College and university administrators manage the business affairs and student services of colleges.

College and university administrators perform a range of tasks. Administrators meet with students and faculty to address campus concerns. They make decisions on faculty tenure. Tenure is a status staff members can gain where they are given a permanent position at a college or university. Sometimes they meet with members of the local community as a representative of the college. They also coordinate student and faculty events. There are several different jobs within the administrative team. Administrators have specific duties that vary by job.

Presidents and provosts

Presidents and provosts set goals and priorities for a college. They create budgets and distribute funds to each department. In public schools, they work with state legislatures to get funding and to make sure they are meeting all legal requirements. They make sure buildings are in good shape and receive maintenance when needed.

Deans

Deans manage a specific college within a large university, such as the college of arts and sciences or the college of engineering. Deans also lead graduate schools and supervise student services administrators.

Department heads

Department heads are in charge of a specific department, such as math or business. They decide what courses are required to earn a degree in a major and what courses to offer each term. They help determine curriculum and may teach courses. They hire faculty and head their department's tenure committee. They develop budgets and write reports for top administrators. They may also meet with students because of academic misconduct.

Registrars

Registrars maintain and update student records. They assemble course catalogs and schedules. They register students for classes. Registrars collect fees and tuition. They make sure students have completed all graduation requirements before they earn a degree.

Financial aid administrators

Financial aid administrators manage funds that help students pay for college. They coordinate grant, loan, and work-study awards. In large schools, financial aid administrators hire and supervise counselors who work with students.

Admissions administrators

Admissions administrators are in charge of recruiting new students. They determine the criteria to use for selecting new students. They work closely with financial aid administrators to help new students learn about scholarship, loan, and grant programs.

Alumni directors

Alumni directors organize and attend functions that are designed to raise funds from the school's graduates.

Athletic directors

Athletic directors manage sports and other recreational programs.