operational planning.
• Establish and maintain a decision matrix to evaluate and prioritize various report requests.
• Raise awareness of and access to data using University-wide business intelligence capabilities to support campus partners.

Campus Collaboration and Communications

• Work with the Office of the University Registrar Leadership Team to develop department objectives, goals, and priorities, and short-and-long range planning to guide efficient and effective operations.
• Engage with campus partners to evaluate and document requirements.
• Support the OUR in the delivery of transactional communications to the campus community using Banner Communication Management.
• Represent the Office of the University Registrar on official University committees, workgroups, and user groups.
• Support other OUR initiatives and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree and three to five years of experience in a central registrar's office or in a comparable area of academic administration or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Maintain strict confidentiality in accordance with FERPA and other laws/regulations.
• Proficiency working with student information systems, customer support software, and reporting tools.
• Strong commitment for innovation as demonstrated by their ability to be proactive, dynamic, forward-thinking, strategic, and collaborative.
• Experience in gathering, analyzing, documenting, and modifying business requirements in academic student service areas.
• Knowledge of all areas providing student and academic support services: Bursar, Financial Aid, and schools across a decentralized campus.
• Ability to communicate business-specific requirements, problems, issues, and solutions to technical and non-technical users.
• Proven ability to implement and manage change.
• Experience working in a large, decentralized, and complex higher education environment.
• Familiar with higher education best practices related to institutional research and data management.
• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and accurate. Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines.
• Must be flexible, show effective judgement, discretion and have the ability to handle confidential financial matters.
• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment with the ability to navigate through ambiguity and demonstrate appreciation and support for diversity, inclusion and belonging in a constantly evolving academic/higher education environment.
• Proven record of exemplary customer service.
• Strong sense of time management including independent and collaborative work.
• Ability to thrive in a team-centered working environment.
• Effective communication skills that helps establish collegial and professional rapport with campus stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience facilitating implementations and/or change management.
• Experience in reporting, data analysis, and reporting tools such as SAP's Business Objects, Snowflake, or equivalent data exploration tool.
• Knowledge of SQL.