Department
HUM Staff: CMS Cinema and Media Studies
About the Department
Since its founding in 1995, the academic program in Cinema and Media Studies (CMS) has assembled a group of leading scholars in the field and developed a world-wide reputation for original, rigorous, and influential scholarship. With the growth and definition of its undergraduate and graduate curricula, the department has been attracting an impressive succession of students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds in cinema and media theory, history, and practice. CMS includes the Media Arts and Design (MADD) undergraduate program. MADD nurtures nimble makers and critical thinkers, blending theory with playful experimentation. MADD graduates excel in diverse fields, ranging from art game design and creative technology to arts education and entrepreneurship. Their contributions across industries underscore the adaptability of the MADD curriculum and the wide-ranging potential of their expertise, bridging art and technology.
Job Summary
Candidates must upload a resume and letter of interest to be considered for this full-time, benefits eligible, and hybrid position requiring an on-campus presence throughout the week.
The Department and Student Affairs Assistant provides vital administrative, student affairs, and financial support to the Cinema and Media Studies (CMS) Department, including the MADD program; serving both undergraduate and graduate student populations. Working in close partnership with the CMS and MADD Administrators, this position serves as a key administrative contact for the Chair, administrators, and the Directors of Undergraduate (DUS) and Graduate Studies (DGS).
This role also contributes significantly to undergraduate student outreach and programming by supporting efforts to grow enrollment, developing creative initiatives, managing social media promotions, organizing events, and fostering alumni engagement. Responsibilities also include advising students on academic requirements, thesis or capstone work, and connecting them with appropriate departmental resources.
Additional duties include processing reimbursements and payments and maintaining departmental records and directories.
Responsibilities
- Brings creativity and energy to outreach efforts aimed at growing the number of undergraduate majors and minors in CMS and making the department a vibrant place to study. Develops new programming, social media promotions, and alumni outreach.
- Provides support to the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) in CMS and MADD and Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) in CMS.
- Serves as a liaison between students and the department, advising on program requirements, faculty advisor selection, course selection, and study abroad; works with college advising office and Registrar; and available to students for drop-ins as necessary.
- Manages curriculum planning process by soliciting faculty course proposals, analyzing departmental curricular needs, developing a map of course offerings, scheduling courses, promoting classes to students, tracking enrollment, and managing TA assignments. Supports admissions, academic review, and course submission processes. Updates College catalog.
- Partners with the CMS faculty chair, administrators, and student workers to organize at least two undergraduate events per quarter, including open houses, information sessions, end-of-year celebrations; undergraduate recruitment events, graduate student town hall meetings; and other departmental events.
- Assists with event promotion and communications, using listservs and other means to advertise events for graduate, undergraduate, and internal events. Assists with event logistics. Attends occasional evening events.
- Processes a high volume of financial transactions, including reimbursements and payments for academics, visiting faculty, students, vendors, project consultants, grants, GEMS activities, departmental awards, student stipends, honoraria, department invoices, and event-related expenses.
- Manages record of financial purchases, account balances, and spending via a tracking spreadsheet; provides regular updates on accounts, troubleshoots and reconciles financial transaction concerns; elevates issues as needed. Stays current on financial systems, policies, and processes through regular trainings and adoption of best practices.
- Updates faculty and student profiles, departmental directories, listservs, websites, wikis, and internal documents.
- Manages daily office operations, answers phone/emails, greets visitors, maintains office equipment, orders supplies.
- Maintains and updates calendars for department-controlled rooms, coordinating use for classes, workshops, and events.
- Provides administrative support for a leader. Stays informed of activities relating to programs and initiatives, apprising the leader of issues when deemed necessary. Coordinates information flow from leader's office.
- Prepare special reports and summaries, assists in managing daily operation of the office, and may assist in developing administrative goals and policies.
- Coordinates special projects as directed by the leader. Prepares write ups for recommendations for operational and administrative problems. Prepares financial and/or administrative reports.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Education:
Minimum requirements include vocational training, apprenticeships or the equivalent experience in related field (not typically required to have a four-year degree).
Work Experience:
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Certifications:
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Preferred Qualifications
Experience:
- At least 2 years office administration experience.
- Exposure to higher education work environment supporting faculty and/or students.
- Interest in cinema or media studies.
Technical Skills or Knowledge:
- Proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets and database programs.
- Write clearly and succinctly.
Preferred Competencies
- Respond clearly and knowledgeably to inquiries and troubleshoot issues.
- Maintain professional relationships and communications with faculty, students, and administrators.
- Organizational skills.
- Properly identify and adjust priorities while executing multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Handle sensitive and confidential information with tact and discretion.
- Flexibility to adapt to organizational changes and willingness to learn.
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.
Job Family
Administration & Management
Role Impact
Individual Contributor
Scheduled Weekly Hours
37.5
Drug Test Required
No
Health Screen Required
No
Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
No
Pay Rate Type
Hourly
FLSA Status
Non-Exempt
Pay Range
$23.00 - $29.00
The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.
Benefits Eligible
Yes
The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in theBenefits Guidebook.
Posting Statement
The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.
Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
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