Downtown Scholars Initiative - Assistant (TEMP)

Downtown Scholars Initiative:

The Downtown Scholars Initiative (DSI) is seeking an assistant to support program operations at the University of Central Florida and Orange County Public Schools. DSI is located in the Union West at Creative Village Building on the UCF Downtown/Valencia College Downtown campus and reports to the Program Coordinator. While the position will be based at the UCF Downtown campus, the role will also perform duties at local high schools and on UCF's main campus.

Established in Fall 2021, the Downtown Scholars Initiative consists of two components:

* Pre-College Program: Supports high school seniors from Title I high schools in downtown Orlando: Jones High School, Evans High School, and Oak Ridge High School, by guiding them through the application process, financial aid, and campus engagement opportunities to promote successful enrollment at UCF.

* Summer Bridge Program: Provides incoming UCF students with a residential Summer B six-week experience, free tuition and books for their first summer term, and ongoing peer mentoring to support their transition and academic success during freshman year.

The Opportunity:

The assistant will play a key role in organizing, developing, and implementing social, educational, and service-learning activities for DSI students. The ideal candidate will be an organized, self-motivated graduate student with demonstrated experience working with students, strong clerical skills, event planning, social media, and an interest in community engagement. A passion for advancing educational access and supporting historically underrepresented students is essential.

Classification Title: Program Support Specialist

Responsibilities:

• Assist the Program Coordinator to whom the position reports.

• Maintain and update the student database, including attendance, contact information, Qualtrics forms, and other documents.

• Support coordination and implementation of DSI events, workshops, and activities.

• Support recruitment activities and deliver classroom presentations.

• Assist with planning and scheduling program meetings.

• Respond and send communication to program participants.

• Prepare documents, forms, copies, and marketing materials (social media, newsletters).

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint) and design platforms (e.g., Canva).

• Assist with general office tasks and program operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

High School Diploma or Equivalent and 0+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.

• Experience working with students in a mentorship, advising, or leadership capacity.

• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office/365 (Teams, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint; Excel).

• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.

• Experience with peer mentoring, college access, and/or firstgeneration/Title I student populations.

• Experience with student advising and event planning.

• Comfort with social media, communications, and basic program assessment.

• Familiarity with Canva or similar design platforms.

• Flexibility to adapt to evolving projects and timelines.

Additional Application Materials Required:

Please attach an updated, professional resume including a cover letter as one document. Also include 3 valid references within this application along with their contact information.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

This position requires a Level 2 Background Check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Clearinghouse prior to employment. For more information, please visit the FDLE Clearinghouse: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

This is a part-time (.50 FTE) position.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $16.00/hour. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Classification Title: Program Support Specialist

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Are Benefits Important to You?

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state's benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First. OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Department

Hours of Work

Work Schedule

Type of Appointment

Hourly Rate

Job Posting End Date

Benefits Eligibility

State Benefits eligibility for OPS employees are subject to criteria established by the State of Florida. The state's benefits administrator, People First, determines eligibility and coordinates enrollment. If this position becomes eligible for state benefits the employee will be notified directly by People First. OPS positions are not entitled to paid time off.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.

an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 407-823-1336 or email onac@ucf.edu.

For general application or posting questions, please email talent@ucf.edu.