Major Administrative Unit / College: College Of Arts And Letters
Department: Al Undergraduate Affairs 40000804
Sub Area: FAS- Fac./Acad Staff
Salary: Salary Commensurate with Experience
Location: East Lansing
Categories: Education/Training, Fixed Term Academic Staff, Full Time (90-100%), Non-Union 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:
a cover letter
current curriculum vitae
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/
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.
Advertised: Oct 9, 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Oct 9, 2026 Eastern Daylight Time
