Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

Position Summary

Our Unit:

The Michigan State University Office of Undergraduate Education oversees undergraduate academic policies and facilitates institutional wide initiatives focused on enhancing undergraduate learning. We engage in everything from the orientation and welcome of first-year students to the enhancement and oversight of selected academic programs and co-curricular initiatives. Focused around the five opportunity areas for student success: Educational Success, Sense of Belonging, Empowered Community, Self Discovery of Purpose, and Well-being.

The Detroit Mastering Academics Demonstrating Excellence (M.A.D.E.) Scholars Program focuses on college transition, student success, graduation, and career development for students who have graduated from Detroit public and charter high schools and/or reside in the city of Detroit, annually supporting over 200 students. Funded by the Gilbert Family Foundation, the Detroit M.A.D.E. program promotes personal and academic excellence that spans our scholars’ collegiate journeys. Key program components include:

• High-impact learning experiences such as service learning, study abroad, undergraduate research, and internships;
• Comprehensive and holistic academic advising
• Academic, socio-emotional, and career-oriented programming that supports students’ success by developing cohort identity and sense of belonging.

It is through these opportunities and initiatives that Detroit M.A.D.E. Scholars are involved in conversations and experiences that will prepare them for graduation from MSU, their future careers, and shaping the future of the city of Detroit.

Role Overview:

The Academic Advisor will report to the Program Director (PD) of the Detroit M.A.D.E. Scholars Program and engage with scholars on a consistent and sustained basis while using proactive/intrusive advising tactics to foster growth in key areas critical to student success: academics, scholarship, career development, and leadership. This includes, but is not limited to, in-depth intake interviews, short- and long-term goal development and follow-up with scholars, and providing additional support to supplement student need. In addition, they will develop and facilitate initiatives/campaigns focused on academic proficiency, socio-emotional engagement, and institutional navigation. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in academic advising and holistic student support for underserved communities. This includes a proven commitment to inclusive excellence in higher education and to working to address systemic barriers to student success. This position requires occasional evenings and weekends for scholar programming.  

Primary Duties:

Advising (75%)

• Advise a diverse group of students from the Detroit metropolitan area, representing various majors, on both academic and social needs by employing intrusive and proactive advising techniques.
• Collaborate closely with university and college advisors across campus to ensure the successful transition of students from high school to MSU while supporting their continued success throughout their academic journey.
• Provide individual advising for students related but not limited to course planning and registration, early warning outreach, major exploration, post-graduate planning and development, financial literacy, campus and local referrals, institutional navigation, academic orientation, and education abroad opportunities.
• Collect and maintain a record of scholar advising activity of assigned caseload to create relevant, data-driven campaigns to further ensure scholar persistence, retention, and academic success.
• Understand, interpret, and implement academic policies and procedures at the university.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues, partners, academic and student affairs professionals in the academic colleges, Enrollment Services, and Residence Education and Housing Services.
• Utilize digital systems (e.g., Electronic Student Academic Folder, Student Information System) to initiate and facilitate advising interactions, maintain confidential records, enter student information, and respond to referrals.
• Provide support for the program’s undergraduate peer mentors to enhance academic advising and coaching efforts for program scholars.
• Provide support to the Assistant Program Director and peer mentors in planning and implementing student support programs, such as workshops and community building events.
• Engage in the campus advising community by participating in relevant meetings and training with academic units as well as supporting university-wide advising related programs, events, and committees.
• Engage in relevant professional development opportunities to further enhance advising skills and knowledge while also gaining insight on current and forecasted trends of college advising and student needs.
• Other duties as assigned.

Teaching (10%)

• Provide support to the Assistant Program Director in management of first-year seminar courses for program scholars.
• Teach/co-teach 1-2 sections of the first-year seminar course during Fall semester for incoming scholars (i.e., UGS 110 – 1 credit).
• Attend annual training for first-year seminar instructors led by the Undergraduate Education Workshop Facilitators team.

Curriculum Development (5%)

• Provide support to the Assistant Program Director in curriculum development of first-year seminar courses for program scholars.

Outreach (10%)

• Assist Program and Assistant Program Directors in the creation and implementation of recruitment strategies for prospective scholars as needed, utilizing advising data when necessary.
• Conduct individual meetings, group presentations, and informational sessions for prospective scholars, families, and supporters as needed.
• Support the Assistant Program Director in coordination of logistics for service-learning projects in collaboration with community partners in Detroit.

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 -Higher education, student affairs, K-12 Education, or another related field

Minimum Requirements

• Master’s degree in higher education, student affairs, K-12 education, or another related field
• Experience in a college/university setting, preferably in the areas of advising and/or academic development for underserved student populations
• Strong communication skills that include a student-centered approach
• Experience with student support technology systems
• Proven commitment to holistic undergraduate student success
• Ability to work diplomatically and effectively with campus partners
• Demonstrated ability to work with students and colleagues from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to leverage multi-source data to drive proactive, innovative advising strategies that enhance student success in both individual and group efforts
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite

Desired Qualifications

• 1-2 years of academic advising experience in a college/university setting
• Knowledge of undergraduate student success concepts, theories, and/or practices
• Experience advising, leading, and/or mentoring diverse undergraduate students
• Teaching experience with secondary or post-secondary students from diverse backgrounds
• 1-3 years of overall advising related experience
• Strong skills in documentation, tracking, and data compliance
• Knowledge of academic advising/student information technology platforms
• Experience implementing strategic initiatives and campaigns to support academic success of underserved populations, residing both on and off campus

Required Application Materials

Applicants must submit both a cover letter and resume to be considered. Please note that supplemental materials such as transcripts and additional documents will not be reviewed.

Applications that do not include the required cover letter and
resume will not be considered for review.

Review of Applications Begins On

10/26/2026

Website

https://undergrad.msu.edu/advising-transitions/detroit-made

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.