| |
Position Description
The Assistant Director provides leadership and direction in support of the advising needs for students who are currently undecided (choosing) about their majors and/or exploring (changing) majors. Historically, undecided students have been more vulnerable to attrition. This position is expected to develop, assess, and evaluate advising programs and services to support this student population in goal-setting and decision-making related to major/career decisions, in addition to providing academic advising for degree progress. Additionally, the Assistant Director supervises an academic advisor to support these students, and builds active collaborations with key campus partners, such as the Career Development Center. Further, as a co-lead with the Assistant Director for Academic Recovery Advising, the position is expected to ensure that the University Advising Center (UAC) serves its mission as the University’s advising hub for “just in time” support. A member of the broader departmental (University Advising) leadership team, the Assistant Director provides feedback and consultation on academic advising-related policies, practices, and procedures and shares responsibility with the Assistant Director for Academic Recovery for implementing changes within the UAC. The Assistant Director offers broad understanding and knowledge about the university’s academic programs, university academic policy and procedures, advising tools, and campus resources and referral processes.
Duties
35% - Provide leadership, development and oversight of the UAC. This includes providing: Development and coordination of advising services, outreach and process development to support students who are currently choosing or changing majors. Work-process development, daily direction and supervision to an academic advisor, prioritizing meaningful support and demonstrated care for students in effort to identify, evaluate, and address student goal-setting, major-declaration, and complex advising needs. Ongoing professional development and training on university policies and procedures, university resources and appropriate referral processes, advising technological tools and best practices, academic program requirements, our diverse student populations, their development and needs, and resources they can use. Active collaboration with the Assistant Director for Academic Recovery Advising to coordinate and share responsibility for overall UAC functions, including staffing UAC drop-in availability, UAC representation and responsibility at admissions and campus events, development of UAC student-facing materials, student outreach for alerts. Engagement in proactive strategies for student retention and progression including, but not limited to, early and mid-term alerts, university reinstatement, re-enrollment efforts, strategic outreach, and redirection of students not making progress toward their degrees. Management of orientation and registration events for new, transfer, and international students who come to the university undecided about their majors. This includes coordination of presentations at orientation sessions, hands-on direction with registration, individual/small group appointments, development of orientation materials for students and others assisting with orientation, as well as problem-solving and consultation in issues of course availability and student special needs.
30% - Provide direct student support through advising a caseload of students who are choosing or changing majors by providing information and opportunities to explore options, set goals, and make decisions about major opportunities.
15% - Regularly assess outreach and support offered to students who are undecided about their majors. Provide reports at the end of each semester, collating outcomes for this student population (i.e. % of students who had at least one advising appointment; % of students who declared majors; % of students re-enrolled). Additionally, the Assistant Director monitors data to identify trends in student re-enrollment, retention, completion, time to degree, and related outcomes. The position uses a data-informed approach to strategically plan and achieve student success advising outcomes.
10% - Create and maintain active partnerships with other campus constituents to ensure coordinated support and communication between UAC and partner-offices. This includes frequent engagement with campus partners; facilitating effective student referral processes; identifying student barriers and developing strategies for removing these; providing holistic student support in partnership with constituents. Campus constituents include offices such as: University Advising peers in college/school advising centers; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; TRIO; Center for Academic Success; Accessibility Resources; Kearney International Center; Student Financial Services; New Student & Family Programs; Career Development Center; Counseling Center; Learning Communities; Registration & Academic Records; University Admissions.
10% - Perform other duties as assigned that directly or indirectly support academic advising and the division of Student Success and Engagement.
Application Process
A complete online application will include the following attachments. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed by the search committee.
- Cover Letter
- Non-Photo Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Contact Information for three (3) references
- Unofficial Transcript(s) of your highest completed degree
- A brief (no more than one-page) diversity statement presenting a commitment to or experience working in an equity-minded environment
https://minnstate.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Minnesota_State_Careers/job/Mankato/Assistant-Director--Exploratory-Advising--SS25011-_JR0000001617?Institution=a7c1912089511000d545e0844e430004
Institution Information
Minnesota State University, Mankato is a member of the Minnesota State system. Minnesota State has established a strategic vision, Equity 2030, which aims to close the educational equity gaps across race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status, ability, and geographic location by the end of the decade at every Minnesota State college and university and to provide an opportunity for all Minnesotans to create a better future for themselves, for their families, and for their communities.
The focus of the work includes:
- Enhancing access and student success.
- Providing Minnesota with the talent it needs.
- Anchoring the communities and regions we serve.
Equity 2030 seeks to bridge efforts occurring within divisions and institutions, creating an intentional statewide culture of equity-minded collaboration and resulting in equitable practice embedded throughout our institutions. The full Equity 2030 plan is linked here: https://www.minnstate.edu/Equity2030/index.html.
Destination 2030, the University’s strategic plan announced by President Edward Inch in August 2023, commits the University to making transformative strides in four main areas: being a lifelong provider of access to an equitable and affordable education; being a leader in transformational learning generating inspired action; being a nimble and innovative steward of resources; and being a community of care built upon diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We seek to attract teacher-scholars who will be culturally and academically diverse faculty members, and staff with a demonstrated commitment to creating an inclusive learning and working environment.
Minnesota State University, Mankato, is student-centered and focuses on applied research that expands knowledge; improves learning; and serves the region, state, and nation. Founded as a Normal School in 1868, Minnesota State University, Mankato is now the second largest university in Minnesota with a tradition of combining big-ideas with real-world thinking to find solutions for pressing problems in the state, region, and global society. Mankato, Minnesota, is a community of nearly 44,500 people, about 85 miles southwest of the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The University acknowledges the land and the tribal nations upon this land whose work is being accomplished. We acknowledge that we are on Dakota land. We also take the opportunity to recognize that we live, work, and learn in the homeland of the Dakota people, whose language frames our name—Minnesota State University, Mankato. Serving approximately 17,900 students annually, the University is an applied research institution with more than 200 academic programs, from bachelor’s through doctoral degrees. The University is a diverse and global campus with 18% students of color and1,175 + international students from 95 countries, cutting-edge information technology solutions and extensive partnerships, with 1,600 faculty and staff, including 700 teaching faculty. The University has additional locations and a growing number of on-line programs to accelerate educational access and opportunity. These locations include partnerships in northern Minnesota’s the iron range region. Fast facts about the university can be found here: https://mankato.mnsu.edu/about-the-university/fast-facts/.
Additional Information
Telework - up to 20%.
Based on the essential functions of this positions, MMB Policy #1422, and University policies relating to flexible work, this position is eligible for the following work modes: Telework: A position with a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work on a regular basis at a telework location that is not the employee's permanent/principal work location.
Contact Information
University Advising Minnesota State University
Mankato Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-389-1650
Email: [email protected]
|