Academic Support Specialist

Description

Title: Academic Support Specialist
Position Number: 0097644
Hiring Unit: College of Natural & Health Sciences, School of Nursing
Location: UH at Hilo
Date Posted: May 29, 2026
Closing Date: August 31, 2026; first review on or around July 1, 2026
Band: B
Salary : salary schedules and placement information
Full Time/Part Time: Full-time
Month: 11-month
Temporary/Permanent: Permanent

Position Overview:

The University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH Hilo) is a public liberal arts and sciences university on the Island of Hawaii, recognized for its integration of cultural immersion and place-based research that leverages the island's extraordinary geological, biological, and cultural diversity. A comprehensive, regional campus within the ten-campus University of Hawaii system, UH Hilo offers high-quality undergraduate and select postgraduate education, with distinctive strengths in areas such as marine science, geology, astronomy, and Hawaiian language revitalization, while advancing research, scholarship, and creative activity that support community needs, environmental stewardship, Indigenous knowledge systems, and workforce development priorities for the State of Hawaii.

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA) provides academic leadership and administrative oversight for the university's instructional, research, and academic support units. Within the VCAA portfolio, the UH Hilo Research Office supports faculty, staff, and students in the development, administration, and stewardship of externally funded research and scholarly activity, ensuring compliance with University of Hawaii, RCUH, state, federal, and sponsor requirements.

The College of Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS) is one of the two largest colleges at UH Hilo, home to 9 departments, 14 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and over 60 full-time faculty. CNHS provides an innovative, career-focused scientific education based in the culture, rich diversity, and natural environment of Hawai`i. The college prepares students for success in local, state, regional, and global careers. It teaches basic scientific and mathematical principles and applications that inform future citizens, scientists, managers, and leaders using modern methods and Hawai`i Island's living laboratory.

The School of Nursing (SON) is a cornerstone of healthcare education at UH Hilo, offering three primary pathways: the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), the RN to BSN program, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). As a CCNE-accredited institution, the SON is committed to high-quality academic standards and hands-on clinical experiences that prepare students for leadership roles in professional nursing. By integrating evidence-based practice with a deep respect for Indigenous and multi-ethnic health traditions, the SON serves as a vital workforce pipeline, empowering graduates to address health disparities and improve well-being across local, state, and global healthcare landscapes.

The SON Academic Support Specialist plays a vital role within the SON by providing comprehensive program and student support essential for maintaining high-quality operations and accreditation standards. The specialist serves as a primary academic advisor for nursing and exploratory health science students, guiding them through the undergraduate and graduate admissions process and graduation requirements. The specialist creates and maintains student record databases, processes program evaluations for accreditation analysis, and manages external partnerships and secure compliance platforms for clinical placements. The specialist maintains vital survey data for alumni and institutional assessment to ensure the school's strategic and professional goals are met. The position also manages course scheduling and updates the curriculum in the university catalog and coordinates key student-focused events such as institutes, orientations, and welcome banquets.

Duties and Responsibilities (*denotes essential functions):

Student Support

1. *Serves as academic support officer for the School of Nursing (SON) including assisting with academic advising for students in the School of Nursing and in the Exploratory Health Sciences ("pre-nursing") programs.

2. *Works in conjunction with the Graduate Program, Admissions, and Registrar offices on matters related to SON programs admission, retention, and curriculum procedures and issues.

3. *Advises students about the SON programs admissions process, assists with their course selections throughout students' academic journeys, and supports students with any issues that may arise (registration, technology, etc.).

4. *Processes course modifications and manages changes on STAR and Banner.

5. *Serves as a primary contact for students during the summer.

6. *Plans baccalaureate of science in nursing (BSN) and doctor of nursing practice (DNP) program informational and recruitment sessions for prospective students.

7. *Coordinates the BSN and DNP week of welcome banquet, orientation, and activities during the appropriate Fall/Spring Institutes.

Program Support

1. *Manages SON undergraduate and graduate program admissions and participates in SON Program Coordinator and other faculty meetings.

