Application Guide

How to Apply for Student Engagement & Scholarship Manager

at Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation

🏢 About Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation

The PASSHE Foundation is dedicated to expanding access to higher education for Pennsylvania students, offering a mission-driven environment where your work directly impacts affordability and career success. As a remote-first organization, it provides flexibility while fostering collaboration across state universities and community partners.

About This Role

This role bridges student engagement and scholarship management, requiring you to creatively reach students via social media and events while ensuring seamless scholarship operations. You'll directly increase scholarship applications and strengthen donor relationships, making higher education more accessible.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing scholarship applications in the CRM, then hopping on a video call with a university partner to plan a campus event. Later, you'd craft a social media post targeting students and follow up with a donor to share impact metrics from the latest cycle.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation Is Looking For

  • Experienced in student success or scholarship administration with a bachelor's degree and 3+ years in related fields like college access or academic advising.
  • Proficient in social media engagement on platforms popular with young adults (e.g., Instagram, TikTok) and skilled in CRM or scholarship management tools.
  • Strong communicator who can build rapport with diverse student populations and collaborate with universities, donors, and community organizations.
  • Detail-oriented with project management skills to oversee the full scholarship lifecycle from application to reporting, ensuring compliance and excellence.

📝 Tips for Applying to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation

1

Highlight specific examples of social media campaigns you've led that increased engagement or applications among young adults.

2

Quantify your impact in scholarship administration, such as number of scholarships managed, applicants served, or funds disbursed.

3

Tailor your resume to emphasize experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and student data platforms relevant to this role.

4

Mention any experience working with state university systems or public higher education initiatives to show alignment with PASSHE's mission.

5

In your cover letter, address how you would tailor outreach to Pennsylvania's diverse student body across multiple universities.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your passion for increasing college access and affordability, specifically for Pennsylvania students.', 'Proven ability to manage scholarship programs end-to-end with attention to compliance and donor stewardship.', 'Experience using social media and personal outreach to engage students and drive applications.', 'Collaboration skills with multiple stakeholders (universities, donors, community orgs) to amplify impact.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Explore PASSHE's current scholarship programs and their impact stories on the foundation's website.
  • → Understand the demographics of Pennsylvania's state university students to tailor engagement strategies.
  • → Review the foundation's recent initiatives or news about student success and donor partnerships.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the PASSHE system's mission and its 14 universities to speak knowledgeably.
Visit Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a social media campaign to increase scholarship applications among first-generation college students?
2 Describe a time you managed a complex scholarship cycle; how did you ensure compliance and meet deadlines?
3 How do you build rapport with students from diverse backgrounds in a remote setting?
4 Explain how you would track and report scholarship outcomes to donors to demonstrate impact.
5 What strategies would you use to collaborate with multiple PASSHE universities and community organizations?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application without mentioning PASSHE or Pennsylvania-specific context.
  • Overlooking the remote nature of the role; failing to demonstrate self-motivation and virtual collaboration skills.
  • Focusing only on scholarship administration without showing enthusiasm for student engagement and outreach.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Foundation!

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