Specialist - Advisor-Fixed Term

Working/Functional Title

Director of Advising

Position Summary

The College of Arts and Letters (CAL) at Michigan State University seeks a Director of Advising in Undergraduate Studies to enhance, support, and innovate in student affairs. This position is full-time, on a twelve-month appointment basis, and open rank in the MSU academic specialist system, depending on current academic specialist rank and appointment system. It begins January 1, 2025 and is renewable contingent upon funding and performance. We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience in supporting low-income, first-generation students to help meet our goals of creating a welcoming, supportive environment and sense of belonging for students throughout their entire academic career at MSU.

Job duties include:

Management and Leadership

• Supervise and support the College’s academic advisors, including annual evaluation procedures and processes for professional advancement; represent advisors in university/college-level conversations.
• Develop and implement holistic assessment strategy for advising, including ways of documenting advisor contributions to a culture of care and individualized student attention, and regularly utilize assessment results to enhance advising 
• Organize and run weekly meetings with advising team
• Connect with university events (such as Admitted Student Day, Green and White Days, Colloquium, Alumni Distinguished Scholars, etc.), and ensure the College is represented appropriately
• Liaise with units in and outside of the College where appropriate to support advising
• Work with advisors to identify programmatic and educational barriers
• Identify training needs and support advisors in getting needed training
• Support interpretation/understanding of and implementation of university/college policies and systems
• Oversee and enhance the quality of advising available to students
• Develop models and timelines for effective student engagement
• Work with other offices on campus as appropriate to ensure students receive best in class advising and assistance
• Troubleshoot emerging advising issues that arise
• Prepare, advise, and develop professional development for advisors as well as oversee professional development funds
• Advise faculty on issues undergrads face with college curricula
• Develop and support advisor leadership opportunities and student affairs expertise 
• Gather and communicate relevant quantitative and qualitative data about students in ways that reflect nuance and ethical thinking about data use
• Develop and implement communication strategies about majors and curricula for a student audience
• Meet with students referred to by advisors for a variety of reasons
• When the occasion demands, advise students as a substitute for advisors out of office, in cases where additional intervention beyond the student advisor is needed, and so on
• Supervise and coordinate New Student Orientation
• Lead or support initiatives in the College related to student affairs and whole-person support of the College’s students, within the scope of advising
• Manage budgets related to academic advising

UGS Collaboration

• Coordinate productive collaboration and communication between advising and the Assistant and Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the larger College Undergraduate Studies team
• Assist with commencement speaker competitions
• Collaborate with Undergraduate Studies colleagues and college units on special initiatives
• Attend College Undergraduate Studies meetings: leadership team and with the Assistant Dean of College of Arts and Letters Undergraduate Studies

Administration

• Respond to petitions for waivers of college and university requirements
• Respond to student, parent, and faculty complaints and concerns, with regard to advising and related student affairs processes, and in compliance with privacy policies 
• Petition the university when the College’s students need exception to university policy
• Monitor student athlete NCAA adherence and advising
• Respond to questions from constituents about undergrad policies
• Complete routine forms such as AA forms, dean’s drops, readmission applications, late drops & withdrawals, refund requests, financial aid appeals (SAP)

Committee Membership

• Participate in or designate representative for CAL CCC & CUC
• Represent CAL at UAL, Student Success meetings, and UGAAD
• Attend Deans, Chairs, Directors meetings

Other duties as assigned

As an institution, our compensation philosophy is to be market competitive and internally equitable. In our budget, we have planned for a salary between $65,000 and $85,000 for this position. However, a final determination regarding salary will be made considering the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters

Minimum Requirements

• MA degree or equivalent degree or higher (MFA, MLS, PhD, etc.).
• 3-5 years of advising experience at an institution of higher education in the United States
• Expertise or experience in enhancing inclusion, equity, and student success
• Proven collaboration and leadership skills
• Applications are welcome from all external and internal applicants including, but not limited to, MSU fixed term and continuing system academic specialists. The selected individual will be appointed depending on which rank and appointment system aligns with their current rank.

Desired Qualifications

• More than 5 years advising experience with undergraduate students at an institution of higher education in the United States
• Graduate degree in Student Affairs or in an arts- or humanities-related field
• Experience in supervision and/or mentorship for professional growth in student affairs
• Understanding and appreciation of arts and humanities fields and students
• Experience or knowledge in assessment and strategic planning for student affairs
• Experience communicating and utilizing qualitative and quantitative data to improve student experiences
• Experience or knowledge in supporting first generation students, diverse student communities, inclusion, accessibility, students with financial challenges, and others
• Nuanced expertise in equity, inclusion, and belonging in student affairs

Required Application Materials

Qualified applicants should submit:

1. a cover letter
2. current curriculum vitae
3. A 1-page summary of your philosophy of diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to the responsibilities of this position. The statement should also include an explanation of related past or planned activities/endeavors as well as how the candidate will advance our goals of inclusive excellence. For more about MSU’s DEI efforts, see https://inclusion.msu.edu/. For more information about writing diversity statements, see https://cal.msu.edu/documents/cal-guidelines-for-the-writing-of-diversity-statements/ 
4. the names and email addresses of 3 potential references.

Special Instructions

Review of applications will begin November 11, 2024 and will continue until the position is filled. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Michigan State University Human Resources website http://careers.msu.edu. Posting number 988325.

For more information, contact Jason Merrill, Chair of the Search Committee at merril25@msu.edu.

Persons with disabilities have the right to request and receive reasonable accommodation.

Review of Applications Begins On

11/11/2024

Website

cal.msu.edu

Department Statement

The College of Arts & Letters recognizes that only an academic and organizational culture, which actively seeks out and strengthens diverse voices and perspectives among its members results in true excellence. The College of Arts & Letters is particularly interested in candidates of all backgrounds who are committed to the principle that intellectual leadership is achieved through open access and pro-active inclusion. 

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.