Education Administrators, Postsecondary

What the job really is

Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.

At a glance

• Sector: Management
• O*NET-SOC code: 11-9033
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Design or use assessments to monitor student learning outcomes.
• Recruit, hire, train, and terminate departmental personnel.
• Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the activities of personnel, including support staff engaged in administering academic institutions, departments, or alumni organizations.
• Advise students on issues such as course selection, progress toward graduation, and career decisions.
• Plan, administer, and control budgets, maintain financial records, and produce financial reports.
• Formulate strategic plans for the institution.
• Establish operational policies and procedures and make any necessary modifications, based on analysis of operations, demographics, and other research information.
• Provide assistance to faculty and staff in duties such as teaching classes, conducting orientation programs, issuing transcripts, and scheduling events.
• Represent institutions at community and campus events, in meetings with other institution personnel, and during accreditation processes.
• Prepare reports on academic or institutional data.
• Promote the university by participating in community, state, and national events or meetings, and by developing partnerships with industry and secondary education institutions.
• Participate in faculty and college committee activities.

Tools and technology

Facebook, Google Docs, Hypertext markup language HTML, IBM SPSS Statistics, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Visio

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary
• Education Teachers, Postsecondary
• Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors
• Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary
• Instructional Coordinators
• Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
• Social and Community Service Managers
• Training and Development Managers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Education Administrators, Postsecondary — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.