Jobs › University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Department Program Associate

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee · Milwaukee, WI · $23.00–$26.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Oct 2, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

You'd be supporting the Chair plus the field placement, graduate and PhD coordinators. Tell me about a time you supported several people at once and how you kept track of who needed what.

What they are checking: Whether they can serve several bosses without dropping anyone's work or playing favorites by accident.

This role works independently and is expected to follow through without reminders. Tell me about a task you owned from start to finish with very little direction.

What they are checking: Whether they finish things on their own, since the Chair will not have time to check on every task.

You'll also help Social Work and other departments in the College of Community Engagement and Professions with scheduling. How would you build working relationships with people who are not your direct supervisors?

What they are checking: Whether they can earn cooperation across departments without formal authority over anyone.

Tell me about a time you caught an error in a schedule, report or document before it went out. How did you find it?

What they are checking: Whether they have a habit of checking their work, since scheduling mistakes ripple out to hundreds of students.

Tell me about a process you improved in a past office job. What was slow, and what did you change?

What they are checking: Whether they look for better ways to work rather than only keeping things as they found them.

What would you do

A student comes to the front office upset because they cannot get into a required criminal justice course and graduation is at risk. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they connect students to advising quickly and calmly, which supports the posting's enrollment and retention goals.

The Chair and the graduate coordinator both hand you urgent work due the same afternoon. How do you handle it?

What they are checking: Whether they clarify priorities openly instead of guessing and quietly letting one person down.

This role is on campus serving students in person. What does good front-office service look like to you on a busy first week of the semester?

What they are checking: Whether they stay welcoming and organized when the line is long and everyone needs something at once.

About the work

Walk me through how you would build a course schedule for a department when faculty availability, room limits and student demand all pull in different directions.

What they are checking: Whether they understand course scheduling as a puzzle of real constraints rather than just data entry.

What experience do you have with university or similar systems for scheduling, student records or purchasing, and how fast do you pick up a new one?

What they are checking: Whether they can learn campus systems like Workday quickly enough to be useful in the first months.

You may handle student information that falls under FERPA. How do you decide what you can share and with whom?

What they are checking: Whether they protect student privacy by default and know to check before releasing anything.

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The full job description

As published by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Current Employees: If you are currently employed at any of the Universities of Wisconsin, log in to Workday to apply through the internal application process. Position Title: Department Program Associate Job Category: University Staff Employment Type: Regular Job Profile: Administrative Assistant II Job Duties: This full-time University Staff ongoing position (Program Associate) provides administrative assistance to the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, i.e., the Chair of the Department field placement coordinator, graduate program coordinator, and PhD program coordinator. The Program Associate also assists the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology, the Department of Social Work, and departments within the College of Community Engagement and Professions with course scheduling, and liaisons with advising for the College of Community Engagement and Professions as needed for student enrollment and retention. The Program Associate must exercise independence in performing job duties and have the ability to follow through on all assigned tasks. The Program Associate reports directly to the Department Chair and is expected to have an on-campus presence in assisting administrators and serving students. The Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology prides itself on being a positive and supportive place to work. Additional Information: This position does not offer visa sponsorship. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire. Selected candidates will be required to verify eligibility to work in the United States by completing the required I-9 form upon hire. This position will be performed fully onsite at UWM’s main campus. Key Job Responsibilities: • Prepare the schedule of classes for each term • Enter data and maintain files • Manage confidential records • Collects, analyzes, and prepares various communication materials from established sources utilizing technology mediums • Organize Department events • Serves as a first point of contact for individuals and groups, provides basic organizational information via phone, in person and through other communication mediums, and routes more complex inquiries to the appropriate entities • Maintains established methods and organizational systems directed at the maintenance of electronic/physical records related to work operations according to established policies and procedures • Schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, conferences, travel, and work unit operations • Sends, receives, copies, and distributes communications to the appropriate entities according to established policies and procedures under general supervision Department: Helen Bader School of Social Welfare Compensation: The target hiring range is $23.00-$26.00/hour. Final salary will be contingent upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities demonstrated throughout the selection process. Required Qualifications: • At least 3 years of experience in an office setting. • Associate’s degree or higher in a related field or equivalent work experience. • Proficient in the use of office technology, including MS Office, as evidenced by application materials. Preferred Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience preferred. • Excellent organization, prioritization, multi-tasking and program planning skills with strong attention to detail. • Ability to establish and maintain positive professional working relationships. • Ability to work independently on assigned tasks Application Instructions: Applicants are required to apply online and provide: • A cover letter that addresses the candidate’s professional level work experience as it relates to all required and preferred qualifications. • A detailed resume Note: Applicants must complete all required fields and attach all required documents prior to submitting the online application to ensure full consideration. Additional documents submitted aside from a   cover letter and resume will not be considered. Finalist candidate(s) being considered for hire will be required to provide three professional/supervisor references through an external reference checking tool. References will not be contacted prior to candidates being notified. In instances where the Search and Screen Committee is unable to ascertain from the candidates’ application materials whether they meet any of the qualifications, they may be evaluated as not meeting such qualifications. Apply by the application deadline, October 16, 2026. Contact Information: Amal Afifa aiafifa@uwm.edu Reasonable Accommodations Pursuant to university policy , UWM provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact uwm-jobs@uwm.edu or 414-229-4463. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability. Confidentiality of Applicant Materials UWM is a State agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWM will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request. CBC and Reference Check Policy Employment will require a criminal background check. UWM takes the prevention of sexual misconduct seriously. As such, you and your references will be required to answer questions regarding any past findings of sexual violence and sexual harassment or any pending allegations of sexual violence or sexual harassment. Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act) For the UWM Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see http://www.cleryact.uwm.edu/ , or call UWM’s Dean of Students Office, Student Union 345 at (414) 229-4632 for a paper copy. Employment Authorization In compliance with federal law, all persons at the time of their start date will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. UW is an Equal Opportunity Employer Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other bases protected by applicable federal or State law and UW System policies. We are committed to building a workforce that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills, and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.

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