Department: Shocker Career Accelerator

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: set at $22.36 per hour ($46,500 annually)

Work Schedule: M-F 8am-5pm, Some evening or event-related work may be required; work is performed on-site and in person.

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Wichita State University is seeking a collaborative, relationship-driven professional to join our team as the Applied Learning Coordinator for Wichita HIREs: Humanities Internships Reward Employers, the Mellon Foundation initiative.

 In this role, you will connect students, faculty, and community partners to create meaningful internship experiences that demonstrate the value of the humanities beyond the classroom. Working closely with museums, cultural organizations, nonprofits, public agencies, and other businesses, you will cultivate partnerships that allow students to apply skills in communication, research, critical thinking, storytelling, cultural understanding, and civic engagement in professional settings.

As the connector between academic programs and community partners, you will help develop high-quality internship opportunities that support student success while advancing the missions of our employer partners. Your work will strengthen relationships across campus and throughout the community, helping students explore career pathways, build professional confidence, and see how the humanities contribute to vibrant organizations and engaged communities.

If you are passionate about building partnerships, expanding opportunities for students, and demonstrating the lasting value of the humanities through applied learning, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful, lasting impact.

Job Summary

Oversee engagement efforts that foster business and University educational alliances to address industry needs and provide student-learning opportunities. Coordinate and administer the day-to-day operational activities of advising, retention, marketing, advocacy, and training.

Essential Functions

• Collaborate with leadership, faculty, staff and/or other community partners to implement programs and educational services to achieve targeted outcomes. Cultivate existing and identify new opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, and service enhancements.
• Ensure compliance with service agreements, institutional policies, funding guidelines, and
regulatory requirements; clearly communicate contractual responsibilities and recommend
program enhancements.
• Analyze data to determine achievement with assigned goals and compliance with rules and regulations. Communicate and document program results, quality outcomes, and progress metrics to stakeholders.
• Assist with the development and coordination with related departments to facilitate recruitment, outreach, communications, and/or marketing of related programs and services.
• Engage with University staff and students to foster program success, and provide program
communications, status reports, and services throughout the enrollment and registration process.
Monitor compliance with program rules and regulations, provide status updates, and monitor
student academic progress as required.

Job Duties

Employer Recruitment & Partnership Development
-Identify, recruit, and retain business, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and eligible for-profit employers to serve as internship hosts.
-Focus on placements aligned with humanities disciplines recognized as eligible under Mellon guidelines.
-Develop and maintain strategic employer relationships to support recurring internship cohorts.
-Conduct employer outreach, site assessments, and informational sessions.
-Evaluate employer capacity to provide meaningful work aligned with humanities competencies.

Internship Development & Oversight
-Collaborate with employers to develop position descriptions and structured internship experiences.
-Create student employment positions through HR for each internship placement.
-Ensure internships provide substantive, supervised, skill-building opportunities.
-Support cohort-based hiring models where appropriate.
-Monitor student placements through regular employer and student check-ins and evaluations.
-Address performance, supervision, or compliance concerns.

Contract & Compliance Management
-Initiate and manage employer/WSU work site agreements and memoranda of understanding.
-Coordinate contract review and approval with General Counsel and other appropriate university offices.
-Maintain accurate documentation of executed agreements.
Ensure compliance with Mellon Foundation requirements, including:
-Majority of grant funds directed toward student compensation
-50% employer cost-share requirement for for-profit placements
-Eligibility restrictions related to student major and placement type
-Ensure adherence to university payroll, HR, and risk management policies.

Student Placement Coordination
-Verify student eligibility, including humanities major status and enrollment in required internship coursework as described in the proposal Wichita State Proposal FINAL.
-Coordinate placement logistics with faculty leads and SCA staff.
-Assist students with onboarding requirements and employer expectations.
-Support required career readiness programming participation.

Faculty & Internal Collaboration
-Partner with faculty leads serving as instructors of record to align internships with humanities curriculum objectives.
-Provide regular updates to program leadership (PI and Co-PI).
-Coordinate with university offices including HR, Payroll, Risk Management, Registrar, and General Counsel.
-Contribute to development of student and employer toolkits, promotional materials, and strategic planning initiatives outlined in the program timeline.

Data Collection & Reporting
-Track internship placements, employer participation, student demographics, and assessment outcomes.
-Compile feedback from students and employer partners as described in program timeline.
-Conduct evaluations with students and employers for each cohort.
-Prepare reports for internal leadership and external grant reporting requirements.
-Assist in evaluation and continuous improvement of the program.

Required Education and Experience:

• 60 hours of college coursework in humanities
• Three (3) years of experience in community partnerships, career services or related field. Every 30 hours of college coursework beyond 60, may be substituted for one (1) year of
  experience, up to 120 hours.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Ability to build and sustain community partnerships.
Strong analytical and reporting skills.
Ability to interpret and apply policy and grant guidelines.
High level of professionalism when working with legal and executive leadership.
Ability to work independently while collaborating across academic and administrative units.
Familiarity with internship programs, experiential learning, or applied learning initiatives.
Knowledge of federal or foundation grant compliance.

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not
limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to interpret effectively, accurately and impartially, both receptively and
expressively. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to move or traverse across campus, within buildings and offices, and/or
across external environments. Occasional 30-60%

Additional Physical Requirement:

Occasional local travel to employer sites.