As teachers begin contemplating a career change, one of the more obvious paths to choose is something in higher education working for a college or university. We rounded up the top 10 in-person and remote higher education jobs for classroom teachers looking to pivot.
Considering In-Person and Remote Higher Education Jobs
If you are a classroom teacher longing for change, working at a college or university could be a great fit. Aside from professors, colleges and universities have a variety of different positions that keep the school running smoothly. Your skills will translate well to in-person and remote higher education jobs. You’ve worked at a school before, this would just be at a larger scale with more moving parts.
Most higher education jobs used to require you to report in-person. However, nowadays there are many opportunities to land a remote higher education job. The setting in which you work will depend on the college or university, but both options are out there.
Top 10 In-Person and Remote Higher Education Jobs for Teachers and Administrators
Here at Teacher Career Coach we talk a lot about transferable skills. Teachers have so many different skills they are using in the classroom each day. You often use problem solving, critical thinking, communication, leadership, adaptability, along with many others. To land a role outside the classroom, think about how you can translate those skills into ways you will excel in a new field.
In-person and remote higher education jobs have an obvious education connection. Any role that is student-facing is going to feel like a natural fit for a teacher. There are many different roles at a college or university where you are interacting with students or improving student life. We rounded up the top 10Â in-person and remote higher education jobs with the most natural transfer of skills and experience for former teachers and administrators.
1. Academic Advising
- Provide class and career guidance
- Help students explore academic interests
- Monitor student performance
- Provide students with resources for additional support
2. Admissions and Enrollment
- Assist students & parents in the admissions process
- Outreach to prospective high school students
- Review entrance requirements
- Provide information about financial aid resources
- Guide prospective students & their parents through the enrollment process
- Possible travel required
3. Administrative or Executive Assistant
- Assist faculty and/or executives with administrative tasks such as scheduling, inbox management, customer service, office management, organization, etc.
- Help the organization run smoothly
- The difference between administrative assistant and executive assistant is the person you are assisting an executive assistant might have more complex or classified responsibilities as they assist a dean or university president, chancellor, etc.
4. Student Affairs
- Plan and oversee student activities, residence life, campus recreation, volunteer services, student orientation, etc.
- Work with underrepresented students, first generation & low-income populations to help improve access to higher education
- Coordinate student events
- Organize student groups
- Assist students during their higher education experience
5. Human Resources
- The same duties as an HR department in any field
- Recruiting, hiring, payroll, policies, employee records, benefit analysis, employee relations, ensuring compliance, onboarding new employees, disciplinary needs, etc.
6. Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
- Develop and monitor programs pertaining to multicultural students, intersectionality, and issues impacting diverse communities
- Work with underrepresented students, first generation & low-income populations to help improve access to higher education
- Organize and manage events on campus to promote diversity and multicultural affairs
- Work with faculty, students, and executives
- Outreach to collaborate with other organizations
7. Program Coordinator
- Responsible for day-to-day functions of a particular program within the college
- Administrative duties, scheduling, enrollment management, and office management
- Oversee faculty within your program
- Coordinate and manage program projects
8. Registrar
- Master’s degree required
- Best for someone with admin experience
- Supervise the registration process and student records
- Prepare transcripts, collect tuition, and verify financial and academic requirements are met before graduation
9. Education Dean
- Master’s degree required
- Best for someone with admin experience
- Oversee students and faculty within the college of education
- Make hiring decisions, develop policies, help keep the school running
10. Professor or Online Professor
- Master’s degree required
- Teach classes and present lectures in-person or online
- Mentor students
- Evaluate student progress and assign grades
- These positions could be called adjunct faculty, lecturer, or instructor, so you can use those as search terms when looking for a job.
- College teaching roles often pay per credit hour and can vary each semester. Many of these opportunities are part time.
How To Find In-Person and Remote Higher Education Jobs
If you determine that an in-person or remote higher education job may be the right fit for you, there are several places online to look for open positions. While you may also find higher education job postings on the typical sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, here are a few specific to the higher education niche:
- higheredjobs.com
- hercjobs.org
- jobs.chronicle.com
- highered360.com
- College and university websites
Another suggestion when searching for in-person and remote higher education jobs is to start with the familiar. Go to the website of the college or university you or a family member attended. Or maybe you are a die-hard sports fan of a local university. Wouldn’t it be cool to work at an institution that is already near and dear to your heart?
The Pros And Cons Of In-Person and Remote Higher Education Jobs
Just like with every occupation, there are going to be some pros and cons to working in higher education. Full-time in-person and remote higher education jobs usually come with great benefits! As always, this is going to vary from place to place. So be sure to inquire about the benefits before accepting a job offer. Here are a few benefits that most colleges and universities will provide for full-time employees:
- Access to campus services (childcare, housing, transportation, fitness, etc.)
- Tuition assistance for you and family members
- School year schedule and time off
- Generous retirement plans
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (in some cases)
While these perks, along with a student-facing career, might sound perfect for a former teacher, there are always potential downfalls to keep in mind when pursuing something new. In-person and remote higher education jobs can occasionally be understaffed and underpaid. Depending on the institution you work at, you might not be making a salary increase from teaching. This is not to discourage you from pursuing higher education, but to prepare you for the future. If an in-person or remote higher education job interests you, make sure to get clear on your budget and salary needs first!
Working with grown, passionate students and being part of a positive college community may be the change you’re looking for. Your classroom teaching skills have prepared you for a role in higher education. In-person and remote higher education jobs are definitely an avenue worth exploring!
Next Steps To A New Career
If you are struggling to determine what career outside the classroom is right for you, take our free career quiz to help you get started.
One of the biggest mistakes that I see teachers make is that they try to navigate this process alone. Often, they put off “researching” until the very last minute. Which sets them up for a very stressful application season. Teacher Career Coach wants to help you get some clarity in the options available to you. To know EXACTLY what you need to do (and not do) in order to get your foot in the door.
You don’t have to do this on your own.
With the help of an HR expert with over 10 years of experience and a team of former teachers, Daphne has created a guide to support you in the early stages of your transition out of the classroom. Tap the button below to learn more.
