A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and must be attached as the first page of your resume. The letter should address your specific interest in and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position. Applicants who do not meet these requirements will not be considered.

The Rackham Graduate School seeks an Academic Program Specialist (APS) to serve as a member of the Partnerships for Access, Community, and Excellence (PACE) team. This position will provide support and coordination for several prestigious award programs within PACE and will also provide support for PACE recruitment, outreach and MSI (minority serving institutions) initiatives. This position reports to the Director of Access and Inclusion.     

Because we are committed to diversity, we aspire to develop and nurture the individual and collective skills to recognize, celebrate, and deploy difference as a path to engagement, innovation, and the generation of new ideas and knowledge.

PLEASE NOTE: This is a three-year, term-limited position.

Rackham is currently offering hybrid work schedules to staff, requiring 2-3 days per week on-site with the remaining time being remote.

To learn more about the Rackham Graduate School visit https://rackham.umich.edu/

This role will be responsible for the management of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship competition, the Rackham 2.0 Fellowship Program and the Rackham Recruitment Grants program.  The duties for each program are detailed below. This role will also provide support for additional PACE initiatives.

Bouchet Honor Society

In partnership with the Rackham Assistant Dean and DEI Lead, the APS will manage all programmatic aspects of the University of Michigan Bouchet Graduate Honor Society including the solicitation of applications, recruitment of application reviewers, tabulation of application review results, and communications with all applicants and awardees. The APS will coordinate and collaborate with the Dean?s Office Team member leading the administrative and project coordination pieces for the Bouchet Honor Society. 

The APS will work with the Rackham Communications team to create promotional materials (program booklets, PowerPoint slides, social media posts, etc.) featuring information regarding the Michigan Bouchet Graduate Honor Society inductees.

In consultation with the Rackham Professional Development team, the APS will coordinate 2-3 professional development events/year in an effort to build community among the Bouchet scholars.The APS will also collect periodic feedback from Bouchet scholars and will look for creative ways to build community within the cohort and to encourage connections with other PACE student communities (e.g. Rackham Merit Fellows, MSI Connect, etc.).

HHMI Gilliam Fellowship Program

In partnership with the Rackham Associate Dean for Biological and Life Sciences (AD), the APS will be responsible for managing the administrative aspects of the HHMI Gilliam Fellowship competition.  This will include attending HHMI informational sessions, and managing the nomination and application process.  The APS will also assist in answering any questions regarding the award and will be a point of contact to the nominees/applicants.

The APS will make sure that all awardees are aware of required meetings and reporting deadlines.  The APS will also develop programming (or will direct fellows to existing programming) that will enhance their work both in the lab and in enhancing the academic ecosystem.  The APS will also work with PACE leadership to consider creative ways of disseminating best practices in mentorship gleaned from the Gilliam awardees with other relevant Rackham faculty groups (e.g. MORE, Faculty Allies, Advancing New Directions, MSI grantees, etc.). 

Rackham Merit Fellowship 2.0

In partnership with the Rackham Associate Dean for Biological and Life Sciences (AD), the APS will be responsible for assisting in the development of all aspects of the new Rackham Merit Fellowship 2.0 program. This includes the application, review and selection process along with the creation of associated programming for all awardees.  Additionally, the APS will work with the Rackham IT and Communication Teams to create an application, web page and communication assets (graphic emails, fliers, newsletter text, etc.) to promote the program. In an effort to build community among the awardees and to collate best practices, the APS will coordinate 2 - 3 networking events/year.

The APS will serve as the central point of contact to all applicants and awardees and will assist in answering any questions regarding the program. The APS will work closely with the Finance & Fellowships Team to ensure that all payments to students and advisors are made. 

Rackham Recruitment Grant and other PACE Initiatives

The APS will assist in the administration of the Rackham Recruitment Grant competition and will assist in the reimagining of the competition relative to the goals of Rackham and the PACE Team.  The APS will also be responsible for maintaining memberships in campus-wide recruitment services (e.g. National Name Exchange, Institute for the Recruitment of Teachers, etc.) and will communicate information regarding these services to all relevant graduate programs.

Additionally, the APS will provide support for other PACE initiatives (e.g. MSI and summer outreach).  Such support may include: application management, communications, event planning/assessment, and report preparation.

Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience with 3-4 years of experience in an academic setting supporting students and staff, preferably at the University of Michigan. Excellent customer service skills and strong written and verbal communication skills. Some knowledge of the academic goals and issues in graduate education and understanding of issues of diversity in higher education with proven ability and eagerness to work with diverse populations. Demonstrated record of close attention to detail, a high record of accuracy, ability to multitask, and strong organizational skills and dependability. Ability to work professionally and with a high degree of discretion and confidentiality. Self-motivated, highly dependable independent worker with the ability to prioritize the work effectively. Demonstrated ability to develop good working relationships with internal and external constituency groups and to work collaboratively with colleagues in a team environment. Proficiency with Google suite as well as Microsoft Word and Excel, and ability to adapt and learn other hardware and software as it relates to the role. Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and handle people with diplomacy under stressful situations and in matters of a sensitive and confidential nature. Knowledge of and strong personal commitment to shared teamwork, continuous business process improvement, and professional development. Understanding and value of diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization. On occasion move/transport, install, and remove meeting and event supplies and equipment within the building and across campus to other locations.

Reasonable knowledge of University Policies and Procedures. Experience with issues in graduate education, student development, and DEI in higher education. Experience in an academic setting.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.

About University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

A great university is made so by its faculty and staff, and Michigan is recognized as one of the best universities to work for in the country. The Michigan culture is known for engaging faculty and staff in all facets of the university to create a workplace that is vibrant and stimulating.For two consecutive years, the Chronicle of Higher Education has placed U-M in its "Great Colleges to Work For" survey. In particular, the university earns high marks for strong relations between faculty and administrators, a collaborative system of governance, strong pay and benefits, and a healthy work/life balance.

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