Associate Director of Graduate Programs

The Associate Director of Graduate and International Programs will serve as a key academic administrator and advocate for all graduate and international students. The Associate Director is responsible for student admission, advising, and retention of the academic programs in the Graduate, International, and Certificate Programs Office including but not limited to the following: LLM programs (General, Taxation, International, Business & Corporate, and Comparative), the MS in Legal Studies program, International Exchange Programs, and the Law Summer Study Abroad programs offered by the School of Law. The Associate Director reports to the Sr. Director of the Graduate, International, and Certificate Programs Office and works in a collaborative relationship with other offices within the law school and campus, the faculty, and the legal community. This position requires occasional attendance at on and off campus events during and outside normal business hours. Some travel is required.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Collaborate with Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions for all graduate and international programs 

• Work under the supervision of the Sr. Director and in collaboration with the Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions on the strategic planning, implementation and supervision of all OGIP departmental marketing initiatives with the goal of increasing the number of domestic and international qualified applicants for the law school’s graduate programs. Provide recruitment and admissions related services to prospective and admitted students. Collaborate with faculty directors in the management of exchange relationships with international institutions, as well as degree or certificate programs offered by the law school. Represent the graduate programs office at professional meetings and relevant conferences to determine best practices and ensure compliance with required standards and policies. Review all admissions applications for all graduate programs, ensuring compliance with law school standards. Propose scholarship award determinations for admitted students.

Oversee the Academic Program for Enrolled Students

• Supervise the delivery and execution of quality academic support services for new and continuing students, including registration and advising, working closely with the law school Registrar, Dean’s Office and Law Student Affairs. Manage all orientation activities for new students, including a substantive program for international attorneys and exchange students. Ensure compliance with the law school’s Academic Rules for all students within the graduate programs, including ensuring that all students are in status (enrolled, on leave of absence, effectively withdrawn, etc). Evaluate graduate law student requests for credit transfers allowed under current rules or procedures, such as study abroad requests, transfer credit, and non-law course credit. Review student petitions for waivers to the Academic Rules, making recommendations to the Sr. Director or his/her designee. Guarantee that all students enrolled through the department receive appropriate academic advising and assistance and are making satisfactory degree progress, particularly those students experiencing academic and/or personal difficulties. Supervise the probation processes and coordinate the academic disqualification process in collaboration with the Dean’s Office and Assistant Dean for Law Student Affairs. Collaborate with Career Services, Alumni and External Relations office, student and professional organizations, etc. in the creation of new academic and professional development events and services. Regularly review and make recommendations for changes to the law school Academic Rules, respond to requests from the curriculum committee such as adding specific courses to existing concentrations, assist with examination issues that may arise including but not limited to language based accommodations, approval to reschedule an examination, misconduct issues, etc. Certify degree completion of all graduating students. Confirm GPA thresholds and determine appropriate honors designations for all graduating LLM and MSLS students according to the relevant academic rules and policies.

Oversee School of Law Summer Study Abroad & Exchange Programs

• Responsible for the strategic planning, marketing and successful execution of the School of Law’s summer study abroad and international exchange programs.
• Conduct information sessions and advertising, pre-departure orientation and other events related to summer study abroad and semester exchange programs.
• Counsel enrolled students regarding the available courses and academic elements of the programs, working in collaboration with the Registrar’s Office, Law Student Affairs and international partner institutions.
• Summer Study Abroad:
  • Monitor Blackboard site for enrolled participants and ensure that website is up to date.
  • Work with Executive Assistant and Faculty Director for the summer study abroad programs to confirm program locations, dates, courses, and faculty.
  • Supervise the hiring of summer study abroad On-Site Administrators, as necessary.
  • Primary point of contact for the Faculty Director and On-Site Administrators concerning any academic or other issues that may arise during the summer study abroad programs.
  • Supervise and work with Executive Assistant to manage administrative aspects of semester exchange and summer study abroad programs.
  • Ensure that summer study abroad handbooks for the Faculty Director, On-Site Administrator, and faculty are updated and distributed as necessary.
  • Coordinate accommodations for disabled students in collaboration with Law Student Affairs and the Disability and Learning Difference Resource Center (DLDRC).

• Exchange Programs:
  • Review and make admissions determinations on nominated exchange student applications.
  • Work with international partner schools to update and revise exchange agreements and MOU’s as necessary, coordinate coursework for all incoming and outgoing students, oversee the transfer credit approval process, review and sign learning agreements, and conduct other academic functions as necessary for semester exchange programs.
  • Maintain regular contact with international partner institutions to discuss visiting student academic progress, conduct issues or other problems that may arise during the course of the exchange.
  • Coordinate the transfer credit process with the Registrar’s Office, Law Student Affairs and international partner schools.

U.S. Law and Policy Program

• Works with Sr. Director on the strategic planning and direction of the U.S. Law and Policy Program, in collaboration with the Faculty Director and Associate Dean.
• Supervise the application process, orientation and academic components of the U.S. Law and Policy Program.
• Supervise and work with the Executive Assistant to manage all administrative aspects of the

Manage Administrative Processes

• Establish departmental academic administrative policies and procedures that are internally consistent and integrated with other law school offices such as Financial Aid, Law Student Affairs, Registrar’s Office, Career Services and External/Alumni Relations.
• Ensure accurate and timely completion of all applicable annual accreditation requirements and reports, including ABA questionnaires.
• Work with the curriculum committee and faculty directors on new course proposals, curricular changes, degree requirement and academic rule changes, etc.
• Monitor competitor institutions regarding curriculum development and academic policies; compile best practices reports for review by faculty and key administrators.
• Serve as member of the law school’s scheduling team and assist in the development of course and exam schedules.
• Work with the law school Registrar’s Office to ensure that functions and reports of Banner meet the needs of all graduate law students.
• Serve as law school representative on USD’s International Center Advisory Council, tasked with overseeing the implementation of USD’s internationalization efforts and ensuring best practices.
• Serve as law school representative in attending OGIP-sponsored events, regional and national peer meetings, discussions and conferences to ensure best practices in law school graduate and international programs.
• Collaborate with other university departments as needed.

Special Conditions of Employment:

The University of San Diego is requiring all employees to follow our Covid-19 vaccine requirement process. https://www.sandiego. edu/onward/  

Background check:  Successful completion of a pre-employment background check.

Degree Verification Requirement: Persons offered employment in this position will be required to provide official education transcripts for degree verification purposes.