How to Apply
A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.
Job Summary
The University of Michigan and its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts are seeking a highly motivated and creative individual with a strong background in higher education; a commitment to access for all of the universitys talented students; and deep experience in strategic leadership to serve as Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success and Senior Director of the Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP). This is a 100% academic/administrative leadership position that holds a split appointment, 50% within the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and 50% within LSAs Division of Undergraduate Education. The position reports jointly to the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and the LSA Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education.
Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.
Who We Are
Forged out of the direct action led by the Black Action Movement in the late 1960s, the Comprehensive Studies Program (CSP) is a pioneering academic program that is home to some of the University of Michigan longest standing student success structures. These include a multidisciplinary curriculum, supportive, high-impact teaching practices designed to promote equity, holistic academic advising, one of the nations oldest Summer Bridge programs, and a relatively new living-learning community. CSP serves over 3,000 undergraduate students annually. CSPs vision is to set a national benchmark for inclusive and accessible education that improves retention and graduation while nurturing a sense of community and belonging within our large public institution. The program embraces an asset-based approach, affirming its students' strengths and potential as the cornerstone of their success.
Although CSP is administratively housed in LSA, it serves undergraduates from multiple schools and colleges and will play a foundational role in the university's newly launched Student Success Initiative. This positions dual reporting structure reflects this hybrid reality. In addition to providing essential strategic leadership for CSP, the position also works closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education (OVPUE) which oversees and advances continuous enhancements in the university educational mission for a diverse community of over 32,000 undergraduate students across all schools and colleges. The Office currently consists of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education, the Assistant Vice Provost for Advising Strategy & Student Success and an administrative support staff. OVPUE provides oversight for and works collaboratively with the Center for Research in Teaching & Learning, the Center for the Education of Women+, the Analytics for Student Success and Equity Transformation (ASSET) institutional research group, and the campus-wide Student Success Network, among others.
Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:
- Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday and season days
- A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
- Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
- Life insurance
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Also, The College of Literature, Science, and the Arts (LSA) offers:
- Enhanced tuition support programs for LSA courses
- Strong commitment to work/life balance
- Up to one day per week of remote work during the academic year, and a possibility of additional remote work during the spring and summer term, depending on specific duties.
Being part of something greater, of serving a larger mission of discovery and care, that's the heart of what drives people to work at Michigan. In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. It's adding a purpose to your profession. Work at Michigan and become a victor for the greater good.
Responsibilities*
AVP for Student Success
As Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success, you will work closely with the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education to develop, plan, and implement student success initiatives across campus. This includes developing strong partnerships at multiple levels of the organization, promoting robust assessment and evaluation, and providing leadership and accountability to ensure that strategic initiatives continue to move forward. The Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education provides primary oversight for this portion of the appointment.
Detailed job responsibilities are as follows:
Establishing and Maintaining Collaborative Campus Partnerships (25%)
The OVPUE and CSP maintain myriad partnerships that must be preserved and deepened. As Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success, you will provide a point of connection for UM School and College leaders, as well as the Provost and President Offices. You will also join a set of dedicated leaders to work on facets of the University Student Success Initiative, especially those involving support for at-promise students who have been historically marginalized within institutions of higher education. You will also be asked to represent the U-M at national convenings and meetings. Your leadership CSP team will amplify these connections and assist in maintaining close working relationships with Student Academic Affairs, Advising Centers, the Office of Enrollment Management, and representatives from Athletics, Housing, and Student Life. Working at the intersection of College and University student success efforts will also require regularly meeting with key stakeholders from across campus, including departmental chairs and faculty, program directors, and the Deans Office staff.
Advocacy for Student Success Assessment & Research (10%)
Provide leadership, advocacy, and strategic direction to ongoing assessment and research efforts relevant to student success, working closely with the ASSET team and others within Institutional Research to build connections to program evaluation and assessment resources across the university and advocate for appropriate access to research and relevant data to support evidence-based practice. Assist in the dissemination of relevant findings and develop appropriate initiatives and goals in response to emerging assessment data.
