ONSF Program Assistant

ONSF Program Assistant

The Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF) is located within the LSA Honors Program with a mission to serve U-M students in all 19 schools and colleges. ONSF's mission is to increase both the diversity and competitiveness of U-M students applying to major national scholarships and fellowships while helping all applicants to develop into self-aware leaders and citizens who have specific plans to challenge the present and transform the future. ONSF is committed to providing equitable access to information about national scholarship and fellowship opportunities to all U-M students. We pursue this goal through broadly advertised information sessions, direct outreach to students, and through partnerships with a wide variety of U-M units, communities, and student groups. We are committed to promoting scholarship and fellowship opportunities that are broadly accessible to applicants from all backgrounds. Finally, ONSF is committed to the principle that the application process itself has tremendous educational value. Given the competitiveness of national scholarships and fellowships, even highly qualified and well-prepared applicants often will not receive the awards to which they apply. Nevertheless, we aim to design processes that encourage deep reflection about applicants' values and sense of mission/purpose as well as articulated plans for their post-graduate education and early careers.

The ONSF Program Assistant facilitates this mission by coordinating communications and events, student outreach, scheduling, and the day-to-day operations of the office. The job offers the opportunity to work with some of the most outstanding student leaders at U-M who are applying for highly competitive national scholarships and fellowships. The job requires a person with the drive and energy to match their enthusiasm. The ONSF Program Assistant will also serve as a vital member of the larger LSA Honors Program support staff.

Responsibilities*

Project and Application Management (50%)

• Manage the annual application and nomination cycles for scholarships and individual applications in the ONSF portfolio.
• Provide technical guidance and application-system support to students, alumni, faculty, and staff.
• Prepare and submit the applications for national nominations to foundations following each foundation's specific guidelines.
• Oversee application material submission for the individual online application databases.
• In collaboration with the director, develop new technological tools to further ONSF's mission of expanding and better preparing our applicant pool for major national scholarships, including investigating, vetting, and implementing best practices from national scholarship offices at BTAA and other peer institutions
• Plan and support ONSF information sessions, tabling activities, and special events; represent or substitute for the ONSF Director at events as needed.

Strategic Outreach, Communications and Media Planning (25%)

• Develop strategies to recruit students and alumni to apply for items in ONSF portfolio, including outreach efforts to first generation and transfer students across 19 U-M schools and colleges;
• Develop media content for platforms, such as Canvas and Instagram, including video editing, with a target of publishing approximately three social media posts per week and writing approximately12 articles per year, recognizing U-M awardees.
• Collaborate with campus partners to promote ONSF programs, opportunities, deadlines, and events.

Office and Program Coordination (15%)

• Coordinate U-M nomination committees, providing application materials, evaluation criteria and review instructions to approximately 40 distinguished U-M faculty and staff.
• Monitor and manage the ONSF shared account, including responding to inquiries from students, alumni, faculty, staff, campus partners and foundations.
• Coordinate event logistics including venue, catering, and room reservations; coordinate with invited speakers regarding itineraries, travel, hotel arrangements, parking and other logistical arrangements; prepare and distribute unit event communications and updates via event posters, emails (with students, and with diverse U-M offices), and social media posts in conjunction with other units.

Financial Management and Program Assessment (10%)

• Track data for each application cycle, including details on applications and stages completed (eg, nominee, finalist, winner) to prepare reports for ONSF activities.
• Collect receipts for student travel and coordinate their reimbursement process.
• Hold and maintain a PCard for ONSF hosting, purchase, and administrative travel.
• Maintain and regularly review and reconcile ONSF financial accounts.
• Collaborate with diverse U-M offices providing financial support outside of Honors LSA Program Budget.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of financial aid, scholarships, and/or student records administration.
• Experience developing student recruitment and social media strategies, as well as creating and editing video content.
• Experience collecting, tracking, and analyzing data for preparing annual or similar reports using tools such as Microsoft Word and Excel, Google Workspace, Canvas, and application databases.
• Experience handling sensitive student and applicant records, including personal information and records protected under FERPA.
• Experience coordinating purchasing or procurement processes and supporting financial tracking and account reconciliation.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, exercise sound judgment in high-pressure situations, and manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with a broad range of stakeholders.
• Experience managing projects from planning through completion.
• Demonstrated reliability and dependability, including maintaining established work schedules, responding promptly to requests, and completing assigned responsibilities in a timely manner.

Desired Qualifications*

• Experience in one of the following areas: international education/teaching, STEM research/education, public service or community engagement, or higher-ed administration.
• Demonstrated experience supporting, advising or conducting outreach to first generation, international, and other underrepresented student populations.
• Familiarity with national scholarship and fellowship application or advising processes, including institutional nomination procedures.
• Experience designing surveys, assessing learning outcomes, and using findings to support program evaluation or improvement.
• Experience with relevant communication and productivity platforms, including Google Workspace, Canvas, email and e-newsletter tools, and social media platforms-particularly Instagram.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world. To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit

Union Affiliation

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the University Staff United (USU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours and other terms and conditions of employment.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Decision Making Process

Applications will be reviewed as received throughout the posting period and continue until the position is filled.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.