Position Overview

This is a one year temporary position.

This is a full-time, twelve month position in the Department of Family Social Science in the College of Education and Human Development. This position provides direct academic advising and support to approximately 200 undergraduate students per academic year who are pursuing a BS degree in Family Social Science. There are two concentration areas for majors (Family Therapy, Family & Community Engagement) and three minor programs as well (Family Science, Family Therapy, Family & Community Engagement). Our undergraduate students are quite diverse; approximately one-third are students of color, including students from immigrant and refugee communities, and first-generation college students.
The FSoS advising model emphasizes a strong responsibility to diversity, equity, and inclusivity within the context of student progress and development. We seek professionals who can communicate and develop relationships effectively with faculty, students and colleagues, who can expertly advocate for students and solve problems, are flexible in responding to change and changing situations, are committed to integrating equity minded awareness into their work and can function both independently and collaboratively.
We are committed to attracting candidates from historically underrepresented groups knowing that diversity enriches the academic experience and provides a knowledge base for innovation.

Job Responsibilities:

Direct Service Advising (60%)

• Guide, challenge and support undergraduate students majoring and minoring in FSoS or pursuing an Inter-College Program concentration using a holistic model of advising
• Deliver equity minded and culturally relevant advising and support to students through drop-in hours, individual student appointments, email and phone
• Support students and faculty in preparation for internship and internship experiences
• Understand liberal education and program curriculum
• Understand and communicate the interconnectedness of campus resources to individual students to support retention and an engaged student experience
• Interpret, uphold, and communicate policies established by the University of Minnesota to students
• Review petitions, exceptions and waivers, as submitted either by student, Student Services, or other colleagues
• Develop and integrate career development and use of Career Services in advising
• Collaborate with career services to provide support for students
• Work with student services on the development and delivery of new student first-year and transfer orientations to provide a seamless, welcoming, and individualized entry to the major or minor.
• Collaborate with student services for recruitment and retention
• Keep accurate, up-to-date advising notes and student information as appropriate
• Monitor central undergraduate email account and phone line and direct correspondence to appropriate staff

Program Management (10%)

• Collaborate with DUGS to stay up to date and inform faculty and students of University policies and procedures
• Direct and monitor undergraduate course enrollments, course scheduling, program admissions, and admissions guidelines
• Support DUGS in the identification and resolution of enrollment management issues and development of tracking mechanisms to reduce barriers
• Analyze and summarize data to understand trends and make recommendations for improvement of advising practices
• Participate in undergraduate faculty meetings, take minutes, and support DUGS in developing the agenda

Outreach and Networking in Support of Service (10%)

• Organize and communicate timely outreach to students about academic progress, registration and sequencing requirements, course offerings, and other resources available to them in support of academic and personal goals
• Develop and manage biweekly newsletter as additional means to communicate with and engage students
• Utilize and build relationships and networks that make a large university manageable and navigable for all students to ensure a student’s ability to make sufficient progress and feel a sense of belonging
• Serve on committees within the department, college, or across campus to represent the undergraduate program
• Support recruitment of undergraduate students by working with local high schools, community colleges, etc.
• Give public presentations to advisees and potential advisees

Teaching (20%)

• Teach up to one course for undergraduate students per semester