Associate Director of Graduate Studies

Title: Associate Director of Graduate Studies
Location: Minneapolis United States

Job Description:

About the Job

The Associate Director of Graduate Studies (ADGS) is responsible for directing operations, advising, and admissions of the Graduate Program in the School of Music. The School of Music is a large, highly ranked unit with 250+ graduate students and 50 core faculty. This position ensures that systems are in place to deliver effective and efficient academic advising, recruiting, and admissions results to stakeholders from a variety of different backgrounds. The ADGS is charged with designing, implementing, and evaluating new recruitment and student services initiatives that support and enhance student well-being and success. Additionally, the ADGS develops, revises, and communicates policies and procedures to relevant stakeholders, helping to ensure understanding and compliance. The ADGS is a key member of the School of Music's graduate program leadership, having a direct impact on graduate student admissions, advising, funding, retention, and program completion.

This position works extensively with the Director of Graduate Studies and reports to the Chief of Staff. This position supervises graduate assistant peer advisors.

The person in this role must be responsive to dynamic conditions that require creative solutions, strong intercultural framing, and inclusive practices. The graduate services team supports programming and activities for 35 graduate degree programs across nine divisions for over 250 students.

Appointment Details

This is a 100% time, 12-month, Academic Professional and Administrative position with a salary rate of, depending on qualification and experience. The SOM operates on a hybrid schedule. In-person attendance is required for Welcome Week, the first two weeks of classes, and Audition Days.

Graduate Student Recruitment and Admissions - 40%

• Lead, develop, implement, and assess recruitment resources, strategies, communication, and programming to help ensure the successful recruitment, application, and admission of a diverse and qualified applicant pool. Work to improve yield to shape a desirable cohort of incoming students.
• Oversee and guide departmental faculty and staff members through the annual admissions process of an estimated 600+ graduate applications per cycle. Identify and implement initiatives aligned with best practices in review and that help ensure departmental admissions review procedures adhere to related legal rulings and UMN policies and procedures.
• Oversee all communication with prospective students, including individual correspondence and recruitment-related web and marketing resources. Responsible for a team of Graduate Advisors who are charged with responding to complex individual inquiries. Ensure accurate, consistent, and effective communication.
• Independently lead the strategic planning, development, implementation and assessment of the annual Welcome Week event and Audition Days to successfully recruit newly admitted graduate students.
• Partner with the AD of Admissions and Marketing and Communications Manager to create, update, and distribute publicity and marketing materials and ensure the accuracy of printed and online materials and information about the program (Graduate school catalog, various university websites, etc.).
• Independently develop and disseminate annual reports evaluating admissions process and results, recruitment programming, graduate student funding, etc. Make strategic, data-driven recommendations to leadership and/or independently implement improvements, as appropriate.
• Oversee the selection and nomination process for graduate fellowships and scholarships, and graduate assistant awards. Facilitate financial agreements and awards distribution.

Graduate Student Support and Retention - 30%

• Independently advise current students. Topics may include, but are not limited to: new student onboarding, degree requirements and related forms/processes, professional development and career preparation, registration and leaves, academic performance and advising issues, and offboarding. Counsel students who are experiencing academic or personal difficulty.
• Develop, implement, and assess resources, tools, and programming that guide students' successful progression through their degree program, including timely and accurate completion of all required forms and steps; monitor degree progression and advise DGS, Area Directors, faculty advisors, and other campus units, as necessary, on appropriate responses to and consequences of concerns/issues.
• Lead the development and/or revision of related policy and procedure documents (e.g., Graduate Student Handbook, area handbooks, Grad School Catalog) to ensure accuracy and clarity of information and implement effective procedures tailored to stakeholder needs. Develop and disseminate information to stakeholders, as needed.
• Lead the strategic planning, implementation, and assessment of new student onboarding, including the annual Welcome Week, ensuring a successful transition to graduate student life and the building of strong cohorts/communities that support students' well-being and success.
• Adjudicate and/or facilitate the review of academic policy exception requests/petitions from music students; identify terms students must meet.
• Independently coordinate and assess annual progress reviews of graduate students; advise faculty on appropriate responses to progress delays and concerns.
• Review and respond to student grievances at the departmental level and facilitate students' and faculty's work with other units to address grievances and appeals at the collegiate and University levels.
• Serve as department liaison to Graduate Student Services and Progress and the CLA Office of Research and Graduate Programs to update student records (e.g., exam results, advising/committee appointments, degree clearance) and advocate for policy and procedural improvements that better support department stakeholders.
• Update and ensure the accuracy of the studio tracker in collaboration with the student services team.

Graduate Program/Student Services Strategy and Operations - 30%

• Manage and evaluate systems and processes, programming, and physical and financial resources (e.g., graduate student funding packages, Graduate Student Services budget) for the Music Student Services unit.
• Identify, develop, implement, and evaluate innovative approaches and initiatives to improve effectiveness, as well as quality of service and the graduate student experience.
• Independently manage the Graduate Students Services budget and student funding, including all graduate student financial support packages (e.g., tuition, fellowships, graduate student health insurance compensation programs).
• Analyze and prepare forecasts, and develop reports, to support data-driven decision-making and requests for investment from the department, college, and Graduate School.
• Partner with, and provide consultation to, the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), department leadership, Area Directors, and relevant staff to resolve issues, ensure compliance, enhance student well-being and success, and maintain effective operations.
• Interpret relevant College and University policies for music leadership, faculty, students, and staff, as needed.
• Work closely with the AD for Curriculum and Instruction as part of the leadership team. Address issues and develop policies that affect undergraduate and graduate student recruitment, advising, retention, and progression.
• Consult with graduate students and relevant others to communicate student concerns to department leadership; help ensure accountability, trust, transparency, and resolution of issues.
• Oversee graduate advising/student services communications, including website content, social media outlets, electronic newsletter publications, etc.
• Organize and serve as the liaison for the Graduate Studies Committee and the Graduate Student Advisory Committee. Attend meetings, publicize events, oversee the budget, and address student concerns with department leadership.
• Provide information for NASM annual reporting and accreditation.
• Supervise and train graduate peer advisors.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant experience to include counseling/advising in a collegiate and/or social service setting; or a master's degree plus at least three years of relevant experience, as described.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in music, higher education administration, or related field. At least three additional years of directly related experience in arts related fields such as Music or the performing arts; experience working with faculty, staff, students, and administrators in higher education.
• Experience working with admissions and graduate student programs preferred.
• Proven financial, administrative and operations leadership skills with a collaborative management style.
• Commitment to working with diverse individuals and groups.
• Experience in budget management and relevant software systems.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze & communicate complex issues from multiple frames of reference and perspectives.

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $60,000 - $72,000 annual; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment Category: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Academic Professional and Administrative

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area