General Summary
The Academic Transfer Specialist’s primary responsibility is to coordinate and evaluate all transfer processes at Salish Kootenai College (SKC). Working within a collaborative, fast-paced Registrar's Office team, this position acts as the primary filter and subject matter expert for incoming and outgoing transfer credit evaluations, ensuring fast, effective, and compliant credit determinations. The ideal candidate is a high-energy, self-motivated team player with a "roll up your sleeves" work ethic, strong cultural awareness, deep commitment to student development, indigenous sovereignty, and service to our tribal communities. In addition to transfer coordination, this role supports 2+2 articulation pathways, assists with registration records management, and provides adaptable cross-functional support to Registrar operations, reporting, and student services as needed. Works in collaboration with other enrollment services including transfer student onboarding and orientation.
Major Responsibilities:
1. Transfer Evaluation & Academic Progression
· Primary Evaluator & First Filter: Serve as the primary, front-line evaluator for all incoming transcripts, conducting initial credit reviews quickly, efficiently, and accurately to serve student needs while upholding institutional standards.
· Faculty Collaboration: Partner with faculty and academic departments on discipline-specific or outcomes-based course comparisons to resolve equivalency questions, comply with registrar standards, and maintain academic integrity.
· Transfer Support: Facilitate bidirectional transfer pathways, supporting students transferring into SKC as well as SKC graduates moving on to other institutions.
· Pathway & Agreement Maintenance: Assist in developing, implementing, and maintaining 2+2 articulation agreements, MOUs, and transfer pathway guides with partner institutions. This includes internal processing of all substitutions, and waivers.
2. Registrar Records and Data Management
· Assist the department with managing and archiving student and registration files, ensuring long-term data integrity and FERPA compliance. This includes processing official SKC transcripts.
· This may include scanning, indexing, and converting physical legacy records into secure electronic record management systems.
· Enter, update, and audit student records in the SKC Student Information System (SIS).
3. Departmental Cross-Support & Shared Operational Assistance
· Team Coverage & Peak Support: Provide secondary and backup support during peak registration, graduation, or transcript processing periods, assisting office leadership with front-desk coverage and general student inquiries as needed.
· Data & Reporting Assistance: Assist Registrar's Office leadership with routine data gathering, verifications, and compliance reporting (such as National Student Clearinghouse reporting and institutional records audits).
· Enrollment Cross-Training: Participate in cross-training with Admissions and Financial Aid to maintain shared knowledge and deliver seamless, integrated student support across Enrollment Services.
4. Student Advising & Institutional Representation
· Provide clear holistic guidance on transfer requirements, degree completion, and academic policies to prospective, current, and returning students.
· Represent SKC and the Registrar’s Office in committee meetings related to transfer pathways, articulation agreements, and student transition initiatives.
· Perform other related duties as assigned to support Registrar's Office operations and campus needs.
5. Knowledge, skills, and abilities
· Customer Service & De-escalation: Documented experience in customer service. Proven ability to deliver high-quality support while maintaining complete professionalism. Skilled at navigating sensitive, tense, or complex conversations with students, families, and staff through calm diplomacy, respect, and effective de-escalation.
· Technical & Records Skills: Proficiency with computers, database entry/management, and a strong willingness to learn higher education software (Student Information Systems and digital archiving/scanning tools).
· Cultural Competence & SKC Commitment (Required): Demonstrated cultural awareness, sensitivity, and commitment to working effectively within the Salish Kootenai College environment, supporting indigenous students, and respecting tribal communities, traditions, and sovereignty.
· Adaptability & Drive: High energy and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment, strong problem-solving skills, and the flexibility to adapt to changing organizational needs.
· Compliance & Confidentiality: Excellent organizational skills and detail orientation, with the ability to prioritize tasks while maintaining strict confidentiality and FERPA compliance.
Minimum Qualifications:
· Education & Professional Experience: Associate’s Degree in Office Administration or related field with coursework or practical experience in records management, data entry, or comparable data management skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
· Experience working at Salish Kootenai College, in a tribal higher education setting, college registrar’s office, admissions, or academic advising environment.
· Knowledge of Native American higher education issues, SKC's mission, or working directly with Montana Tribes and regional Native communities.
· Familiarity with transfer credit evaluation, 2+2 articulation agreements, or higher education record retention practices.
To apply you must submit an SKC application, cover letter, resume, identification, and applicable transcripts to Human Resources, P.O. Box 70, Pablo, MT 59855 or email HR@SKC.edu.
Your application must include evidence that you have the skills, experiences and abilities indicated in this announcement. Applicants are asked to provide copies of academic transcripts and any other educational, training, or applicable credential or license, which may support your application for this position.
The information you provide will be used as deciding factors in our employment selection process.
As an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer, we encourage applications from minorities, veterans and women. SKC is a tribal member preference employer as set forth in SKC policy. SKC is a drug free workplace. All pre-hires must pass a drug test before formal hiring. This includes THC.
www.skc.edu – check us out – it’s a great place to work!