2. *Uses Kuali Build, a cloud-based, no-code form building and workflow automation tool used by the University of Hawaii (UH) system, to manage student academic support, course scheduling, and curriculum.

3. *Participates in review of curriculum and updates to the UH Hilo course catalog.

4. *Manages undergraduate and graduate student correspondence and maintains related student program records with the SON databases for accreditation purposes.

5. *Creates surveys and maintains survey data (alumni, employment, DNP graduation, faculty, and student).

6. *Monitors SON program information (written and electronic) for consistency and accuracy to be in accordance with UH Hilo and professional organizations' policies and strategic plans.

7. *Attends assigned SON committee meetings to take meeting minutes and to complete necessary data collection and duties pertaining to those assigned committees.

8. *Submits hours for preceptors to Hawaii Preceptor Tax Credit.

9. *Interfaces with proprietary contracts using the SON secure platform for student data (e.g., student records and background checks) and for compliance tracking and assists the lab coordinators in collecting health documentation.

10. *Assists with managing SON MOAs/MOUs with agencies and preceptors.

11. *Develops, maintains, and retrieves course and program evaluations for data collection for accreditation purposes and processes the data for analysis.

12. Assists faculty with course preparations (large-volume photocopying, etc.).

13. As needed, assists with managing benchmarking data for accreditation and program reviews with the SON Director, Program Coordinators, and other Staff.

14. As needed, assists SON Director, Program Coordinators, and other Staff with special projects and program reports.

15. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possession of a baccalaureate degree in any field and 3 years of progressively responsible professional experience with responsibilities for program support; or any equivalent combination of education and/or professional work experience which provides the required education, knowledge, skills and abilities as indicated.

2. Considerable working knowledge of principles, practices and techniques in the area of program support as demonstrated by the broad knowledge of the full range of pertinent standard and evolving concepts, principles and methodologies.

3. Considerable working knowledge and understanding of applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations and theories and systems associated with program support.

4. Demonstrated ability to resolve wide ranging complex problems through the use of creative reasoning and logic to accurately determine the cause of the problems and the resolution of the problems in an effective, innovative and timely manner.

5. Demonstrated ability to interpret and present information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials.

6. Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, team leaders and members, and individuals.

7. Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer and apply word processing software.

8. If applicable, for supervisory work, demonstrated ability to lead subordinates, manage work priorities and projects, and manage employee relations.

Desirable Qualifications

1. Experience working in a higher or nursing education setting.

2. Experience with direct student support in higher education including, but not limited to, academic advising.

3. Experience working with Banner, STAR, and/or Kuali platforms.

4. Experience with Excel software or Google sheets software for data analysis.

5. Experience with Google platform software.

6. Experience with Zoom video conferencing software.

7. Experience obtaining, maintaining, and analyzing survey data.

8. Experience with contracts management, such as affiliation agreements or memorandums of understanding.

9. Ability to provide support on occasional special weekend and/or evening events.

To Apply: issued from an institution outside the United States of America require a course-by-course analysis with an equivalency statement from an agency having membership with the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc., verifying the degree equivalency to that of an accredited institution within the USA. Expense of the evaluation shall be borne by the applicant. All requested documents/information become the property of the University. All minimum qualifications must be met by the closing date. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Failure to submit all required documents and reference information shall deem an application to be incomplete.


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Inquiries: Patricia Hensley, Acting Director; View email address on jobs.institutedata.com

EEO, Clery Act, ADA

The University of Hawai'i is an Equal Opportunity Institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in employment, including on the basis of veteran and disability status. For more information, visit:

Employment is contingent on satisfying employment eligibility verification requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986; reference checks of previous employers; and for certain positions, criminal history record checks.


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In accordance with Article 10 of the unit 08 collective bargaining agreement, bargaining unit members receive priority consideration for APT job vacancies. As a result, external or non BU 08 applicants may not be considered for some APT vacancies. BU 08 members with re-employment rights or priority status are responsible for informing the hiring unit of their status.


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Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled