Position Summary
The Associate Dean for Curriculum, Learning and Student Success provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for undergraduate curriculum and academic programs within the Office of Undergraduate Education at Michigan State University. The role stewards curriculum quality, coherence, and equity; coordinates governance and approval processes; advances classroom assessment and accreditation; and partners with faculty, staff, and students to ensure timely degree progress and an excellent learning experience for MSU undergraduate students. This position also serves on the Office of Undergraduate Education’s leadership team, collaborating with other members of Undergraduate Education and campus partners to fulfill the mission of the Curriculum Learning and Student Success (CLASS) team.
Key Responsibilities
Curriculum Leadership & Strategy
- Lead development, implementation, and continuous improvement of undergraduate curricula (majors, minors, certificates) within the Office of Undergraduate Education and across the University to ensure alignment with unit strategy and institutional policies.
- Advance experiential learning, global education, and high impact practices across all undergraduate programs.
- Assist in the development of new academic programs and credentials, including certificates and Bachelor of General Studies.
- In support of the Office of Assessment, Accreditation, Curriculum and Compliance (AACC), promote a culture of learning outcomes, assessment, and program review across MSU’s undergraduate academic programs.
Governance, Policy & Course Approvals
- Chair and/or serve ex officio on curriculum committees; manage course/program proposal workflows and shepherd items through governance processes.
- Collaborate with AACC in the review and revision of policies related to the undergraduate curriculum and the academic catalog including instructional evaluation, academic integrity, and assessment.
- Lead campus-wide change initiatives to improve the academic curricular experience for students including general education, curricular innovation, and student learning assessment.
Assessment, Accreditation & Quality Assurance
- Oversee assessment cycles and ensure data informed continuous improvement of undergraduate education curricular programs.
- Support AACC with accreditation, compliance, and undergraduate academic program review.
- Integrate program review and revision for MSU’s general education requirements and university-wide curricula.
Scheduling, Teaching Assignments & Student Progress
- Coordinate teaching assignments and course scheduling for UGS courses to support timely degree completion and equitable course access.
- Manage policy and curriculum waivers for university requirements, including general education and graduation requirements for the Office of Undergrad Education students and courses.
- Support creation of undergraduate courses to help students explore career and major opportunities.
Faculty/Instructor & Unit Support
- In partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning Innovation, promote effective teaching practices and faculty/staff development related to curriculum and assessment.
- Support integrative studies units and their Centers in pedagogy, assessment, and professional development.
Student Experience & Equity
- Collaborate with advising and student success teams to address curricular bottlenecks and equity gaps.
- Manage and advance programs that enhance student preparation and success, including Spartan Early Start, the Global Technology Program, Academic Success Workshops, and ROTC programs.
- Ensure curricula reflect MSU’s land-grant mission, integrating global education and community engagement.
- In partnership with the MSU Testing Center and Assessment services, support faculty/instructors with student course assessment administration, scoring, and reporting requirements. Includes collaborating with the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities to provide alternative test accommodations. outside capabilities of faculty/instructors.
Data-Informed Decision-Making
- Use data to inform curricular decisions, evaluate interventions, guide decision-making, and allocate resources.
- Engage in campus and national dialogues about curricular innovation, review, reform, and student success.
Communication & Collaboration
- Serve as primary liaison to and lead for the Undergraduate Education offices on curriculum matters.
- Work closely with colleges, departments, and faculty to align curriculum with institutional goals and student needs.
- Advise the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education and colleges on emerging issues related to undergraduate policy and curriculum.
Supervision & Leadership
- Provide administrative leadership for Undergraduate Studies (UGS) curriculum and integration into campus-wide programs.
- Support ROTC programs, oversee Spartan Early Start, Global Tech Experience, and Academic Success Workshops, supporting policy and creation of courses and programming to support undergraduate students to explore careers and majors.
- Supervise leadership and oversee budgets, policy development, and accreditation issues for the CLASS unit.
Reporting & Supervisory Structure
Reports to the Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education; supervises a team supporting curriculum, experiential education, and testing/scoring services.
Ideal Candidate Profile
- Collaborative leader who can build consensus across colleges and units
- Strong communicator, able to engage faculty, staff, and students in curricular innovation
- Demonstrated commitment to increasing access to a university education for all students and the success of all students
- Strategic thinker with the vision to guide general education and undergraduate program reform.
Salary and Benefits
Salary is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Michigan State University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and other optional insurances as well as a retirement savings program, paid vacation and sick leave, tuition assistance and professional development support.
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 -Terminal degree in a relevant discipline
Minimum Requirements
- Terminal degree in a relevant discipline
- Record of accomplishment commensurate with appointment at the rank of associate or full professor or at the rank of senior specialist with senior administrative responsibilities.
- Internal to MSU, Senior Specialists are allowed to apply. A senior academic specialist will retain their senior specialist rank and will add the title of Associate Dean.
- Ranked Faculty should be either Associate Professor or Full Professor
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- Associate Professors are expected to have demonstrated solid mastery of their discipline, a growing body of independent work, effective teaching and service, and be on the path toward higher levels of influence.
- Full Professors are expected to be recognized leaders in their field, with a portfolio that demonstrates high impact, mentoring and leadership contributions, and broad service/influence.
- For those faculty who have obtained tenure, it will be retained in your tenure home department or equivalent at MSU. While holding the Associate Dean position, the Office of Undergraduate Education will be responsible for your time and salary.
- For those faculty who are fixed term, the academic appointment will be retained in your home department or equivalent at MSU. While holding the Associate Dean position, the Office of Undergraduate Education will be responsible for your time and salary.
- For those Faculty who are fixed term, review by an RPT committee will be required for the determination of tenure status, and the academic appointment will be retained in your home department or equivalent at MSU.
- Minimum of 15 years of work experience in higher education and minimum of 5 years of supervisor experience.
- Demonstrated experience with curriculum development, assessment, and academic governance processes at a large research university setting.
- Knowledge of theories and practice related to curricular design, student success, experiential education, and high impact practices.
- Experience designing and implementing strategic initiatives focused on curricular innovation, student learning, and academic student success.
- Demonstrated commitment to student success and equity in academic programs.
- Experience with accreditation and academic program review.
Desired Qualifications
- Experience coordinating teaching assignments/scheduling across multiple units;
- Familiarity with catalog systems and course approval platforms.
Required Application Materials
A complete application packet will contain a resume or CV, cover letter and contact information for three professional references.
Website
https://undergrad.msu.edu/
Department Statement
Founded in 1855 as the nation's first land-grant university, Michigan State University (MSU) enrolls over 50,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. MSU is known internationally as a major public research university with global reach and extraordinary impact. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, MSU is a multifaceted community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.
The Office of Undergraduate Education seeks to help lead MSU's undergraduate student success initiatives by operationalizing MSU's stated beliefs that every student it admits has the capacity to learn, thrive, and graduate and that it is MSU's responsibility to provide an environment with the academic, social, wellness, and financial support our students need to persist in college and succeed after graduation.
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.