Management of strategic student success initiatives (15%)
As Assistant Vice Provost for Student Success, maintain accountability for managing specific strategic initiatives and goals as assigned by the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. This includes developing implementation plans, leading workgroups or taskforces as assigned, ensuring appropriate communication, and maintaining accountability for the assigned initiatives overall progress.
Senior Director, CSP
As Senior Director of the Comprehensive Studies Program, you will oversee a four-person leadership team as well as two additional dotted-line reports. The Senior Director oversees the teams work on all aspects of CSP services and operations. This includes delivering a diverse liberal arts curriculum in partnership with academic departments, providing holistic academic advising and support services, and managing 2 vibrant living-learning programs - the Summer Bridge Scholars program and the Bridge Scholars Plus program. CSP employs 23 full-time professional staff and 60 Lecturers' Employee Organization instructional staff, and operates on a $4.8M annual budget. The LSA Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education provides primary oversight for this portion of the appointment.
Detailed job responsibilities are as follows:
Program Leadership, Administration and Supervision (35%)
You will provide visionary and strategic leadership for the CSP unit of staff, advisors, and faculty. As Senior Director, you are responsible for creating a positive and dynamic professional culture, and aligning overall program resources with strategic priorities. You will have 4-6 direct supervisory reports who serve as directors of their respective areas within CSP. The Senior Director and the leadership team collaborate to implement strategic priorities. The primary areas of oversight are Advising, Student Success, & Outreach; Teaching & Learning, Living Learning programs, and Operations. Each of these areas is overseen by a member of the leadership team. The CSP curriculum is developed and delivered by Lecturers who are members of the Lecturers Employment Organization (LEO).
Stewardship, Fundraising, & Outreach (15%)
CSPs operating funds are fully provided by the University. However, the programs students benefit greatly from a robust base of direct student scholarships and support. With LSA Advancement, the Senior Director is a key partner in raising these student support funds. Serve as the public face of CSP, representing the unit to partners and donors. Student funding needs evolve continuously, and ongoing work is needed to ensure a broad and vigorous donor base. Serve as a lead for public engagement through meaningful dialogue and presentations on and off-campus. Occasional travel may be required.
Required Qualifications*
- Advanced degree (Masters, or equivalent education and experience) with an academic background in higher education issues, advising, and/or instruction.
- 5+ years of experience in student success program development, with a solid background in academic leadership and budget management.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success, such as student retention strategies and the ability to relate to multiple people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures.
- Experience and track record in working well and collaborating with faculty, staff and students.
- Background in staff development and people management, including demonstrated ability to create a positive and inclusive environment for faculty and staff.
- Experience with the special opportunities and challenges encountered by different student populations, e.g., student athletes, transfer students, international students, first- generation students, students from rural locations
- Experience managing complex organizations through change.
- Familiarity with program evaluation/assessment experience.
- Experience and track record in positive messaging (oral and written), motivating, inspiring and engaging staff, faculty, students, and external partners (donors, and collaborators).
Desired Qualifications*
- Ph.D. or Ed.D.
- Knowledge of innovations and best practices in academic student success programs, advising, curricular development, and assessment.
- Investment in student success through a student-centered approach to teaching, advising, and holistic support.
- Experience managing substantial budgets (>$1million annually) in an academic setting.
- Direct experience working with bargained-for staff.
- Demonstrated expertise in large-scale program evaluation/assessment.
- Direct experience with donor stewardship and fundraising.
- Experience advocating for policies that affect the unit and its staff, faculty, and students.
Modes of Work
Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.
Additional Information
As one of the worlds great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.
To learn more about LSAs Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.
Background Screening
The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Application Deadline
Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.
U-M EEO Statement
The University of Michigan is an equal employment opportunity employer.