Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

Specialist - Advisor-Continuing

The MSU Pathways Persistence Programs in the Office of Undergraduate Education are an affirming, dynamic network of initiatives designed to support student persistence, academic excellence, and empowered community. Aligned with MSU's commitment to ensure all students can learn, thrive, and graduate, these programs address barriers to success and create structures that promote equitable outcomes. Grounded in equity and social justice, the Pathways Persistence Programs work to close opportunity gaps and support students' persistence toward graduation.

The cohort programs within the unit—Bailey Scholars, Dow STEM Scholars, First-Generation Leadership & Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars, the Residential Initiative on Sustainability and the Environment (RISE) and TRIO Student Support Services (SSS)—offer high-impact experiences such as mentoring, career development, and living-learning communities. Through evidence-based initiatives, largely funded by external sources, the Pathways Persistence Programs cultivate conditions that empower students to develop self-discovery of purpose, educational success, sense of belonging, empowered community, and well-being.

The First-Generation Leadership & Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars Program is a signature, endowment-funded cohort program designed to advance equity, persistence, and leadership development for first-generation college students at Michigan State University. FLI provides a structured, multi-year experience that integrates community-building, leadership development, high-impact learning opportunities, and supplemental holistic support within a cohort-based model.

Grounded in access and opportunity, the FLI Vanderploeg Scholars Program is intentionally designed to address systemic barriers faced by first-generation students and to cultivate belonging, purpose, and academic success. The program directly supports the University's Student Success Strategic Plan and contributes to MSU's goal of achieving an 86% graduation rate by 2030.

The Program Director for First-Generation Leadership & Innovation (FLI) Vanderploeg Scholars provides strategic, operational, and programmatic leadership for the FLI Vanderploeg Scholars Program at Michigan State University. The Program Director is responsible for vision-setting, program design, fiscal oversight, assessment, staff supervision, and cross-campus partnerships that advance the success, well-being, and persistence of first-generation students.

The Program Director directs day-to-day program operations, leads the design and implementation of a holistic student success framework, and provides supplemental advising and coaching in collaboration with academic advising and campus support units. The role represents first-generation student success efforts at the institutional, statewide, and national levels and requires independent judgment, collaborative leadership, and a sustained commitment to equity, data-informed practice, and student development.

This position is not a primary academic advising role and does not carry responsibility for degree or major advising.

Primary Duties:

• Design, lead, and continuously refine a holistic student success framework for FLI Vanderploeg Scholars that integrates academic progress, leadership development, innovation, sense of belonging, and well-being.
• Oversee and coordinate the FLI student support model, ensuring alignment with campus advising structures, student success technologies, and equity-informed practices.
• Provide supplemental advising and coaching as needed to FLI students, focused on persistence, institutional navigation, goal-setting, and connection to resources—not primary degree planning or major advising.
• Collaborate with academic advisors, colleges, and support units to complement (not duplicate) primary academic advising and ensure coordinated student support.
• Guide students' engagement in high-impact practices (e.g., research, internships, study abroad, service learning, fellowships) as part of a developmental cohort experience.

Strategic Leadership, Supervision & Management (Other) (25%)

• Provide program director leadership…