Working/Functional Title

Assistant Dean for Admissions

Position Summary

The Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Financial Support leads Michigan State University (MSU) Law College’s enrollment management, admissions, pathway, and student financial support functions, in alignment with the University and Law College’s mission of inclusive excellence. The Assistant Dean engages in significant outreach, education, and counseling across campus, the legal profession, and the nation related to implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) best practices as they relate to diversifying the profession, creating greater access to education, and building evidence-based pathways to the profession.

The current College of Law Remote Work Policy states remote work should not exceed two days per week.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Develop and implement the Law College’s enrollment management activities in alignment with the Law College’s strategic mission and vision.

• • Provide data-driven leadership on outreach, recruitment, conversion, and matriculation activities to develop and maintain an inclusive applicant and admit pool.
  • Work strategically to increase the knowledge of and high regard for MSU College of Law among various external constituencies.
  • Plan and execute creative and targeted admission strategies to recruit an inclusive academically talented student body.
  • Provide ongoing leadership and innovation regarding holistic admissions and financial aid review processes.

2. Develop and implement the Law College’s student financial support function in alignment with the Law College’s mission and vision.

• • Work collaboratively with the Dean to establish policies and practices to manage and award institutional aid, including private donor funds.
  • Provide counseling to current and prospective students on financial aid processes, financial literacy, student loan management, and financial planning.
  • Work collaboratively with the MSU Office of Financial Aid to ensure timely federal aid awards and effective support of current and prospective students.

3. Develop outreach, access, and educational content for key internal and external constituencies.

• • Engage with the broader campus, K-12 sector, the public, the legal profession, and global community regarding pathway approaches to the legal profession, systemic inequities within the legal profession, and DEI best practices.

• • Engage with and take leadership with peer group organizations and professional societies/organizations such as Law School Admissions Council, Law School Admissions Minority Network, and the State Bar of Michigan among others.
  • Make scholarly presentations on enrollment management, DEI, pathways to the profession, and workforce development approaches.
  • Draft and lead equity, inclusion, and access curricular programs.

4. Lead and manage the Law College’s strategic outreach activities, including working collaboratively with the Marketing and Communication Department.

• • Work collaboratively with the Director of Admissions, the Director of Pathway Programming, Outreach, and Education, and the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure the development of an effective marketing and communications plan and content.

• • Develop traditional and electronic communication campaigns that leverage key differentiators to various external audiences.
  • Work collaboratively where appropriate with central campus Communications Office to leverage resources and amplify messages.
  • Using various data sets, engage in an annual evaluation of the efficacy of current marketing and communications approaches in service of enrollment management, student financial support and pathway goals.

5. Provide intersectional academic and co-curricular advising to members of the Law College community and various external constituencies.

• • Program, serve, coach, advise, collaborate, and support individuals from but not limited to the following populations/interest areas: underrepresented ethnic and cultural groups, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, members of various religious groups, non-traditional aged (prospective) students, persons across different genders, gender identities and expressions, first-generation college students, students from Immigrant backgrounds, first-generation U.S citizens, student-parents, first generation lawyers, and differently-abled persons.
  • Create innovative approaches to addressing, creating, and systematizing inclusive best practices.
  • Support and guide co-curriculum programs.
  • Work collaboratively with key Law College programs and departments, in particular the Academic Success Program, Diversity and Equity Services, the Chief of Staff, Career Services, the Indigenous Law and Policy Center, and the Office of Student Affairs.

6. Develop and implement a comprehensive data analysis approach to evaluate and inform enrollment management, student financial support, pathway and equity and inclusion functions.

• • Develop a comprehensive data analysis strategy in service of achieving key institutional and enrollment outcomes.
  • Identify any gaps in available data sets, working collaboratively to access that data.
  • Develop a comprehensive reporting process to various college constituencies.
  • Implement a weekly reporting format to the Dean and various internal and external constituencies.

7. Report to and communicate with various internal and external audiences.

• • Write reports and present key data to on-campus audiences including the MSU Provost and President’s Office, regarding key outcome measures and metrics.
  • Marshal data and key metrics to support the advancement of the mission of the Law College to internal and external audiences, including members of the bar, bench, funders, alumni, the press, and other external constituencies.

8. Work collaboratively to advance DEI best practices in all functions related to enrollment management, student financial support, pathway programming and throughout the student life cycle.

• • Work with key senior staff to ensure the implementation of DEI best practices throughout the prospective and current student experience.

9. Work with the Director of Admissions and the Director of Pathway Programming, Outreach, and Education to ensure effective, mission-aligned daily operations of the Law College Admissions Office.

• • Facilitate yearly strategic planning and goal facilitation.
  • Ensure an open, welcoming, and fulfilling environment for staff and student workers.
  • Provide customized professional development opportunities for staff.
  • Develop and manage the office budget.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

• The current College of Law Remote Work Policy states remote work should not exceed two days per week.
• Work is normally performed in a typical office environment.
• The level of exposure to physical risk is very limited to none.

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

Doctorate -Law

Minimum Requirements

Education:             Required – Juris Doctor from an ABA accredited law school

Experience:           Five or more years of experience of work in enrollment management and the diversity and inclusion field, with leadership responsibilities that include developing, implementing, managing and measuring strategies and programs.  Experience in law school and higher education required. 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:  KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated knowledge to vision, develop, and implement an inclusive enrollment management system, policies, training, and programs to enroll a diverse and inclusive law college student body.
• Knowledge of ABA Diversity and Inclusion Standards.
• Strong project management skills and ability to work independently and with a variety of constituents, establish and manage shifting priorities, and handle numerous time-sensitive projects with multiple deadlines.
• Innovative problem solving, critical analysis, proactive and reactive decision-making skills.
• Excellent Americans with Disabilities Act-based communication skills for group and individual presentations.
• High acumen for diversity, inclusion and equity models, standards, and practices.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively with internal and external audiences in alignment with an inclusive mission.
• Ability to articulate the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal academy and the profession.
• Facility with data management, analysis, and reporting to internal and external audiences.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule which includes travel, evenings, and weekends.

Required Application Materials

Current Curriculum Vitae

At least three professional references with one preferably being a recent, former, or current supervisor.

Special Instructions

Applicants may be asked to submit a professional writing sample when invited for an interview. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing the application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please direct your inquiries to Teresa Eldred, College of Law Human Resources Manager at 517.432.6819 or eldredt@law.msu.edu

Review of Applications Begins On

10/04/2023

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

www.law.msu.edu

Department Statement

Michigan State University College of Law is a diverse and inclusive learning community with roots dating to 1891 when it opened as Detroit College of Law in Detroit, Michigan. It moved to its current East Lansing location in 1995 and remained a private institution until 2020 when it became a fully integrated college of Michigan State University. Today, MSU Law has more than 650 students, 55 faculty members, 50 staff members, five librarians, and a world-wide network of some 11,500 alumni. MSU Law operates seven legal clinics overseen by nationally recognized faculty that provide students an opportunity to work on actual legal cases. Additionally, it offers some of nations leading law programs in new and emerging legal education, including Intellectual Property and Trial Advocacy, Indigenous Law and Policy Center, the Lori E. Talsky Center for Human Rights of Women and Children, Conservation Law Center, and Animal Legal and Historical Web Center. MSU College of Law, operating under the principles of its DEI Strategic Plan, is poised to become the states preeminent law school, preparing a diverse community of lawyer-leaders to serve diverse communities in Michigan and beyond. It is committed to providing a legal education that is taught by leading scholars in their fields, includes best-in-class experiential opportunities, and helps students graduate without excessive debt

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.

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About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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