Specialist - Curriculum Dev-Fixed Term

Working/Functional Title

Success and Retention Specialist

Position Summary

The College of Nursing is committed to shaping the future of healthcare through innovative education and student success initiatives. As an Academic Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in empowering students to overcome academic challenges and achieve their professional goals in a supportive, collaborative environment. We invite candidates passionate about student success and equity in nursing education to join our team and contribute to transformative change in the lives of future healthcare leaders. 

The Student Success and Retention Specialist is a key contributor to advancing student achievement and persistence within the College of Nursing. This role is responsible for designing, implementing, and continuously improving educational support programs to enhance retention and academic success. The specialist will engage directly with students through academic tutoring, coaching, and curriculum development, ensuring services are accessible to historically underrepresented Nursing and Pre-Nursing students facing academic challenges. 

The ideal candidate will have experience in teaching, tutoring, academic support, and curriculum development and a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This position offers the opportunity to significantly impact student outcomes by promoting a supportive learning environment and driving innovative student success initiatives. 

Duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

• Develop and implement structured academic support services, including tutoring, workshops, and seminars on study skills, test preparation (e.g., NCLEX-RN), time management, and academic writing. 
• Deliver tailored academic coaching to address individual student needs and promote self-directed learning. 
• Design, teach, and assess at least one section of the Undergraduate Studies Seminar (UGS 110) annually for Pre-Nursing students. 
• Contribute to developing and enhancing summer bridge programs, serving as the liaison between program instructors and College leadership. 
• Provide one-on-one and group tutoring sessions in core Nursing and Pre-Nursing subjects, simulation exercises, and clinical skills development. 
• Track student progress, identify at-risk students, and intervene with appropriate support measures before mid- and end-of-semester assessments. 
• Collaborate with faculty to align academic support initiatives with course objectives and broader College of Nursing goals. 
• Develop and track program metrics, identify benchmarks, and monitor outcomes to assess the effectiveness of academic support offerings. 
• Continuously engage with existing research and best practices in learning theories, academic coaching, and retention strategies. 
• Prepare and disseminate assessment reports to college leadership, highlighting program performance, student progress, and areas for improvement. 
• Serve as the College of Nursing liaison to the Career Services Network, providing career advising, coaching, and planning support to Nursing and Pre-Nursing students. 
• Coordinate career development workshops that address job readiness, clinical placements, and professional growth within the nursing field. 
• Promote student belonging and engagement through participation in orientation, recruitment events, and new student programming (ACCESS and Nurse Scholars). 
• Collaborate with campus partners to develop and enhance academic enrichment initiatives, including residential living-learning communities and pre-college programs. 
• Support student recruitment initiatives (including on- and off-campus events)  
• Facilitate presentations and outreach activities with pre-college groups; collaborate with other units on campus to plan joint academic programming. 
• Participate in College of Nursing-hosted events coordinated in the Office of Student Affairs, including, but not limited to, graduation events, pinning ceremonies, program orientations, recruitment events, senior off-boarding day, career fair, colloquium, etc.
• Serve on college and university-wide committees, contributing to policy development and academic programming. 
• Present at regional and national conferences, representing the College of Nursing's academic support initiatives. 
• Develop marketing materials for Student Success and Retention programs and workshops.  

All team members in the College of Nursing carry a leadership role that fosters a sense of inclusion, belonging and servant leadership. This includes:

• Demonstrate a commitment to long term, sustained action that increases inclusive practices in health equity across the CON
• Intentionally create an environment that encourages a sense of belonging, inclusive learning, work, and clinical service environments that enable everyone to reach their full potential
• Recognize that inclusion is a journey and strive to move along the continuum of embracing experiences and resources that address anti-racist and anti-oppressive ideas while acknowledging the inward and outward systems that influence bias and cultural awareness
• Strive to be a champion of inclusive practices that lead and transform others and creates initiatives that change structural systems within nursing education which have historically inhibited, disenfranchised, marginalized, and unintentionally excluded underrepresented communities

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 -Nursing

Minimum Requirements

In addition to a Master's degree in Nursing, the below items are also required:

• Unrestricted RN license (or eligibility). 
• Minimum of three years of teaching, clinical instruction, or tutoring experience in higher education. 
• Proven ability to work with culturally diverse populations and demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive learning environment. 
• Strong administrative and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities. 
• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
• Possess a valid driver’s license. 

Desired Qualifications

• Five or more years of experience as a course coordinator or clinical instructor. 
• Experience with curriculum design, program evaluation, and learner assessment. 
• Background in grant writing, undergraduate mentorship, and academic advising. 
• Knowledge of Next Generation NCLEX preparation and learning strategies. 
• Demonstrated collaborative approach to working with faculty, staff, and students. 

Required Application Materials

Curriculum vitae, cover letter, DEI statement and contact list of three (3) professional references knowledgeable of your work

Special Instructions

Address application materials to Krystal Owens, Director and College Registrar.

Summary of Physical Demands

Ability to lift 30 lbs

Website

WWW.NURSING.MSU.EDU

Department Statement

The Michigan State University College of Nursing has been training the next generations of nurses since its founding as the Department of Nursing Education in 1950. We believe in the power of research, practice and education to affect lasting change and to improve health outcomes in our communities. We do this through recruiting top faculty, staff and students and continuously staying at the forefront of changes in the profession. 

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.